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.
Publication year 1862
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt
Tags Poetry: Dramatic Poem
Publication year 1956
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Relationships, American Literature
Publication year 1960
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity
Tags Race / Racism
Publication year 1900
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Animals
Tags Animals, History: World, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1983
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Objects, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia
Tags Lyric Poem, Free verse, American Literature, Grief / Death
Publication year 1923
Genre Poem, Fiction
Tags Lyric Poem, Modernism
Publication year 1979
Genre Poem, Fiction
Tags Military / War, Grief / Death
Publication year 1960
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Confessional, Ekphrastic
Publication year 1851
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Animals, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Imagist poetry, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Victorian Period
Publication year 2001
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia
Tags Lyric Poem, Military / War
Publication year 2016
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Life/Time: The Future
Tags Lyric Poem, Technology, Health / Medicine, Arts / Culture
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Masculinity, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Mythology, Education, Education, Narrative / Epic Poem, Classical Period, Fantasy, Classic Fiction
"The Epic of Gilgamesh" is the oldest existing myth in the world. It tells of the historical king Gilgamesh who reigned over Mesopotamia (in what is now Iraq) around 2750 BCE. The author of the poem is unknown, for "The Epic of Gilgamesh" is sourced from multiple fragments that have been excavated since the 19th century. The earliest versions of the epic are written in Sumerian and date to about 2100 BCE. The current translation... Read The Epic of Gilgamesh Summary
Publication year 1820
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Gothic Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Romance, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1981
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Place, Society: Globalization, Society: Immigration
Tags Love / Sexuality, Science / Nature
Publication year 1974
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Community
Tags Lyric Poem, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2011
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Community
Tags Technology
Publication year 1946
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Animals
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem
Publication year 1633
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Lyric Poem, Metaphysical, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Education, Education, History: World, Romance, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1985
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Natural World: Climate, Values/Ideas: Literature, Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Religion / Spirituality, Colonialism / Postcolonialism
Publication year 2003
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: War
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, WWII / World War II