Short Poems

Our Short Poems Collection highlights the power of poetry through titles that make an impact in few words. These bite-sized selections offer a convenient starting place for readers new to analyzing poetry or anyone who appreciates short-form verse and its ability to move and inspire.

Still Life in Landscape

by Sharon Olds

Publication year 2004

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Addiction / Substance Abuse

... Read Still Life in Landscape Summary

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening

by Robert Frost

Publication year 1923

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Environment

Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature

“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” is a short, structured poem written in 1922 by the American poet Robert Frost, one of the foremost poets of the 20th century. The poem was originally published in 1923 in the magazine New Republic, and then in Frost’s poetry collection New Hampshire. The poem explores themes of nature, beauty, duty, life, and death, and is written using simple and accessible language that has made it beloved by... Read Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening Summary

Storm Ending

by Jean Toomer

Publication year 1923

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Climate, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Natural World: Environment

Tags Science / Nature, Harlem Renaissance

... Read Storm Ending Summary

Success Is Counted Sweetest

by Emily Dickinson

Publication year 1864

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Lyric Poem, Transcendentalism, Grief / Death

... Read Success Is Counted Sweetest Summary

Swan and Shadow

by John Hollander

Publication year 1966

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Natural World: Animals

... Read Swan and Shadow Summary

Sympathy

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Publication year 1899

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Classic Fiction

... Read Sympathy Summary

Talking in Bed

by Philip Larkin

Publication year 1964

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage

Tags Romance, Relationships

... Read Talking in Bed Summary

Tamerlane

by Edgar Allan Poe

Publication year 1827

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Classic Fiction

... Read Tamerlane Summary

Tattoo

by Ted Kooser

Publication year 2003

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem

... Read Tattoo Summary

Tear it Down

by Jack Gilbert

Publication year 1994

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Lyric Poem

... Read Tear it Down Summary

Telephone Conversation

by Wole Soyinka

Publication year 1963

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride

Tags Lyric Poem, Play: Comedy / Satire, Race / Racism

... Read Telephone Conversation Summary

Tell all the truth but tell it slant

by Emily Dickinson

Publication year 1890

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Lyric Poem, Education, Education

... Read Tell all the truth but tell it slant Summary

Tender Buttons [A Long Dress]

by Gertrude Stein

Publication year 1914

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Objects, Identity: Language

Tags LGBTQ

... Read Tender Buttons [A Long Dress] Summary

Thanatopsis

by William Cullen Bryant

Publication year 1817

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: Community, Natural World: Environment

Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature, Grief / Death, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Education, Education, American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

... Read Thanatopsis Summary

The Albatross

by Charles Baudelaire, Transl. Eli Siegel

Publication year 1861

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Animals

Tags French Literature, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Food, Lyric Poem

... Read The Albatross Summary

The Almond Trees

by Derek Walcott

Publication year 1985

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism

Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Science / Nature

... Read The Almond Trees Summary

The Argument of His Book

by Robert Herrick

Publication year 1648

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature, Restoration

... Read The Argument of His Book Summary

The Art of Disappearing

by Naomi Shihab Nye

Publication year 1994

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Fame, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Lyric Poem, Relationships

... Read The Art of Disappearing Summary