A personal collection of favorite poemshttps://www.theversery.com/en-ushttps://www.theversery.com/poems/filling-station/https://www.theversery.com/poems/filling-station/Filling Station by Elizabeth BishopFri, 01 Jan 1965 00:00:00 GMTordinary-lifebeautyfamilyobservationcleanlinessloveobservantcurioustenderamusedfree-versefair-use-excerpthttps://www.theversery.com/poems/dream-song-76/https://www.theversery.com/poems/dream-song-76/Dream Song 76 by John BerrymanWed, 01 Jan 1964 00:00:00 GMTsufferingendurancepainsurvivalfriendshipdespairanguishedrawintimatedesperatedream-songfair-use-excerpthttps://www.theversery.com/poems/do-not-go-gentle-into-that-good-night/https://www.theversery.com/poems/do-not-go-gentle-into-that-good-night/Do not go gentle into that good night by Dylan ThomasMon, 01 Jan 1951 00:00:00 GMTdeathresistancefather-sonmortalitydefianceagingfiercepassionateurgentdefiantvillanellefair-use-excerpthttps://www.theversery.com/poems/musee-des-beaux-arts/https://www.theversery.com/poems/musee-des-beaux-arts/Musée des Beaux Arts by W.H. AudenSun, 01 Jan 1939 00:00:00 GMTsufferingindifferencearthuman-conditiontragedyordinary-lifecontemplativeobservantmelancholicphilosophicalfree-versefair-use-excerpthttps://www.theversery.com/poems/stopping-by-woods-on-a-snowy-evening/https://www.theversery.com/poems/stopping-by-woods-on-a-snowy-evening/Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.Mon, 01 Jan 1923 00:00:00 GMTnaturesolitudedutymortalitybeautycontemplationobligationcontemplativetranquilreflectivewistfulmeditativelyricpublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/fire-and-ice/https://www.theversery.com/poems/fire-and-ice/Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I've tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire.Thu, 01 Jan 1920 00:00:00 GMTdestructiondesirehatredapocalypsehuman-natureextremescontemplativesardonicdarkphilosophicallyricpublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/birches/https://www.theversery.com/poems/birches/When I see birches bend to left and right Across the lines of straighter darker trees, I like to think some boy's been swinging them. But swinging doesn't bend them down to staySat, 01 Jan 1916 00:00:00 GMTnaturechildhoodescapismimaginationrealitynostalgiacontemplativenostalgicwistfulmeditativeblank-versepublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/the-road-not-taken/https://www.theversery.com/poems/the-road-not-taken/Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I couldSat, 01 Jan 1916 00:00:00 GMTchoiceindividualismnaturelife-pathsregretmemorycontemplativenostalgicreflectiveambiguouslyricpublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/chicago/https://www.theversery.com/poems/chicago/Hog Butcher for the World, Tool maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler;Thu, 01 Jan 1914 00:00:00 GMTurbanizationindustryamerican-identityvitalityworking-classpridevigorousboastfulproudenergeticfree-versepublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/rhapsody-on-a-windy-night/https://www.theversery.com/poems/rhapsody-on-a-windy-night/Twelve o'clock. Along the reaches of the street Held in a lunar synthesis, Whispering lunar incantationsMon, 01 Jan 1917 00:00:00 GMTtimememoryurban-lifeisolationdecaythe-unconscioushauntingdisorientingmelancholicsurrealfree-versepublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/the-love-song-of-j-alfred-prufrock/https://www.theversery.com/poems/the-love-song-of-j-alfred-prufrock/S’io credesse che mia risposta fosse A persona che mai tornasse al mondo, Questa fiamma staria senza piu scosse. Ma percioche giammai di questo fondoFri, 01 Jan 1915 00:00:00 GMTparalysisagingself-doubtmodern-alienationtimemortalitysocial-anxietyanxiousintrospectivemelancholicironichesitantdramatic-monologuepublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/miniver-cheevy/https://www.theversery.com/poems/miniver-cheevy/Miniver Cheevy, child of scorn, Grew lean while he assailed the seasons; He wept that he was ever born, And he had reasons.Sat, 01 Jan 1910 00:00:00 GMTnostalgiadiscontentromanticismfailureescapismmodern-lifeironicsardonicmelancholicmockinglyricpublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/sea-fever/https://www.theversery.com/poems/sea-fever/I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking, And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.Wed, 01 Jan 1902 00:00:00 GMTnaturelongingadventurefreedomwanderlustseayearningpassionateadventurousrestlesslyricpublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/the-darkling-thrush/https://www.theversery.com/poems/the-darkling-thrush/I leant upon a coppice gate When Frost was spectre-grey, And Winter's dregs made desolate The weakening eye of day.Mon, 01 Jan 1900 00:00:00 GMThopedespairnaturefaithrenewalnineteenth-centurymelancholicdesolatehopefulreflectivelyricpublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/waiting-for-the-barbarians/https://www.theversery.com/poems/waiting-for-the-barbarians/What are we waiting for, assembled in the forum? The barbarians are due here today. Fri, 01 Jan 1904 00:00:00 GMTcivilizationpolitical-decaysocial-crisisfearwaitingexistentialismanxiousironiccontemplativeunsettlingdramatic-monologuepublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/when-i-was-one-and-twenty/https://www.theversery.com/poems/when-i-was-one-and-twenty/When I was one-and-twenty I heard a wise man say, "Give crowns and pounds and guineas But not your heart away;Wed, 01 Jan 1896 00:00:00 GMTyouthloveheartbreakregretwisdomexperienceruefulbittersweetironicresignedlyricpublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/if/https://www.theversery.com/poems/if/If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too;Sat, 01 Jan 1910 00:00:00 GMTperseveranceintegrityself-disciplinestoicismvirtuecharacterinspirationalencouragingmeasuredpaternaldidactic-versepublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/we-wear-the-mask/https://www.theversery.com/poems/we-wear-the-mask/We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,— This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,Wed, 01 Jan 1896 00:00:00 GMTracismoppressionidentitysurvivaldouble-consciousnesssufferingresiliencesomberrestraineddefiantanguishedlyricpublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/o-me-o-life/https://www.theversery.com/poems/o-me-o-life/Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring, Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill'd with the foolish, Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?) Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew'd,Fri, 01 Jan 1892 00:00:00 GMTexistencepurposeidentitylife-meaninghopecontemplativequestioninghopefulphilosophicalfree-versepublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/pied-beauty/https://www.theversery.com/poems/pied-beauty/Glory be to God for dappled things— For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow; For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim; Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches' wings;Tue, 01 Jan 1918 00:00:00 GMTdivine-praisenaturebeautydiversitycreationgodjoyfulexuberantcelebratoryreverentcurtal-sonnetpublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/battle-hymn-of-the-republic/https://www.theversery.com/poems/battle-hymn-of-the-republic/Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword: His truth is marching on.Wed, 01 Jan 1862 00:00:00 GMTfaithjusticefreedomsacrificerighteousnesswarpatriotismtriumphantsolemnferventinspirationallyricpublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/there-was-a-child-went-forth/https://www.theversery.com/poems/there-was-a-child-went-forth/THERE was a child went forth every day; And the first object he look'd upon, that object he became; And that object became part of him for the day, or a certain part of the day, or for many years, or stretching cycles of years.Mon, 01 Jan 1855 00:00:00 GMTchildhoodidentityexperiencenaturedevelopmentconsciousnesswondercontemplativeexpansiveinnocentfree-versepublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/the-raven/https://www.theversery.com/poems/the-raven/Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore— While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.Wed, 01 Jan 1845 00:00:00 GMTgrieflossmadnessdeathobsessiondespairmelancholiceeriedesperatehauntingnarrative-versepublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/the-day-is-done/https://www.theversery.com/poems/the-day-is-done/The day is done, and the darkness Falls from the wings of Night, As a feather is wafted downward From an eagle in his flight.Mon, 01 Jan 1844 00:00:00 GMTsolacepoetryeveningcomfortmelancholybeautysoothinggentlemelancholicpeacefullyricpublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/to-autumn/https://www.theversery.com/poems/to-autumn/Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; Conspiring with him how to load and bless With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;Sat, 01 Jan 1820 00:00:00 GMTnatureseasonstransiencebeautymortalityharvestacceptanceserenecontemplativemelancholicacceptingsensuousodepublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/ozymandias/https://www.theversery.com/poems/ozymandias/I met a traveller from an antique land Who said: "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert . . . Near them, on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,Thu, 01 Jan 1818 00:00:00 GMTpowermortalityhubristimedecayimpermanenceart-vs-timeironiccontemplativestarksoberingsonnetpublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/i-would-i-were-a-careless-child/https://www.theversery.com/poems/i-would-i-were-a-careless-child/I would I were a careless child, Still dwelling in my Highland cave, Or roaming through the dusky wild, Or bounding o'er the dark blue wave;Thu, 01 Jan 1807 00:00:00 GMTchildhoodinnocencelossnostalgianaturefreedomwistfulmelancholicyearningreflectivelyricpublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/kubla-khan/https://www.theversery.com/poems/kubla-khan/Or a Vision in a Dream. A Fragment. In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure dome decree:Mon, 01 Jan 1816 00:00:00 GMTimaginationcreationparadisevisionartthe-supernaturaldreamlikevisionarymysticalenchantinglyricpublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/the-tyger/https://www.theversery.com/poems/the-tyger/Tyger Tyger, burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry?Wed, 01 Jan 1794 00:00:00 GMTcreationdivine-powergood-and-evilnaturespiritualitydualityawedquestioningintensemysteriouslyricpublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/to-his-coy-mistress/https://www.theversery.com/poems/to-his-coy-mistress/Had we but world enough, and time, This coyness, Lady, were no crime. We would sit down and think which way To walk and pass our long love's day.Wed, 01 Jan 1681 00:00:00 GMTlovecarpe-diemmortalitytimeseductiondeathpassionateurgentwittysensuallyricpublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/to-the-virgins-to-make-much-of-time/https://www.theversery.com/poems/to-the-virgins-to-make-much-of-time/Gather ye rose-buds while ye may, Old Time is still a-flying; And this same flower that smiles today Tomorrow will be dying.Wed, 01 Jan 1648 00:00:00 GMTcarpe-diemyouthtimemortalitymarriagebeautyurgentplayfuladvisorywistfullyricpublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/1-corinthians-13/https://www.theversery.com/poems/1-corinthians-13/Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. Sat, 01 Jan 1611 00:00:00 GMTlovefaithvirtueeternityspiritual-maturityhopeexaltedsolemntranscendenttenderprose-poempublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/isaiah-6-8/https://www.theversery.com/poems/isaiah-6-8/Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.Sat, 01 Jan 1611 00:00:00 GMTcallingwillingnessservicedivine-purposeobediencewillingresponsivedevotedpublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/psalm-23/https://www.theversery.com/poems/psalm-23/The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Sat, 01 Jan 1611 00:00:00 GMTfaithdivine-guidancecomforttrustprotectionprovidencepeacefultrustingcomfortingserenepublic-domainhttps://www.theversery.com/poems/the-iceberg-theory/https://www.theversery.com/poems/the-iceberg-theory/The Iceberg Theory by Gerald LocklinTue, 01 Jan 2002 00:00:00 GMTliterary-criticismauthenticitysimplicityanti-elitismeveryday-lifehumoroussardonicirreverentplayfulfree-versefair-use-excerpt