Morning Poem by Mary Oliver
Mary Oliver’s “Morning Poem” is about being cheerful and optimistic in all phases of life, embracing the beauty of nature, and finding happiness in small things.
Monna Innominata: I wish I could remember that first day by Christina Rossetti
Christina Rossetti’s sonnet “I wish I could remember that first day” is about reminiscing about first love and the regrets that surface with age.
Every Morning by Mary Oliver
In “Every Morning,” Oliver’s speaker reads the news about the calamities of war, how it affects families, children and causes the death of many people.
Listening by Amy Lowell
“Listening” by Amy Lowell is a lyrical sonnet where the poet confesses her love for someone using images from nature and music. It taps on the musicality of the soul and nature.
Iron by Elizabeth Acevedo
Elizabeth Acevedo’s poem “Iron” was published in the April 2018 issue of Poetry magazine. As a poet, Acevedo often confronts gender, race, and culture through her poems.
Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio by James Wright
James Wright’s poem “Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio” describes a high school football game at Shreve High stadium during which a speaker taps on the struggles of the working-class men around.
Deep in the Quiet Wood by James Weldon Johnson
James Weldon Johnson’s “Deep in the Quiet Wood” is about how the hustle of daily life restricts the soul and how the soul finds true solitude in the woods.
Christmas Carol by Sara Teasdale
Published in Helen of Troy and Other Poems (1911), Sara Teasdale’s “Christmas Carol” is a re-telling of the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Singapore by Mary Oliver
Mary Oliver’s “Singapore” is about a lady who washes the airport ashtrays. This poem was published in Poetry magazine, in June 1988.
What is Life? by John Clare
“What is Life?” by John Clare is all about the meaning of life and true happiness. This piece explores a number of transience feelings and emotions and how they set traps for human beings.