Theme · 170 poems
Poems About Life
Poems that take life whole — its shortness, its sweetness, its strange luck. Carpe diem classics, quiet meditations, and lines sturdy enough to live by.
The oldest advice in poetry is two words long: seize the day. Horace coined the phrase, Herrick translated it into rosebuds gathered while ye may, and the tradition runs straight through to Frost standing at his fork in the yellow wood. Poems about life tend to be poems about time — how little of it there is, and what that scarcity is for.
These are the poems people use as pocket philosophy: taped to monitors, quoted at graduations, recited on hard mornings. They earn that use by being honest about the shortness before recommending the sweetness — a poem that skips the first part is a greeting card; one that includes it is a companion.
LengthForm
The Negro Speaks of Rivers
Langston Hughes · 1921
I've known rivers:I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
6 lines · free verse
When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer
Walt Whitman · 1865
When I heard the learn'd astronomer,When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me,When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room,
7 lines · free verse
When You Are Old
W. B. Yeats · 1893
When you are old and grey and full of sleep,And nodding by the fire, take down this book,And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
12 lines · lyric
Success is counted sweetest
Emily Dickinson · 1864
Success is counted sweetestBy those who ne'er succeed.To comprehend a nectar
12 lines · lyric
Ozymandias
Percy Bysshe Shelley · 1818
I met a traveller from an antique landWho said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stoneStand in the desert...Near them, on the sand,
14 lines · sonnet
Sonnet 73: That time of year thou mayst in me behold
William Shakespeare · 1609
That time of year thou mayst in me beholdWhen yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hangUpon those boughs which shake against the cold,
14 lines · sonnet
We Wear the Mask
Paul Laurence Dunbar · 1895
We wear the mask that grins and lies,It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—This debt we pay to human guile;
15 lines · rondeau
A Poison Tree
William Blake · 1794
I was angry with my friend:I told my wrath, my wrath did end.I was angry with my foe:
16 lines · lyric
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Robert Frost · 1923
Whose woods these are I think I know.His house is in the village though;He will not see me stopping here
16 lines · lyric
Because I could not stop for Death
Emily Dickinson · 1890
Because I could not stop for Death,He kindly stopped for me;The carriage held but just ourselves
20 lines · lyric
The Road Not Taken
Robert Frost · 1916
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveler, long I stood
20 lines · lyric
The Second Coming
W. B. Yeats · 1920
Turning and turning in the widening gyreThe falcon cannot hear the falconer;Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
22 lines · lyric
The Tyger
William Blake · 1794
Tyger, tyger, burning brightIn the forests of the night,What immortal hand or eye
24 lines · lyric
Auld Lang Syne (Wikisource)
Robert Burns · 1788
Should old acquaintance be forgot,and never brought to mind ?Should old acquaintance be forgot,
25 lines · ballad
If—
Rudyard Kipling · 1910
If you can keep your head when all about youAre losing theirs and blaming it on you;If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
32 lines · lyric
Dover Beach
Matthew Arnold · 1867
The sea is calm to-night.The tide is full, the moon lies fairUpon the straits; on the French coast, the light
37 lines · lyric
To a Mouse
Robert Burns · 1785
Wee, sleekit, cow'rin', tim'rous beastie,Oh, what a panic's in thy breastie!Thou needna start awa' sae hasty,
48 lines · lyric
Ode On A Grecian Urn
John Keats · 1820
Thou still unravish'd bride of quietness, Thou foster-child of silence and slow time,Sylvan historian, who canst thus express
50 lines · ode
Ode to a Nightingale
John Keats · 1819
My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness painsMy sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk,Or emptied some dull opiate to the drains
80 lines · ode
Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard
Thomas Gray · 1751
It would almost seem that poetry has for its greatest mission the lesson of a proper humility.The curfew tolls the knell of parting day,The lowing herd winds slowly o'er the lea.
128 lines · elegy
On Advice
The QuillOak Editors
"Advice" is the formal requestto bless what we've already guessed.
2 lines · epigram
Loss from the Least
Robert Herrick
Great men by small means oft are overthrown;He's lord of thy life, who contemns his own.
2 lines · lyric
Peace Not Permanent
Robert Herrick
Great cities seldom rest; if there be noneT' invade from far, they'll find worse foes at home.
2 lines · lyric
The Definition of Beauty
Robert Herrick
Beauty no other thing is, than a beamFlash'd out between the middle and extreme.
2 lines · lyric
Time was upon
Robert Herrick
Wrinkles no more are, or no less,Than beauty turn'd to sourness.
2 lines · lyric
Upon a Painted Gentlewoman
Robert Herrick
Men say you're fair; and fair ye are, 'tis true;But, hark! we praise the painter now, not you.
2 lines · lyric
Happy Thought
Robert Louis Stevenson
The world is so full of a number of things,I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings.
2 lines · lyric
Beautiful Women
Walt Whitman
WOMEN sit, or move to and fro—some old, some young;The young are beautiful—but the old are more beautiful than the young.
2 lines · lyric
Summer Grasses (haiku)
Matsuo Bashō · 1689
summer grasses grow —all that remains of the dreamsof proud warriors
3 lines · haiku
One Percent
The QuillOak Editors
phone at one percent —suddenly I rememberthe names of the clouds
3 lines · senryu
Self-Checkout
The QuillOak Editors
self-checkout machine —unexpected item, yes,my whole entire life
3 lines · senryu
Of Life to own
Emily Dickinson
Of Life to own —From Life to draw —But never tough the reservoir —
3 lines · lyric
On Tomorrow
The QuillOak Editors
There's nothing I can't conquer,no summit I can't claim,no task I cannot master —
4 lines · epigram
The Song of the Reed (opening lines)
Rumi (Jalāl al-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī)
Hearken to the reed-flute, how it complains,Lamenting its banishment from its home:“Ever since they tore me from my osier bed,
4 lines · lyric
Birthday of but a single pang
Emily Dickinson
Birthday of but a single pangThat there are less to come —Afflictive is the Adjective
4 lines · lyric
Could that sweet Darkness where they dwell
Emily Dickinson
Could that sweet Darkness where they dwellBe once disclosed to usThe clamor for their loveliness
4 lines · lyric
Declaiming Waters none may dread
Emily Dickinson
Declaiming Waters none may dread —But Waters that are stillAre so for that most fatal cause
4 lines · lyric
Estranged from Beauty—none can be
Emily Dickinson
Estranged from Beauty — none can be —For Beauty is Infinity —And power to be finite ceased
4 lines · lyric
"Faith" is a fine invention
Emily Dickinson
"Faith" is a fine inventionWhen Gentlemen can see —But Microscopes are prudent
4 lines · lyric
Forbidden Fruit A Flavor Has
Emily Dickinson
Forbidden fruit a flavor hasThat lawful orchards mocks;How luscious lies the pea within
4 lines · lyric
Her sovereign People
Emily Dickinson
Her sovereign PeopleNature knows as wellAnd is as fond of signifying
4 lines · lyric
If Nature smiles—the Mother must
Emily Dickinson
If Nature smiles — the Mother mustI'm sure, at many a whimOf Her eccentric Family —
4 lines · lyric
In this short Life
Emily Dickinson
In this short LifeThat only lasts an hourHow much — how little — is
4 lines · lyric
Lad of Athens, faithful be
Emily Dickinson
Lad of Athens, faithful beTo Thyself,And Mystery —
4 lines · lyric
The words the happy say
Emily Dickinson
The words the happy sayAre paltry melodyBut those the silent feel
4 lines · lyric
When Memory is full
Emily Dickinson
When Memory is fullPut on the perfect Lid —This Morning's finest syllable
4 lines · lyric
A Hate-Song
Percy Bysshe Shelley
A hater he came and sat by a ditch,And he took an old cracked lute;And he sang a song which was more of a screech
4 lines · lyric
In Horologium
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Inter marmoreas Leonorae pendula collesFortunata nimis Machina dicit horas.Quas MANIBUS premit illa duas insensa papillas
4 lines · lyric
Epigram on a Suicide
Robert Burns
EARTH’D up, here lies an imp o’ hell, Planted by Satan’s dibble;Poor silly wretch, he’s damned himsel’,
4 lines · lyric
To Enjoy the Time
Robert Herrick
While fates permit us, let's be merry;Pass all we must the fatal ferry;And this our life, too, whirls away,
4 lines · lyric
To his Girls
Robert Herrick
Wanton wenches do not bringFor my hairs black colouring :For my locks, girls, let 'em be
4 lines · lyric
Locations and Times
Walt Whitman
LOCATIONS and times—what is it in me that meets them all, whenever and wherever, and makes me at home?
4 lines · lyric
First Fig
Edna St. Vincent Millay · 1920
My candle burns at both ends;It will not last the night;But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends—
4 lines · lyric
The Caffeine Resolution
The QuillOak Editors
I solemnly swore off caffeineon Monday at seven-fifteen;by twenty past seven
5 lines · limerick
Instructions for the First Cold Morning
The QuillOak Editors
Wake before the heat comes on and let the house be honestly cold for one minute.Go to the window. The grass is silvered and the breath of the world is visible at last.Do not reach for the season you wanted. This is the season you were given; greet it.
5 lines · prose poem
Time does go on
Emily Dickinson
Time does go on —I tell it gay to those who suffer now —They shall survive —
5 lines · lyric
Cancelled Passage of Mont Blanc
Percy Bysshe Shelley
There is a voice, not understood by all,Sent from these desert-caves. It is the roarOf the rent ice-cliff which the sunbeams call,
5 lines · lyric
Jesus! thy Crucifix
Emily Dickinson
Jesus! thy CrucifixEnable thee to guessThe smaller size!
6 lines · lyric
No Romance sold unto
Emily Dickinson
No Romance sold untoCould so enthrall a ManAs the perusal of
6 lines · lyric
Cancelled Passage of the Ode to Liberty
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Within a cavern of man's trackless spiritIs throned an Image, so intensely fairThat the adventurous thoughts that wander near it
7 lines · lyric
More poems in this theme
- Another Trip Around the SunAnother trip around the sun,…8 lines
- The TasselIt's just a string, the tassel is,…8 lines
- The Zero on the CakeA zero on the birthday cake…8 lines
- Better Birthday MathThe candles say one number;…8 lines
- Boss of TimeYou gave the work your mornings,…8 lines
- The Robe Goes Back TomorrowThe robe goes back tomorrow…8 lines
- Choose GenerouslyMidnight will make its noise,…8 lines
- The First Blank PageThe calendar turns over…8 lines
- A Door just opened on a streetA Door just opened on a street —…8 lines
- A happy lip—breaks suddenA happy lip — breaks sudden —…8 lines
- Between the form of Life and LifeBetween the form of Life and Life…8 lines
- Did life's penurious lengthDid life's penurious length…8 lines
- Floss won't save you from an AbyssFloss won't save you from an Abyss…8 lines
- Great Streets of silence led awayGreat Streets of silence led away…8 lines
- "Heavenly Father"—take to thee"Heavenly Father" — take to thee…8 lines
- How much the present moment meansHow much the present moment means…8 lines
- How the Waters closed above HimHow the Waters closed above Him…8 lines
- It sounded as if the Streets were runningIt sounded as if the Streets were running…8 lines
- Like Men and Women Shadows walkLike Men and Women Shadows walk…8 lines
- Nature affects to be sedateNature affects to be sedate…8 lines
- Nature rarer uses YellowNature rarer uses Yellow…8 lines
- Pain—expands the TimePain — expands the Time —…8 lines
- Pain—has an Element of BlankPain — has an Element of Blank —…8 lines
- There is a pain—so utterThere is a pain — so utter —…8 lines
- They say that "Time assuages"They say that "Time assuages" —…8 lines
- To lose one's faith—surpassTo lose one's faith — surpass…8 lines
- To mend each tattered FaithTo mend each tattered Faith…8 lines
- Yesterday is HistoryYesterday is History,…8 lines
- The Ceremonies for Candlemas DayKindle the Christmas brand, and then…8 lines
- There Was a Man Who Lived a Life of FireThere was a man who lived a life of fire.…8 lines
- Full of Life, NowFULL of life, now, compact, visible,…8 lines
- The ShepherdHow sweet is the Shepherd's sweet lot!…8 lines
- I'm Nobody! Who are you?I'm nobody! Who are you?…8 lines
- Nothing Gold Can StayNature's first green is gold,…8 lines
- What You BuiltThe job gets a replacement;…9 lines
- Teach Him—When He makes the namesTeach Him — When He makes the names —…9 lines
- Fire and IceSome say the world will end in fire,…9 lines
- My Heart Leaps UpMy heart leaps up when I behold…9 lines
- The Load-Bearing YearsThe first year gets champagne.…10 lines
- How happy is the little StoneHow happy is the little Stone…10 lines
- A Noiseless Patient SpiderA noiseless patient spider,…10 lines
- In a lonely placeIn a lonely place,…11 lines
- I Hear America SingingI hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,…11 lines
- So We'll Go No More a RovingSo, we'll go no more a roving…12 lines
- Move Eastward, Happy EarthMove eastward, happy earth, and leave…12 lines
- That Women Are But Men's ShadowsFollow a shadow, it still flies you;…12 lines
- I died for Beauty—but was scarceI died for Beauty — but was scarce…12 lines
- Loss And GainWhen I compare…12 lines
- Here’s his Health in WaterALTHO’ my back be at the wa’,…12 lines
- O Me! O Life!O ME! O life!... of the questions of these recurring;…12 lines
- This Moment, Yearning and ThoughtfulTHIS moment yearning and thoughtful, sitting alone,…12 lines
- Infant Joy"I have no name;…12 lines
- Sonnet 126: O thou, my lovely boy, who in thy powerO thou, my lovely boy, who in thy power…12 lines
- Loveliest of Trees, the Cherry NowLoveliest of trees, the cherry now…12 lines
- TravelThe railroad track is miles away,…12 lines
- The Brain — is wider than the SkyThe brain is wider than the sky,…12 lines
- "There Will Come Soft Rains"There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground,…12 lines
- Tho' I get home how late—how lateTho' I get home how late — how late —…13 lines
- An Enigma"Seldom we find," says Solomon Don Dunce,…14 lines
- On First Looking Into Chapman's HomerMuch have I travell'd in the realms of gold,…14 lines
- O aye my wife she dang meChorus—O aye my wife she dang me,…14 lines
- Sonnet 103: Alack! what poverty my Muse brings forthAlack! what poverty my Muse brings forth,…14 lines
- Sonnet 104: To me, fair friend, you never can be oldTo me, fair friend, you never can be old,…14 lines
- Sonnet 121: 'Tis better to be vile than vile esteem'd'Tis better to be vile than vile esteem'd,…14 lines
- Sonnet 123: No, Time, thou shalt not boast that I do changeNo, Time, thou shalt not boast that I do change:…14 lines
- Sonnet 38: How can my muse want subject to inventHow can my muse want subject to invent,…14 lines
- Sonnet 4: Unthrifty loveliness, why dost thou spendUnthrifty loveliness, why dost thou spend…14 lines
- Sonnet 60: Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shoreLike as the waves make towards the pebbled shore,…14 lines
- Sonnet 75: So are you to my thoughts as food to lifeSo are you to my thoughts as food to life,…14 lines
- Sonnet 78: So oft have I invoked thee for my MuseSo oft have I invoked thee for my Muse,…14 lines
- Sonnet 84: Who is it that says most, which can say moreWho is it that says most, which can say more,…14 lines
- Acquainted with the NightI have been one acquainted with the night.…14 lines
- LeisureWhat is this life if, full of care,…14 lines
- Spring and Fall: To a Young ChildMargaret, are you grieving…15 lines
- On His Blindness"All service ranks the same with God!…15 lines
- To the Virgins, to Make Much of TimeGather ye rosebuds while ye may,…16 lines
- A little Dog that wags his tailA little Dog that wags his tail…16 lines
- As the Starved Maelstrom laps the NaviesAs the Starved Maelstrom laps the Navies…16 lines
- Expanse cannot be lostExpanse cannot be lost —…16 lines
- Growth of Man—like Growth of NatureGrowth of Man — like Growth of Nature —…16 lines
- He put the Belt around my lifeHe put the Belt around my life…16 lines
- He strained my faithHe strained my faith —…16 lines
- The first Day that I was a LifeThe first Day that I was a Life…16 lines
- MemorabiliaAh, did you once see Shelley plain,…16 lines
- The Deuks dang o’er my DaddieTHE BAIRNS gat out wi’ an unco shout,…16 lines
- No Fault in WomenNo fault in women, to refuse…16 lines
- LondonI wandered through each chartered street,…16 lines
- Up-HillDoes the road wind up-hill all the way?…16 lines
- An Irish Airman Foresees His DeathI know that I shall meet my fate…16 lines
- Sonnet 13XIII…17 lines
- I Am!I AM: yet what I am none cares or knows,…18 lines
- A Game of FivesFive little girls, of Five, Four, Three, Two, One:…18 lines
- BarterLife has loveliness to sell,…18 lines
- Upon the road of my lifeUpon the road of my life,…19 lines
- The Man He Killed'Had he and I but met…20 lines
- A Tippling Ballad—When Princes and Prelates, etcWHEN Princes and Prelates,…21 lines
- AloneReading of the poem "Alone" by Edgar Allan Poe…22 lines
- A Dream Within A DreamTake this kiss upon the brow!…24 lines
- Eldorado Gaily bedight,…24 lines
- Brother And Sister"SISTER, sister, go to bed!…24 lines
- SolitudeLaugh, and the world laughs with you;…24 lines
- Sic a Wife as Willie hadWILLIE WASTLE dwalt on Tweed,…32 lines
- I Remember, I RememberI remember, I remember…32 lines
- A Psalm of LifeWHAT THE HEART OF THE YOUNG MAN SAID TO THE PSALMIST.…37 lines
- MiraclesWHY! who makes much of a miracle?…37 lines
- Song of MyselfI was a Poet!…42 lines
- To His Coy MistressHad we but World enough, and Time,…46 lines
- The Village BlacksmithUnder a spreading chestnut-tree…50 lines
- On the late Captain Grose’s PeregrinationsHEAR, Land o’ Cakes, and brither Scots,…60 lines
- The CloudI bring fresh showers for the thirsting flowers,…84 lines