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William Blake Poems

 

By turns whimsical and apocalyptic, brilliant and yet somehow simple, British poet William Blake (1757-1827) expanded the boundaries of poetry both with language and visuals to create a body of work that has become among the most beloved in the English language. Known more for his visual arts than his poetry in his lifetime, Blake's poetry was often illustrated by his own ...

Elizabeth Bishop Poems

 

The art of losing isn’t hard to master; so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster. ~ Elizabeth Bishop Esso cans. Cats named Minnow. Fish houses. All the detritus of everyday life, scenes and items and even people destined for obsolescence - these are are subjects that Elizabeth Bishop captured ...

Charles Baudelaire Poems

 

Always be a poet, even in prose. ~ Charles Baudelaire As controversial and heralded today as he was in the 19th Century, poet Charles Baudelaire's influence over poets, writers, and even musicians is a testament both to his talent and the cult of personality that has grown as much out of his lifestyle as is poetry. Charles Baudelaire was born in Paris in 1821. He began his career as a writer in ...

W.H. Auden Poems

 

Poet Wystan Hugh Auden, better known as W.H. Auden, imbued his poetry with a style and sensibility that elevated him to the status of one of the 20th century's best-known and most-respected poets. Auden's poems deal with universal themes such as love, political and social concerns, religion and personal morals, often set against the backdrop of man's relation to the natural ...

Rhyming Poems

 

"Roses are Red, Violets are Blue - Sugar is Sweet..." Can you finish the poem above? Of course you can! The old "roses are red" rhyme is among the best known rhyming poems ever composed. Why is this poem so memorable? Well, it's short - and sweet. It's been repeated in books, movies, and television programs more times than ...

Funeral Poems

 

The reading of poetry or verse is often a part of a funeral service. For that reason, there are many poems that have become renowned for their use upon this occasion - poems that have the ability to comfort the grieving while honoring the dead. One of the best-known and most popular of funeral poems is Mary Elizabeth Frye's "Do ...

Haiku Poems

 

Haiku poems are among the most popular of the poetic forms, appealing to poetry lovers of all ages. Seemingly simple, deceptively direct, haiku poems are actually much more intricate than the few lines that comprise them would at first suggest. Haiku poems originated in Japan, where these poems were even more structured than they are today. Each haikai, or individual ...

Christian Poems

 

Christians have for hundreds of years expressed their faith through poetry. Beginning with the Bible, those who could have demonstrated their devotion to their faith with verse. However, most often, Christian poems have appeared as Christian lyrics set to song. Some of the earliest and best known Christian poems were the Psalms of David. While written before the ...

Death Poems

 

The specter of death looms large over the living, and as such, most cultures throughout the world have a certain level of preoccupation with death. Unsurprising, then, that many of the most famous poems throughout time have dealt with themes of death and mortality. Without a doubt, one of the most famous death poems ...

Friendship Poems

 

The bonds of friendship have inspired much art, poetry included. Friendship poems may not enjoy the ubiquity of poems about romantic love, but many poets have cherished valued friendships by putting their feelings into writing. Some of the most famous of poets have written verse that celebrates friendship. Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote one of his best known ...