She Was a Phantom of Delight by William Wordsworth She was a Phantom of delight When first she gleamed upon my sight; A lovely Apparition, sent To be a moment’s ornament; Her eyes as stars of Twilight fair; Like Twilight’s,…
Tag: poem analysis
Sonnet 145
Sonnet 145 by William Shakespeare Those lips that Love’s own hand did make Breathed forth the sound that said ‘I hate,’ To me that languish’d for her sake: But when she saw my woeful state, Straight in her heart did…
The Bells
The Bells by Edgar Allan Poe I. Hear the sledges with the bells— Silver bells! What a world of merriment their melody foretells! How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, In the icy air of night! While the stars that oversprinkle All…
Woman Work
Woman Work by Maya Angelou I’ve got the children to tend The clothes to mend The floor to mop The food to shop Then the chicken to fry The baby to dry I got company to feed The garden to…
How I Discovered Poetry
How I Discovered Poetry by Marilyn Nelson It was like soul-kissing, the way the words filled my mouth as Mrs. Purdy read from her desk. All the other kids zoned an hour ahead to 3:15, but Mrs. Purdy and I…
Our Deepest Fear
Our Deepest Fear By Marianne Williamson Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear in that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who…
Life Is Fine
Life Is Fine By Langston Hughes I went down to the river, I set down on the bank. I tried to think but couldn’t, So I jumped in and sank. I came up once and hollered! I came up twice…
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart By Kevin Young I am hoping to hang your head on my wall in shame— the slightest taxidermy thrills me. Fish forever leaping on the living-room wall— paperweights made from skulls of small…
On The Sonnet
On The Sonnet by John Keats If by dull rhymes our English must be chain’d, And, like Andromeda, the Sonnet sweet Fetter’d, in spite of pained loveliness; Let us find out, if we must be constrain’d, Sandals more interwoven and…
Half-Caste
Half-Caste by John Agard Excuse me standing on one leg I’m half-caste Explain yuself wha yu mean when yu say half-caste yu mean when picasso mix red an green is a half-caste canvas/ explain yuself wha u mean when yu…
On the Beach at Fontana
On the Beach at Fontana By James Joyce Wind whines and whines the shingle, The crazy pierstakes groan; A senile sea numbers each single Slimesilvered stone. From whining wind and colder Grey sea I wrap him warm And touch his…
All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter
All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter By J. R. R. Tolkien All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by…
The Bean Eaters
The Bean Eaters By Gwendolyn Brooks They eat beans mostly, this old yellow pair. Dinner is a casual affair. Plain chipware on a plain and creaking wood, Tin flatware. Two who are Mostly Good. Two who have lived their day,…
Virtue
Virtue By George Herbert Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright, The bridal of the earth and sky; The dew shall weep thy fall to-night, For thou must die. Sweet rose, whose hue angry and brave Bids the rash…
I started Early — Took my Dog —
I started Early — Took my Dog — By Emily Dickenson I started Early – Took my Dog – And visited the Sea – The Mermaids in the Basement Came out to look at me – And Frigates – in…
Fletcher McGee
Fletcher McGee By Edgar Lee Masters She took my strength by minutes, She took my life by hours, She drained me like a fevered moon That saps the spinning world. The days went by like shadows, The minutes wheeled like…
Sonnet 9
Sonnet 9 By William Shakespeare Is it for fear to wet a widow’s eye, That thou consum’st thy self in single life? Ah! if thou issueless shalt hap to die, The world will wail thee like a makeless wife; The…
Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven
Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven By William Butler Yeats Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths, Enwrought with golden and silver light, The blue and the dim and the dark cloths Of night and light and the half-light, I…
When I am Dead, My Dearest
When I am Dead, My Dearest By Christina Rossetti When I am dead, my dearest, Sing no sad songs for me; Plant thou no roses at my head, Nor shady cypress tree: Be the green grass above me With showers…
The House Was Quiet and The World Was Calm
The House Was Quiet and The World Was Calm By Wallace Stevens The house was quiet and the world was calm. The reader became the book; and summer night Was like the conscious being of the book. The house was…