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 1968
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Arts / Culture, Ancient Greece
Publication year 1896
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Lyric Poem, British Literature
Publication year 1855
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Lyric Poem, Technology
Publication year 2015
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Social Justice, African American Literature
Publication year 1956
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Nation, Identity: Sexuality, Society: Globalization, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia
Tags Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality, Arts / Culture, The Beat Generation, LGBTQ, Classic Fiction
“A Supermarket in California” is a prose poem by the American poet Allen Ginsberg. Written in 1955, it appears alongside Ginsberg’s most well-known work, “Howl,” in his book Howl and Other Poems. Published November 1, 1956 by Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s City Lights Books as part of their Pocket Poets Series, Howl and Other Poems was subject to an obscenity trial in 1957 due to its use of sexually explicit language. The trial eventually ruled in the... Read A Supermarket in California Summary
Publication year 1972
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Community, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness
Tags Agriculture
Publication year 2009
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Economics, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Community, Society: Nation
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Finance / Money / Wealth
Publication year 2002
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty
Tags Sports
Publication year 1913
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature, Victorian Period
Publication year 2015
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Beauty
Tags Lyric Poem, African American Literature
“Aubade” is a contemporary love poem by American poet Major Jackson. Published in 2017 in Jackson’s fourth collection of poetry Roll Deep, the poem first appeared in The New Yorker in 2015. The title of the poem references a form of love song or poem that marks the dawn—the time of day when lovers must separate. Aubades were popular in medieval times, and unlike a serenade, which accompanies the evening and nightfall, an aubade evokes... Read Aubade Summary
Publication year 2014
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags Free verse, Grief / Death, Military / War, Vietnam War
Publication year 1951
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Lyric Poem, Gender / Feminism
Publication year 1633
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love
Publication year 1964
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Ekphrastic, Parenting, Love / Sexuality
Publication year 1991
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Natural World: Food
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Love / Sexuality
Publication year 1970
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Gender / Feminism, Social Justice
Publication year 2005
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: War
Tags Grief / Death
Publication year 2007
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Black Arts Movement, Love / Sexuality
Publication year 1863
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, American Civil War
Publication year 1971
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Gender / Feminism, Narrative / Epic Poem, American Literature
The American writer Marge Piercy wrote “Barbie Doll.” Originally published in Moving Out (1971), the poem also appears in her 1982 collection, Circles on the Water. A highly descriptive poem, “Barbie Doll” offers staunch diction and vivid, stereotypical imagery of a girl who grows up and dies by suicide as an adult. This free verse poem is an example of second-wave feminist thought, also known as the Women’s Liberation Movement, something Piercy explores here through... Read Barbie Doll Summary