Editor's note
Ranking is generated by Storgy's classification model, which scores each poem's thematic depth on this subject relative to the rest of the corpus. The list is re-indexed weekly as new poems enter the public-domain corpus.
Best poems about — Storgy
Flower.
Twenty-five poems, ranked.
25 of the finest public-domain poems about flower, ranked by thematic depth. Scored by Storgy's classification model against the rest of the corpus, and re-indexed weekly as new works enter the canon.
The leading three
01
I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
William Wordsworth · 1807
“A speaker recalls a moment when he unexpectedly came across a vast field of daffodils next to a lake, and the scene was so joyful it seemed nearly surreal. Year…”
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02
Rose Pogonias
Robert Frost · 1913
“Two people wander into a small, sunlit meadow full of wild orchids, feeling so awestruck by the beauty that it feels almost sacred. They gather some flowers and…”
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03
Ah Sunflower
William Blake
“A sunflower spends its entire life turning to follow the sun, and Blake uses this imagery to discuss people who spend their lives pursuing something just out of…”
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The complete index
- 04
Flowers
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Longfellow's "Flowers" suggests that flowers and stars share a common purpose: they are signs from God that express truths about our human experience. A poet who observes carefully…
- 05
La Rose
Sappho
This poem serves as a love letter to the rose, elevating it to queen of all flowers and a living symbol of beauty, love, and pleasure. Sappho (or a poet inspired by her) layers ima…
- 06
Lotus Hurt by the Cold
D. H. Lawrence
A speaker likens his hope and desire to lotus flowers emerging from muddy water, only to face the chilling rejection from the woman he loves. Each time he opens his heart and body,…
- 07
On a Faded Violet
Percy Bysshe Shelley
A dried violet that once held the scent and color of someone dear now rests lifeless on the speaker's chest, and no amount of tears or sighs can revive it. The flower reflects his…
- 08
Sick Rose
William Blake
A rose is being eaten away by an unseen worm that has slipped in during the dark and stormy night. Blake uses the rose and the worm to illustrate how something lovely and vibrant c…
- 09
Sunflower Sutra
Allen Ginsberg
A dirty sunflower found next to a railroad track becomes the heart of a vision about human dignity and the beauty hidden beneath industrial grime. Ginsberg and his friend Jack Kero…
- 10
The cowslip startles: Surprises the eye with its bright patches
James Russell Lowell
This nature note by James Russell Lowell talks about the cowslip, known to New Englanders as the marsh-marigold, as it appears in early spring across the wet meadows, with its gold…
- 11
_To a Friend who sent me some Roses._
John Keats
Keats is strolling through the fields when he notices a wild musk-rose, which he considers the most stunning flower in nature. Later, his friend Wells sends him some garden roses,…
- 12
To Daffodils
Robert Herrick
A concise lyric by Robert Herrick observes daffodils as they bloom and fade in just one day, transforming this moment into a reflection on human existence: we, too, are here for a…
- 13
To Rodon
Sappho
Sappho's "To the Rose" is a brief hymn celebrating the rose, posing the question: if Zeus were to crown a king of all flowers, wouldn't the rose be the obvious choice? The poem acc…
- 14
To the Dandelion
James Russell Lowell
A dandelion growing by the roadside inspires the poet to reflect on how everyday things can be more valuable than gold or exotic treasures. The flower reminds him of childhood memo…
- 15
With a Pressed Flower
James Russell Lowell
A speaker sends a pressed flower from the Rhine River in Germany to a loved one back home in New England, inviting them to play the classic game of "he loves me, loves me not" by p…
- 16
Song of Proserpine While Gathering Flowers on the Plain of Enna
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Proserpine, known as Persephone in Greek mythology, sings a heartfelt prayer to her mother, the Earth goddess. She asks for her blessings and protection, just as her mother nurture…
- 17
Windflowers
Algernon Charles Swinburne
Swinburne's "Windflowers" is a lyrical exploration of the anemone — a wild flower whose name translates to "daughter of the wind." He uses this flower to reflect on fleeting beauty…
- 18
A Red, Red Rose
Robert Burns · 1794
A speaker shares with the person he loves that his feelings are as vibrant and lovely as a blooming rose and as sweet as a well-played melody. He vows that his love will endure bey…
- 19
Garden
H. D. · 1916
H. D.'s "Garden" is a two-part poem that captures the feeling of being stuck in oppressive summer heat. In the first part, the speaker gazes at a rose that is so vivid and solid it…
- 20
Pear Tree
H. D. · 1916
A speaker gazes up at a pear tree bursting with white blossoms, nearly overwhelmed by its sheer size and brightness against the sky. H. D. presents the tree as a vibrant entity—som…
- 21
Sea Iris
H. D. · 1916
H.D.'s "Sea Iris" offers an intimate look at a wild iris thriving at the sea's edge — battered and broken, yet still vibrant and alive. The poem portrays the flower almost as if it…
- 22
Sea Lily
H. D. · 1916
A sea lily (a type of flower or marine creature) endures harsh winds, sand, and waves, yet it doesn't get destroyed; it rises instead. The poem explores how something delicate can…
- 23
Sea Poppies
H. D. · 1916
A speaker admires a sea poppy flourishing in a tough coastal setting, amazed that such a beautiful and fragrant flower can thrive amid rocks, shells, and salt-strewn debris. The po…
- 24
Sea Rose
H. D. · 1916
A small, weathered rose growing on a beach is compared to a flawless, well-tended garden rose — and the rugged beach rose comes out on top. H.D. suggests that beauty shaped by stru…
- 25
The Rose Family
Robert Frost · 1928
A rose is a rose — that's common knowledge. Yet, modern botany reveals that apples, pears, and plums are also part of the rose family, making this seemingly straightforward fact a…
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