Introduction Why Poets Write About Shame You may also enjoy: Personal Shame and Inner Conflict “When, in Disgrace with Fortune and Men’s Eyes” (Sonnet 29) — William Shakespeare When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, And look upon myself … Read more
Introduction Why Poets Write About Sadness You may also enjoy: Sadness and Loss “O Captain! My Captain!” — Walt Whitman O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done, The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won, The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow … Read more
Introduction Why Poets Write About Hope You may also enjoy: Hope in the Face of Hardship “Invictus” — William Ernest Henley Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not … Read more
Introduction Why Poets Write About Fear You may also enjoy: Fear of Death “Because I could not stop for Death” — Emily Dickinson Because I could not stop for Death – He kindly stopped for me – The Carriage held but just Ourselves – And Immortality. We slowly drove – He knew no haste And … Read more
Introduction Why Poets Write About Childhood You may also enjoy: Poems About Innocence and Imagination “The Lamb” — William Blake Little Lamb who made thee Dost thou know who made thee Gave thee life & bid thee feed. By the stream & o’er the mead; Gave thee clothing of delight, Softest clothing wooly bright; Gave … Read more
Introduction Why Poets Write About Memory You may also enjoy: Memory and Nature “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” — William Wordsworth I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, … Read more
Introduction Why Poets Write About Change You may also enjoy: Change and Time “Sonnet 60” (“Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore”) — William Shakespeare Like as the waves make towards the pebbl’d shore, So do our minutes hasten to their end; Each changing place with that which goes before, In sequent toil … Read more
Introduction Why Poets Write About Nature You may also enjoy: Nature and Beauty “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” — William Wordsworth I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, … Read more
Introduction Why Poets Write About War You may also enjoy: Patriotic and Heroic War Poems “The Charge of the Light Brigade” — Alfred, Lord Tennyson I Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. “Forward, the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns!” he … Read more
Introduction Why Poets Write About Freedom You may also enjoy: Political and National Freedom “Concord Hymn” — Ralph Waldo Emerson By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmers stood And fired the shot heard round the world. The foe long since in silence slept; … Read more
