• Published: June 2018

Best Children's Poetry

What is Children's Poetry and is it different than poetry for Teens and Adults? It's not fundamentally different. Children's Poetry just needs to be written in a way that captures the interest of children. 

Famous poet, Carl Sandburg's definitions of poetry include, "Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance" and "Poetry is a sliver of the moon lost in the belly of a golden frog". Children's imaginations are more flexible than adults. Poetry is a wonderful way to introduce children to literature and to life. 

Included in this collection are the most popular poems from contemporary and modern poets who have submitted their original poems for children to Family Friend Poems over the past 15+ years.

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• Poems 25

• Published: February 2020

Black History Month Poems

One of the celebrations that takes place during February is Black History Month. It’s a time to celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans. The world of poetry has been touched by these individuals. Poets like Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou have helped to encourage, influence, and change the world with their words.

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• Poems 25

• Published: December 6, 2023

December 2023 Poetry Contest - $500 Cash Prize

These poems have been submitted to the December 2023 Poetry Contest. Below this list you will find the semi-finalist poems.

• December 2023 Poetry Contest, First Prize $500 Cash!


• Submission Deadline is December 31. CLOSED.


• Semi-Finalists Published here through January 6th CLOSED.


• Winner Announced: January 7th


• The Winning Poem is - "Concrete Angel" by Jack Elliott Jr. Congratulations!

These poems have been submitted to the December 2023 Poetry Contest.

• Pretend by Julie Wichterman


• I Am A Victim by Rhonda G. Hitch


• The Upshot Of Your Experiment by Rachel Khorashadi


• I Dropped By This Morning by Robert L. Chisholm


• Tea Alchemy by Ahlam B.Saga


• Smile by Aaron R. Tercero-Lozano


• I Hate by Raquel J. Lesser


• Your Love, Soul Love by SincerelyCharliee


• What The Princess Wanted by Kajari Agrawal


• Lost In Emotion by Josephine Zavala-Florez


• Love Is .... by Ilona M. Blake


• Paint Me In Poetry by Carolyn V. June-Jackson


• For My Dad by HelenKGW


• The Man Upstairs by Rosalie B


• My Shattered Soul by Dana L. Jordahl


• Family Love, And Loss by Cheryl CMP


• The Steward by Sylvia Stults


• Seasons Of Grief by Belinda Stotler


• I Promise by Rosemary Trujillo


• The Law Of Nature by Philip Jorgenson


• Special Rain Drops by Ken Brantley


• It's All In The Eyes by Katy A. Brown


• A Path To Somewhere by Sarah Jane E. Conklin


• SHUT THE GATE MATE by Robert Entriken


• It's Hard, Sometimes by Sierra S. Emrick


• That's Just What Families Do by Don Hamaliuk


• Mysterious Pain by Peggy Stewart


• Concrete Angel by Seawolf


• Inferno's Essence by Caleb Burphy


• Our Love by Charles J. Booker


• Hello, I Love You, Goodbye by Taylor Jones


• The Wedding Gone Awry by Chase M. Testa


• Heart Song by Keith Acker


• Life Is A Medley by Robert L. Chisholm


• Merry Christmas And Thanks For The Memories by Samuel Aragone


• Alienated, And Cast Away, But Not Forever by Yair A. Friedman


• The Greatest Race by Jeff Opperman


• Winter Time by Pauline Faller


• The Invitation by Doug W. Benson


• Trapped Inside by Dedicated_mama


• Don't Dance On The Cereal by Janet Eggen


• Take Back Your Life by Tonya R. Zuber


• The Purpose by Robert


• The Search For Real Friends by Danielle Anglin


• Little Joyful Motions by Ben J. Connolly


• BOND Titles by Sandra Jebb


• Stay On Your Road, Please by Mia A. Lambert


• You, My Sun by Bistelle


• No Refuge by Roger W. Sandmann


• My Last Goodbye by Dustin Stegall


• VIRGIN MARY by Raelene J. Elliss


• A Letter To Santa by Ann D. Stevenson


• STREET MAN by James C. Gordon


• Last Night I Had A Dream by Michael A. Daigneault


• Is Perception Reality??? by Robert C. Saunders


• Goodbye Queen Of Hearts by Iola Zaan


• Before And After by Chris Gallagher


• At The End It Is One Another Story by Kalhari Kaluarachchi


• The Cry Of The Monarch Butterfly by Carolyn V. June-Jackson


• A Specular Christmas by Ann D. Stevenson


• I Cry by Watyne Greer


• Grandpa by Lisa Jessie


• Glimpses by Keith Lewthwaite


• Restless Nights by Jovarius A. Burton


• The Bomb by Marie Matheny


• Christmas Miracles To Believe by Marcia A. Newton


• I Know I Saw Him by Regina M. Elliott


• Saying Goodbye To My Brother by Karmalyw


• 9/11Attacks by Janelle Barker


• THE FIRST BORN by Raelene J. Elliss


• Let Loose Limits On Life by Vaneka J. Johnson


• Thorns by Michelle Meece

The poems below have been selected as semi-finalists for the December 2023 Poetry Contest.

Our Editors determine the winning poem based on content, but you can let us know your top poems by rating, sharing, adding to your favorites and commenting on your favorite poems.

View our Previous Poetry Contest Winners

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• Poems 25

• Published: January 6, 2023

First Love Poems

There's nothing like the first love. You've never had these feelings before and you imagine that no one else has ever felt this way about anybody. Your boyfriend or girlfriend are the greatest thing ever and you want to be with them all the time. Your senses become alive as you fall in love for the first time. You're not even thinking of the possibility that you may break up because that has never happened to you before. First love is filled with the optimism that you will be together forever.

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• Poems 23

• Published: October 2020

Halloween Poems For Kids

Halloween is a fun holiday for children. They get to dress up and pretend to be their favorite characters while filling their buckets with sweet treats. These poems have a fun, child-like element to celebrate Halloween.

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• Poems 23

• Published: March 2019

Poems About Living Life With Anxiety

The struggle with anxiety can be raw, scary, and debilitating. These poems about anxiety give a glimpse into the difficult struggle.

As you read through these poems, you will be taken through the often overwhelming feelings associated with anxiety. From feelings of desand uncertainty to the search for release and understanding, these poems provide a window into the personal experiences of those who have struggled with anxiety. We hope that by reading these poems, you will feel less alone in your own struggles and find comfort and solace in the words of others who are facing similar challenges.

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• Poems 21

• Published: May 2019

Short Mother's Day Poetry Quotes

These Poetry Quotes are cute and sweet and perfect for short mothers day poems. You can use these quotes and pictures to give to your Mom on Mother’s day.

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• Quotes 21

• Published: February 2022

Featured Published Poets

Family Friend Poems would not exist without our wonderful poets. We’ve had the honor of publishing poems from thousands of poets, and we are thankful for each of them for sharing their hearts with our poetry community. We are incredibly grateful for the poets who have been faithful contributors over the years. They consistently submit high-quality poems that we publish, and they engage with our community by leaving comments on other poets’ work.

We are excited to say “thank you” by showcasing favorite poems by our top poets. These poems have been hand-selected by the poets themselves. We had the opportunity to interview each poet to learn more about why a particular poem means so much to them. We also found out where they get their writing inspiration, why they love poetry, and their favorite experience from being published on Family Friend Poems. The interviews can be found on each poem page in this collection. 

Thanks again to everyone who makes Family Friend Poems a community that shares the highs and lows of life. Let’s take a moment to celebrate some of the poets who vulnerably share their hearts with the world. 

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• Poems 20

• Published: November 2017

Dog Poems

Fun poems about dogs and poems about dog friendships. Dogs are known as man's best friend and these poems are about the connection between dogs and their owners.

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• Poems 20

• Published: April 2020

Pandemic Poems

The world is facing an unprecedented health crisis. COVID-19 has spread across the globe, bringing with it sickness, death, uncertainty, anxiety, and economic upheaval. The world has stopped like never before. Businesses are closed, and schools have moved to online platforms. Social distancing is the norm, and no one knows when the end of the virus will come. Living in the midst of incredible uncertainty takes its toll on people. But may we use this time to focus on the most important things and slow down in a way we’ve never been forced to do before. 

Daily life looks very different, and this pandemic has impacted everybody in some way. You are not alone in what you are facing. The fears that rise to the surface are felt by billions of people around the world. We are all in this together. Even though the storm is raging right now, famous poet Maya Angelou once said, “Every storm runs out of rain.”

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• Poems 20

• Published: January 6, 2023

Love Forever Poems

When you fall in love with someone, you hope it will last forever. You picture yourself by their side through all the ups and downs of life. Nothing gives you greater joy than the thought of holding their hand through the journey of life. You feel complete, secure, and like you can take on the world with them by your side. Their love gives you courage, strength, and happiness to take on each day. You take comfort in knowing that you will be together forever.

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• Poems 20

• Published: February 2, 2023

Grandparents Day Poems

Many people may not know that Grandparents Day exists. Some may choose to ignore it. They may think, "must we have a day for every person in the universe, when does all this day naming end?" Sadly, those people probably did not have an opportunity to develop a relationship with their grandparents. They don't understand the gifts that a grandparents can give. Grandparents can provide a sense of continuity and roots to their grandchildren. They can provide a sense that life matters, and the ability to see life within a larger context of time. Happy Grandparents Day!

Grandparents Day is an official US national holiday, signed by President Carter in 1978 and celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day. The statute cites the day's purpose: "...to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children's children, and to help children become aware of strength, information, and guidance older people can offer"

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• Poems 19

• Published: July 2018

Poems About Fatherly Love

Many men will agree that being a father is the most rewarding relationship that they have. Children begin by loving their fathers unconditionally. It is a clean slate. There is nothing the father has to do to earn his child's love. The difficult part is not losing it. As the child goes out into the world, he will see all kinds of men whom he will look to as models as well. It is crucial that his father stay active in his life and help him make intelligent decisions. A boy without a father will look elsewhere to fill his father's shoes.

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• Poems 19

• Published: August 2017

ABAB Rhyme Scheme

This collection contains poems that use the ABAB rhyme scheme. The ABAB rhyme scheme is where the ending words of lines one and three (A) rhyme with each other and the ending words of lines two and four (B) rhyme with each other.

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• Poems 19

• Published: June 2019

Father's Day Poems For Children

These touching poems are perfect for kids to share with their dads to celebrate Father’s Day.

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• Poems 19

• Published: April 2020

Childhood Memories

Growing up is inevitable. No matter how much we want to hold onto our childhood, life is going to move forward. At some point, our childhood becomes something we look back on instead of something we’re currently experiencing. Each generation’s childhood is marked with different characteristics. No matter how old you are, it seems that every generation believes life was slower and sometimes better than daily life today. This is a collection of poems about those simpler times. The poems are filled with sentimental longing for the days gone by. What fond memories do you have from your childhood? For a moment, take a stroll down memory lane and reminisce about the good old days. They might be just a memory now, but what a beautiful memory they are. They are a reminder of glorious days, the days that made you who you are today.

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• Poems 18

• Published: July 2017

Poems For Describing Depression

Depression and sadness are not the same. We all experience sadness from time to time, but those feelings go away within a short period of time. Depression is a diagnosable condition characterized by a prolonged feeling of sadness and loss of interest in things that were once enjoyable. It can also have lasting symptoms such as changes in sleep, energy level, and concentration. The United States has one of the highest depression rates in the world, and women are more likely to suffer from this than men.

For someone who has never experienced depression, it can be challenging to understand. These poems provide a glimpse of what depression feels like and what's it’s like to fight against depression. Depression becomes all-consuming and affects every aspect of a person’s life.

If you suspect you or someone you love is living with depression, please reach out to get help. Know that you are not alone. Hundreds of millions of people around the world are fighting depression every day.

For more poems check out:

• Poems about depression 
• Depression poems written by teens.

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• Poems 18

• Published: May 2019

Birthday Poems For Friends

A birthday is a time to celebrate life and be joyful for the chance to be with friends, family and those who care about us.
A birthday can be seen as a serious or joyful time depending on one's age and one's attitude towards life. 

Another year has passed and we look back on failures and successes. We think about our goals for the future and reflect on the past year. These are all thoughts that may came up on a birthday, but the main thing is to use a birthday as an opportunity to celebrate life and be joyful for the chance to be with friends and family.

Poems for Birthdays to share with friends and loved ones. 

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• Poems 18

• Published: December 2018

Missing You At Christmas Poems

For many people, the holidays are a difficult time due to grieving the loss of a loved one, whether it be from death or separation due to distance or strained relationships. Memories of Christmas and the holiday season are filled with loved ones who have since passed away or are not here. 

Poems about remembering lost loved ones during Christmas and the holiday season.

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• Poems 18

• Published: November 2019

Poems That Bring Awareness To Alzheimer's Disease - November

November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. It was first established by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. At that time, less than two million people suffered from the disease. It has now grown to over five million patients in the United States alone. Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, there are treatments that help slow down the progression of the disease.  

The Alzheimer’s Association has wonderful resources on their website about signs of Alzheimer’s, tips for living with the disease, help for caregivers, information on research and getting involved with support groups.

Whether you have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or have a loved one fighting this disease, we hope these poems will remind you that you are not facing this alone. 

November is also National Family Caregivers Month. There are millions of people who care for their loved ones. These people selflessly make sacrifices to care for those with special needs, chronic illnesses, disabilities, and aging bodies and minds. This month is a time to honor family caregivers and give them the support they need.

Be sure to check out our other Aging Poems.

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• Poems 17