The poem’s unnamed narrator is alone at night feeling sad and weak as he pores over old books. As he is about to fall asleep, he hears a tapping at his chamber door. He opens the door to darkness and whispers the name “Lenore,
Classic Poets
Alone–Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was born in 1809 and died in 1849. He was an American writer and poet. He was one of the cornerstone writers of the Romantic Movement.
The Vampire by Charles Baudelaire
You who, like the stab of a knife,
Entered my plaintive heart;
You who, strong as a herd
Of demons, came, ardent and adorned,
Walt Whitman–One Hour to Madness and Joy
The American poet Walt Whitman was is consider the first modern poet. 20th century writers build the modern movement on Whitman’s works.
Success by Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
O Captain My Captain by Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman (1819-1892)
Afternoon in February by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
It is rare for us to publish a classic poem these days. We would like to more often. Being the end of February and just coming out of a very cold spell, we are happy to see the sun. Longfellow was born in February, so it just seemed like a good idea.
Dualisms by Alfred Lord Tennyson
Dualisms by Alfred Lord Tennyson Two bees within a chrystal flowerbell rocked Hum a lovelay to the westwind at noontide. Both alike, they buzz together, Both alike, they hum together Through and through the flowered heather. Where in a creeping cove the wave unshocked Lays itself calm and wide, Over a stream two birds of […]
A Pause of Thought by Christina Rossetti
A Pause of Thought by Christina Rossetti I looked for that which is not, nor can be, And hope deferred made my heart sick in truth: But years must pass before a hope of youth Is resigned utterly. I watched and waited with a steadfast will: And though the object seemed to flee away That […]
Whispers of Immortality by T. S. Eliot
Whispers of Immortality by T. S. Eliot Webster was much possessed by death And saw the skull beneath the skin; And breastless creatures under ground Leaned backward with a lipless grin. Daffodil bulbs instead of balls Stared from the sockets of the eyes! He knew that thought clings round dead limbs Tightening its lusts and […]
Memorial Day by Joyce Kilmer
Memorial Day by Joyce Kilmer “Dulce et decorum est” The bugle echoes shrill and sweet, But not of war it sings to-day. The road is rhythmic with the feet Of men-at-arms who come to pray. The roses blossom white and red On tombs where weary soldiers lie; Flags wave above the honored dead And martial […]
Love and a Question by Robert Frost
Love and a Question by Robert Frost A STRANGER came to the door at eve, And he spoke the bridegroom fair. He bore a green-white stick in his hand, And, for all burden, care. He asked with the eyes more than the lips For a shelter for the night, And he turned and looked at […]
His Dream by W. B. Yeats
His Dream by W. B. Yeats I swayed upon the gaudy stern The butt end of a steering oar, And everywhere that I could turn Men ran upon the shore. And though I would have hushed the crowd There was no mother’s son but said, What is the figure in a shroud Upon a gaudy […]
Sonnet VI by William Shakespeare
Sonnet VI by William Shakespeare Then let not winter’s ragged hand deface, In thee thy summer, ere thou be distill’d: Make sweet some vial; treasure thou some place With beauty’s treasure ere it be self-kill’d. That use is not forbidden usury, Which happies those that pay the willing loan; That’s for thy self to breed […]
Kindliness by Rupert Brooke
Kindliness by Rupert Brooke When love has changed to kindliness Oh, love, our hungry lips, that press So tight that Time’s an old god’s dream Nodding in heaven, and whisper stuff Seven million years were not enough To think on after, make it seem Less than the breath of children playing, A blasphemy scarce worth […]