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
Friendship.
Twenty-five poems, ranked.
25 of the finest public-domain poems about friendship, 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
Sonnet 30: When to the sessions of sweet silent thought
William Shakespeare · 1609
“When the speaker sits quietly and lets his mind wander back to the past, he feels all his old losses and grief come rushing back — friends he’s lost, loves that…”
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02
Auld Lang Syne
Robert Burns · 1788
“Two old friends lift their cups in unison, reminiscing about the joyful times of their youth—the hills they raced across, the streams they jumped into, and the…”
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03
Portrait of a Lady
T. S. Eliot · 1915
“A young man meets with an older woman three times throughout the seasons. Each time, she pours out intense, needy speeches about friendship, life, and the desir…”
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The complete index
- 04
Tableau
Countee Cullen · 1925
Two boys — one Black and one white — stroll down the street with their arms linked, while both the Black and white communities watch them with disapproval. The boys pay no attentio…
- 05
Addressed to Haydon
John Keats
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 fo…
- 06
A Dream of Sunshine
Eugene Field
A poet daydreams about leaving behind the cold, dreary weather to go fishing with his good friend John Lyle King — and the poem is more a love letter to their friendship than about…
- 07
A Drinking Song
Eugene Field
A group of friends raises their glasses in a toast, honoring both the great memories they've shared and the wonderful moments yet to come. The poem reads like a lively party song —…
- 08
Agassiz
James Russell Lowell
Lowell penned this lengthy elegy upon hearing about the unexpected death of his dear friend Louis Agassiz, the renowned naturalist. He transitions from the shock of the telegraph's…
- 09
An Epistle to George William Curtis
James Russell Lowell
Lowell writes a lengthy verse letter to his friend George William Curtis, commending Curtis's character and civic bravery. He then reflects on his own inner turmoil: while he cheri…
- 10
An Invitation
James Russell Lowell
Lowell writes a heartfelt, lengthy poem to his old friend John Francis Heath, who has spent the last nine years living abroad. He believes that everything — history, beauty, advent…
- 11
As I Lay with My Head in Your Lap Camerado
Walt Whitman
Whitman rests his head in a companion's lap and shares a candid truth: he’s a troublemaker at heart, his words can stir up chaos, and he’s been leading this friend on an uncharted…
- 12
A Spring Poem from Bion
Eugene Field
This poem consists of two distinct pieces by Eugene Field: one is a translation of a classic spring dialogue from the ancient Greek poet Bion, and the other is a translation of a F…
- 13
Avec Un Panier De Vins Divers
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A lively bunch of personified wines — each named after a well-known French wine region or variety — makes their way through the night for a tipsy Christmas visit to the esteemed Sw…
- 14
Bayard Taylor
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Longfellow composed this poem in honor of his friend and fellow poet Bayard Taylor, who passed away in 1878 while serving as the U.S. Minister to Germany. The poem begins with a se…
- 15
Buena Park, Ill., December 4, 1893
Eugene Field
This letter is a touching message from the poet Eugene Field to a dear friend in the clergy who is seriously ill. Field confesses that he doesn't often pray, but when he does, it's…
- 16
Calidore
John Keats
Calidore is a young knight who rows across a lake at sunset, taking in the stunning beauty of the landscape before hurrying to a castle to meet his beloved friends. The poem is a f…
- 17
Chicago, May 26, 1892
Eugene Field
This letter is a funny piece by Eugene Field, who pretends to be a devout churchwoman writing to another member of the congregation about arranging a Christmas gift of knit slipper…
- 18
De Amicitiis
Eugene Field
A book-loving man relaxes in bed, surrounded by his cherished old volumes, and happily declares they are his dearest friends—better than wine, better than being with others. He lov…
- 19
Dedication
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Longfellow expresses his sincere gratitude to his readers and friends—those he may never meet face-to-face but who have shared kind words, letters, and books from all corners of th…
- 20
Dedication, to Leigh Hunt, Esq
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Shelley pens a sincere dedication to his dear friend Leigh Hunt, celebrating Hunt's character and sharing his reasons for honoring him with this piece. He acknowledges that his pas…
- 21
Devereux Farm, Near Marblehead
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Two old friends are gathered in a farmhouse by the sea, chatting late into the night as darkness envelops the room. Their talk meanders through all that has changed — those who hav…
- 22
Education
James Russell Lowell
This piece is a biographical prose passage about James Russell Lowell's early education, starting from his first lessons at a dame school and continuing through his time at Harvard…
- 23
Epistles
John Keats
Keats's "Epistles" consists of verse letters written to friends and fellow poets, joyfully celebrating the pleasures of reading, writing, and imagination. These poems have a warm,…
- 24
Epistle to Dr Arbuthnot
Alexander Pope
Pope writes a lengthy, conversational letter to his doctor and friend John Arbuthnot, seizing the opportunity to express his frustrations about the numerous bad poets, insincere fr…
- 25
Epitaph
Percy Bysshe Shelley
This short poem serves as an inscription for two close friends who passed away and were buried side by side. Shelley expresses a wish for their graves—and the memories of them—to r…
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