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 1895
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Poetry: Dramatic Poem
Publication year 1865
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature, Realism, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Transcendentalism
Publication year 2020
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Lyric Poem
Publication year 1766
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Lyric Poem, Animals, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature, Humor, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2018
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Nation
Tags Social Justice, Race / Racism
Publication year 1681
Genre Poem, Fiction
Tags Lyric Poem, Politics / Government, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Metaphysical
Publication year 1849
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Community
Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Love / Sexuality, Education, Education, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, American Literature, Gothic Literature, Romance, Classic Fiction
The last poem Edgar Allan Poe—infamous poet and fiction author of the macabre—completed during his tumultuous life, “Annabel Lee,” was first published in the New York Tribune in 1849, two days after Poe’s death. Displaying the melodic lyricism, gothic overtones, and memorable imagery which informed so much of Poe’s work, “Annabel Lee” is considered one of the defining entries in his canon, and a classic of 19th century American poetry.The poem concerns the death of... Read Annabel Lee Summary
Publication year 1884
Genre Poem, Fiction
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Gender / Feminism, American Literature
Publication year 1868
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Animals
Tags Lyric Poem, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2003
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger
Tags Animals, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Social Justice
Publication year 1794
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger
Tags Lyric Poem, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 1992
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Society: Community, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism
Publication year 1921
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Climate, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Beauty
Tags Lyric Poem
Publication year 1919
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia
Tags Lyric Poem, Parenting, Mythology
“A Prayer for my Daughter” by William Butler (W.B.) Yeats was originally published in his collection Michael Robartes and the Dancer in 1921. This book also includes one of Yeats’s most famous poems—“The Second Coming”—and was Yeats’s eighth collection of lyrical poems. “A Prayer for my daughter” was written in 1919, a year that marked the beginning of the Irish War of Independence. The war lasted until 1921 and heavily influenced Yeats. The poem’s location... Read A Prayer for My Daughter Summary
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Sexuality, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, LGBTQ, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Poetry: Dramatic Poem
Publication year 1838
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, American Literature, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1794
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Beauty
Tags Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1860
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Free verse, Lyric Poem, Relationships
Publication year 1965
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags Free verse, Animals, Race / Racism, Gender / Feminism, Confessional, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), American Literature, History: World, Mental Illness, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1952
Genre Poem, Fiction
Tags Travel Literature