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
Jealousy.
Twenty-five poems, ranked.
25 of the finest public-domain poems about jealousy, 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
Porphyria's Lover
Robert Browning · 1836
“A man waits alone in a stormy cottage for Porphyria, the woman he loves but who hesitates to fully commit to him. When she finally arrives and expresses her ten…”
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02
My Last Duchess
Robert Browning · 1842
“A Duke is displaying a painting of his deceased ex-wife to an envoy sent to discuss his upcoming marriage. As he speaks, it becomes evident that he orchestrated…”
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03
The Highwayman
Alfred Noyes · 1906
“A highwayman rides to meet his secret love, Bess, the landlord's daughter. However, a jealous soldier informs the redcoats, who set a trap using Bess. She fires…”
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The complete index
- 04
Phaedra
H. D. · 1921
Phaedra, the famed queen of Crete, appeals to the gods of her homeland to regain the power she once wielded over love and desire—a power now hindered by rival magic. She senses her…
- 05
Simaetha
H. D. · 1921
A woman named Simaetha carries out a ritual spell, dyeing wool and burning herbs in an attempt to win back — or perhaps punish — a man who has hurt her. She fluctuates between deep…
- 06
Five Criticisms
Alfred Noyes · 1922
Alfred Noyes delivers five pointed critiques of the literary and political trends of his time: the cynical love-triangle novel, the obsession with novelty over truth, revolutionary…
- 07
A Mood
James Russell Lowell
A man revisits a forest he cherished in his youth, hoping to rekindle some of that old sense of wonder — but it doesn't happen. He observes a pine tree that appears completely at e…
- 08
Annabel Lee
Edgar Allan Poe
A man reflects on his childhood love for Annabel Lee, a girl who shared his life in a kingdom by the sea. He attributes her death to the envy of angels. Despite her absence, he bel…
- 09
A Piteous Plaint
Eugene Field
A two-year-old boy is completely infatuated with his neighbor Martha Clow, who is just one year old and completely oblivious to his affection. He's lost his appetite, struggles to…
- 10
Astrophil and Stella
Sir Philip Sidney
*Astrophil and Stella* is a collection of 108 sonnets (along with 11 songs) by Sir Philip Sidney, narrating the tale of Astrophil — a lover of the stars — who is infatuated with St…
- 11
A Valentine
Eugene Field
A young boy sends Cupid to deliver his Valentine's Day message to his crush, acknowledging that she doesn't treat him well but insisting that his feelings remain strong. His grand…
- 12
Bartolome
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
This scene from Longfellow's verse play *The Spanish Student* is intense. It centers on Bartolome, a jealous Romani man who has come back to Madrid to win over a young dancer named…
- 13
Dara
James Russell Lowell
A shepherd named Dara rises from tending his flocks in the Persian hills to governing an entire province, all because he remains true to himself. When envious rivals accuse him of…
- 14
Fragments of an Unfinished Drama
Percy Bysshe Shelley
A powerful Enchantress on a magical island saves a Pirate, falls for him, and uses her supernatural abilities to keep him tied to her — even after he returns to his mortal lover. T…
- 15
Horace
Eugene Field
The speaker reminisces about a time when he had his beloved all to himself, free from any competition. This short, playful poem conveys the bittersweet ache of a love that is now e…
- 16
Horace to Phyllis
Eugene Field
A man named Horace invites a woman named Phyllis to a lively spring party in honor of his friend Maecenas, using the festive occasion to try to win her over. During the invitation,…
- 17
Horace to Pyrrha
Eugene Field
A man who has been burned by the alluring yet untrustworthy Pyrrha observes a new suitor falling for her tricks and can’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. The poem is a light…
- 18
In Horologium
Percy Bysshe Shelley
A teenage Shelley crafts a cheeky Latin epigram about a clock dangling between the breasts of a woman named Leonora, envying the clock for its ability to touch what he cannot. It's…
- 19
Jessie
Eugene Field
A speaker dedicates three stanzas to extravagantly praising a woman named Jessie — her golden hair, blue eyes, and melodic voice — creating the impression of a love poem. Then, in…
- 20
Julius
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
This short poem envisions Pope Julius II putting two cardinals in their place as they grumble about Michelangelo. Julius makes a clear and straightforward point: while popes and ca…
- 21
King Herod
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
This poem immerses us in King Herod's thoughts as he decides to carry out the Massacre of the Innocents—the biblical killing of infant boys in Bethlehem intended to eliminate the n…
- 22
L'Amant Volage
Sappho
A speaker — likely Sappho herself — observes her beloved, Athis, pulling away to pursue a rival named Andromède. She begins by declaring that love governs the entire world like a r…
- 23
Little Miss Brag
Eugene Field
A girl named Little Miss Brag proudly talks about everything she has — her old gingham dress, her worn homemade doll, her moonlit attic — and unintentionally makes the wealthy girl…
- 24
Lydia
Eugene Field
A speaker reminisces about the good old days when his dear Lydia admired him above everyone else — that is, until a rival woman caught her eye. It's a lighthearted jab at being bum…
- 25
Martha
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
This short poem features Martha, Mary’s sister from the Bible, expressing her annoyance that while Mary sits and listens to Jesus, she’s left to handle all the housework. Longfello…
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