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 1985
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness
Tags Love / Sexuality
Publication year 2013
Genre Poem, Fiction
Tags Lyric Poem, Gender / Feminism, Arts / Culture
Publication year 1996
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers
Tags Lyric Poem, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Military / War, Irish Literature
Publication year 1957
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Mythology
Publication year 1842
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Aging
Tags Poetry: Dramatic Poem, Mythology, Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Victorian Literature / Period, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1991
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Identity: Race
Tags LGBTQ, Black Arts Movement, Poverty
Publication year 1992
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Lyric Poem, Humor, Holidays & Occasions, Relationships
Publication year 1994
Genre Poem, Fiction
Tags Lyric Poem, Humor, Arts / Culture
Publication year 1678
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Tags Inspirational, American Literature
Publication year 1865
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Military / War, Modernism, American Literature
Publication year 2018
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, African American Literature, Mythology, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 1980
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health
Tags Lyric Poem
Publication year 1996
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Race / Racism, Black Lives Matter, History: U.S., Black Arts Movement, Afrofuturism
Publication year 2015
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Publication year 1935
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Free verse, American Literature
Publication year 1850
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Victorian Period, Grief / Death
Publication year 2013
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Lyric Poem, Military / War, American Literature
Publication year 1880
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Lyric Poem, Modernism
Publication year 1960
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Classic Fiction, Black Arts Movement, Lyric Poem, Harlem Renaissance, Food, Education, Education, African American Literature, History: World
Gwendolyn Brooks stands among the foremost American poets of the 20th century. A master of poetic form and portraiture, she explored black life in Chicago, where she lived for the majority of her life. The poem “We Real Cool,” Brooks’s most famous work, appeared in her 1960 collection The Bean Eaters.As a fledgling writer, Brooks combined early influences from the literary era of modernism, defined by poets like Ezra Pound, Wallace Stevens, T.S. Eliot, and... Read We Real Cool Summary
Publication year 1500
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages