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
Money.
Twenty-five poems, ranked.
25 of the finest public-domain poems about money, 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
Against Avarice and Luxury
Horace
“Horace examines the relentless chase for wealth and luxury and concludes: it all means nothing, as death is impartial to both the poor and the rich. He juxtapos…”
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02
Money
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“This short poem poses a straightforward yet pointed question: what is money truly useful for? Longfellow suggests that regardless of your relationship with mone…”
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03
Against the Luxury of the Romans
Horace
“Horace surveys the vast mansions and perfectly kept gardens of the affluent Romans and remarks: this isn’t who we were. He lifts up the old Roman heroes—Romulus…”
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The complete index
- 04
Enter Mamm0n, the Arch-Priest,
Percy Bysshe Shelley
This scene is from Shelley's satirical play *Swellfoot the Tyrant*, featuring two corrupt power-brokers: Mammon, representing money and greed, and Purganax, the embodiment of polit…
- 05
Jenny
Dante Gabriel Rossetti
A man spends the night with Jenny, a London prostitute who has dozed off on his shoulder. Throughout the poem, he reflects on her life — pondering her thoughts, feelings, and what…
- 06
The Young Ruler
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A wealthy young man gazes bitterly at his own grave, recalling when Jesus asked him to sell all his possessions and give the proceeds to the poor in return for heavenly treasures.…
- 07
To the Covetous
Horace
Horace reflects on Rome's fixation with wealth and power, asserting that no matter how affluent one becomes, death ultimately arrives, and that wealth often worsens people's nature…
- 08
To a Successful Man
Alfred Noyes · 1922
A successful man lies dying (or dead), and the ghosts of his past confront him with a hard truth: everything he pursued — money, fame, status — cost him the simple joys that truly…
- 09
Ballad of the Landlord
Langston Hughes
A Black tenant confronts his landlord, insisting on repairs for a leaking roof and broken steps, even threatening to withhold rent. In response, he finds himself arrested, jailed,…
- 10
Fragments of an Unfinished Poem
James Russell Lowell
A middle-aged American man expresses his desire to travel and write letters home — but the poem soon morphs into a sprawling, satirical tirade on debt, human self-deception, the ho…
- 11
id'
Sappho
This brief excerpt from Sappho celebrates gold, referred to as the child of Zeus, because it can't be eaten by moths or worms, making it the most enduring element in a human's expe…
- 12
In Praise of Contentment
Eugene Field
This poem is Eugene Field's lighthearted and relaxed translation of Horace's well-known Ode III.1, where the speaker contends that genuine happiness arises from living simply and b…
- 13
International Copyright
James Russell Lowell
This brief and impactful poem makes the case that no matter how skillfully we disguise dishonest business practices with trendy excuses, the fundamental moral principles remain unc…
- 14
Le Bonheur Dans La Richesse
Sappho
This short poem suggests that gold and wealth are indeed wonderful — but only when accompanied by virtue and noble character. Lacking good values, riches lead to shame instead of h…
- 15
On Contentment
Horace
Horace reminds us that wealth, power, and status won’t bring peace of mind — and that living simply is a much better choice. He depicts a lineup of ambitious figures (the landowner…
- 16
Richard Cory
Edwin Arlington Robinson
Richard Cory tells the story of a wealthy and admired man who appears to possess everything—good looks, money, and charm—while the working-class people around him envy his seemingl…
- 17
Satire I
Horace
Horace poses a straightforward question: why does everyone believe that others have it better in life? Soldiers envy merchants, merchants envy soldiers, lawyers envy farmers, and f…
- 18
Song to the Men of England
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Shelley poses a straightforward yet passionate question to the working men of England: why are you putting in all the hard work while the wealthy reap the benefits of what you prod…
- 19
The Devil
Percy Bysshe Shelley
The Devil appears not as a horned beast but as a typical, self-important businessman — and that’s the crux of the matter. He entices a man named Peter with a job offer and a new su…
- 20
The Landlord
James Russell Lowell
A wealthy landowner believes he owns everything, but Lowell contends that true ownership lies with the thinker and the poet — the ones who mold ideas rather than just possessions.…
- 21
The Pious Editor's Creed
James Russell Lowell
A corrupt newspaper editor shares his so-called "creed" — a list of things he claims to stand for, such as freedom, the press, and prayer — but each belief reveals itself as a faca…
- 22
To Grosphus
Horace
This poem is a letter from the Roman poet Horace to his friend Grosphus, conveying a single important message: no amount of wealth, power, or travel can bring you true peace of min…
- 23
To Menas
Horace
Horace takes aim at a man named Menas — a freed slave who has become wealthy and now pretends to fit in with Rome's high society. No matter how fine his robe or how much land he po…
- 24
Twin Idols
Eugene Field
A traveler in Europe, the poem suggests, only needs two phrases to navigate: the French "Combien" ("How much?") and the German "Wie viel?" ("How much?"). Field's argument is that m…
- 25
Clare Market
Eugene Field
A speaker strolls through Clare Market, a lively street market in London, and observes three contrasting reactions: a wealthy man's disdain, a poor child's yearning, and the speake…
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