Best Poems About
MacLeish's "Ars Poetica" (1926) suggests that a poem shouldn't aim to explain or preach — it should simply *exist*, much like a physical object does in the world. He constructs the entire poem using comparisons between poems and tangible, w
Written in 1965 during the peak of the Black Arts Movement, "Black Art" is Amiri Baraka's passionate manifesto-poem urging Black poetry to move beyond decoration and become a tool for change. He demands poems that engage with the world — th
A weary artist named Gaspar Becerra has been trying to carve a flawless image of the Virgin Mary, but his vision keeps eluding him no matter how hard he works. One night, worn out and dozing by the fire, he hears a mysterious voice urging h
A poet observes a potter at his wheel, getting lost in a musical daydream that takes him around the world—from the tile-makers of Delft to the porcelain kilns of China—exploring the history of ceramic art through time. The potter's familiar
Longfellow's *Michael Angelo* is a dramatic poem—essentially a complete verse drama—that envisions the final years of the Renaissance artist Michelangelo Buonarroti. It delves into his conflicts with aging, artistic ambition, faith, and the
This brief dramatic excerpt from Longfellow's longer verse-drama shows the aging Michelangelo taking a moment during his work to recognize his waning strength in front of his devoted servant Urbino. In just three lines, Longfellow conveys t
A poet gazes at an ancient Greek urn adorned with carved figures — lovers, musicians, a priest conducting a sacrifice — and ponders the stories captured on its surface. Since the scenes can never shift or evolve, the figures on the urn esca
Lowell gazes at Giotto's renowned portrait of Dante, reflecting on the true cost of being a poet. He shifts from the youthful, idealistic Dante in the painting to the older, exiled Dante who endured hardship for his craft. He contends that
Shelley gazes at a painting he thought was Leonardo da Vinci's portrayal of Medusa's severed head, feeling both horrified and captivated. The poem delves into how great art can transform something grotesque into something sublime — the beau
Shelley gazes at a painting he thinks is by Leonardo da Vinci, depicting the severed head of Medusa. He feels torn between horror and fascination with its beauty. He contends that it’s not the monster’s ugliness that paralyzes you — it’s th
This is Canto XV of Longfellow's epic poem *The Song of Hiawatha*, which narrates the tale of how the famed Ojibwe leader Hiawatha created picture-writing. This system of symbols, painted on birch bark and grave-posts, allowed his people to
A poet gazes at a block of marble and thinks: the sculpture is already within it, just waiting — the artist's job is to chip away everything that doesn’t fit. He then applies this thought to the woman he loves: she holds both his salvation
This sonnet envisions the nine Muses—goddesses of art and knowledge from Greek mythology—descending from their sacred mountain to dwell among regular folks. Upon their arrival, the world suddenly seems more beautiful and vibrant. Rather tha
This isn't just one poem; it's a collection of translations by Shelley—versions he created from original works in Greek, Latin, Spanish, German, and Italian between 1818 and 1822. He tackled poets such as Homer, Plato, Goethe, Calderon, and
Frank O'Hara's "Why I Am Not a Painter" is a lighthearted, chatty poem that explores the creative process — particularly how both a poet and a painter create works that often stray far from their original intentions. O'Hara draws on his gen
This short poem by Shelley honors Shakespeare, expressing awe at the immense scale and diversity of his creative genius. Shelley essentially suggests that Shakespeare's imagination was so expansive it could encompass all forms of human expe
Marianne Moore starts by confessing her dislike for poetry, then spends the entire poem detailing what might change her mind about it. She argues that poetry deserves recognition only when it focuses on real, tangible subjects instead of lo
Hugh Selwyn Mauberley marks Ezra Pound's farewell to his early career and offers a sharp critique of modern Western culture. A poet who feels out of sync with his time struggles to preserve high art, while society opts for cheap mass produc
After witnessing a huge Victory Celebration in New York City, the speaker retreats to a quiet corner of Central Park and notices a statue of Beethoven. The loud cheers of the crowd make the composer's silent, contemplative statue feel even
A poet wonders why anyone bothers to create art and then responds to his own question: it's not for fame or applause, but for the hope that some unknown reader in the future will feel what the poet felt. The entire poem serves as a love let
Keats composes a sonnet that honors the painter Benjamin Robert Haydon, suggesting that real appreciation for outstanding artists isn't just for the wealthy or well-known — it's found among everyday people everywhere. He commends those who
Keats passionately names three influential creative figures—Wordsworth, Leigh Hunt, and Benjamin Haydon—referring to them as "great spirits" who are subtly transforming the world from within. He emphasizes that a new generation of artists a
Eugene Field invites us on a whimsical midnight stroll through Renaissance Florence, inspired by a history book. He brings to life the spirits of Dante, Michelangelo, Raphael, and the passionate preacher Savonarola, as if they're still roam
This poem honors the ancient Greek poet Sappho, celebrating her brilliance, beauty, and the enduring impact of her work. The speaker expresses amazement that even after centuries, Sappho's voice and elegance still radiate like the morning l
A poet, channeling Sappho and endorsed by the muse Erato, mocks a woman who never chased after poetry or art, suggesting she will fade into obscurity. The poem juxtaposes this blank oblivion with the immortality the speaker asserts she gain