Poems For High School Students - Page 2

Poetry Collections By Grade Level

Are you looking for poems for teaching?

Explore these Collections

If Only
- By Petra Sheane
- Published by Family Friend Poems February 2015 with permission of the Author.
Every night I dream of how the world could be a better place. I long for the simplest of changes, simple acts of kindness, love, truth, and simple whispers of hope in the night sky. When I see these dreams each night as I pray, the only words that come to my mind are, "If only..."

Poem About Hope For The World

in ABC Poems

Analysis of Form and Technique

If Only...
A prayer was held in our nation,
Beauty was seen in more ways than one,
Children who are lost could find their salvation,

If Only...
A prayer was held in our nation,
Beauty was seen in more ways than one,
Children who are lost could find their salvation,
Death was slain and torture was done.

If Only...
Earth was awakened after years of endurance,
Forgotten feelings were rekindled anew,
God was man's only path and assurance,
Hope was the foundation of the world we knew.

If Only...
I knew more stories than those that were told,
Joy was a plague, and peace a disease,
Knowledge was worth more than silver and gold,
Love was sacred and endless as the seas.

If Only...
Miracles were seen more than daylight,
Never was replaced with forever,
Our eyes could see through the dark of the night,
Passion lived in us more than ever.

If Only...
Questions were answered, and answers were questioned,
Roses were pure and without thorns,
Sadness received only love and affection,
The empty knew why it was they were born.

If Only...
Us as a nation would join hands in song,
Victory was a gift to the humble,
When tears were shed, the earth felt strong,
Exalted men would fall and crumble.

If Only...
You and I would last forever.

If Only...
More...
Go To Complete Poem
Featured Shared Story

Give quality time to your loved ones. Otherwise, you will lose them gradually. Relationships are very beautiful, especially those always giving unconditional love.

Touched by the poem? Share your story! (1)
Caged Bird
- By Maya Angelou
Famous Poem

Caged Bird By Maya Angelou was first published in her book, "Shaker, Why Don't You Sing?" in 1983. The poem is a Metaphor illustrating the differences between African-Americans and Whites during the civil rights era. The author, a black woman who grew up in the South during this era, is expressing her feelings at the discrimination she faced during her life. Her first autobiography published in 1970 is titled, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"

in Famous Inspirational Poems

Analysis of Form and Technique

The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends

The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill for the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
More...
Go To Complete Poem
Featured Shared Story

I remember this poem from my guided reading class in 5th grade. I remember it well. This poem really touched me, and reading it again just made my day. This poem, I remember it being about...

Read complete story

Touched by the poem? Share your story! (6)

Acquainted With The Night
- By Robert Frost
Famous Poem

“Acquainted With The Night” was published in 1928. It has themes of sadness and isolation. The narrator avoids contact with people and tries to escape his despair. The narrator doesn’t want to let anyone in, which continues his cycle of loneliness. Robert Frost himself was familiar with despair. At the time of writing this poem, he had already lost two children. Two more of his six children would pass away before him in later years. This poem includes symbols such as night (depression) and the moon (hope). It’s written as a “terza rima,” which is a poem made up of tercets (three-line stanzas). Within those stanzas, the ending word of the second line sets up the rhyme of the first and third lines of the next stanza.

in Famous Sad Poems

I have been one acquainted with the night.
I have walked out in rain—and back in rain.
I have outwalked the furthest city light.

I have been one acquainted with the night.
I have walked out in rain—and back in rain.
I have outwalked the furthest city light.

I have looked down the saddest city lane.
I have passed by the watchman on his beat
And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.

I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet
When far away an interrupted cry
Came over houses from another street,

But not to call me back or say good-bye;
And further still at an unearthly height,
One luminary clock against the sky

Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.
I have been one acquainted with the night
More...
Go To Complete Poem
Featured Shared Story

Each word of the poem is uttering its deep pain in the darkness of night. Highly weighted poem like any other poem of him. Only the one who has gone through this sea of sorrow can understand...

Read complete story

Touched by the poem? Share your story! (2)
Make Me A Garden
- By Sylvia Stults
- Published by Family Friend Poems August 2018 with permission of the Author.
Always remember every nationality, every race, color, and person out there can contribute to the person you become. Knowing different cultures can only broaden one's horizon. To the parents of a child, you are the gardener. What type of garden will you plant? This is a great poem for parents/teachers to discuss with children.

Living Without Prejudice

in Inspiring Poems for Kids

Help me design my garden of life
Full of iris, crocus, and lily
With daffodils that shine so bright
Like the sun of the greater deities.

Help me design my garden of life
Full of iris, crocus, and lily
With daffodils that shine so bright
Like the sun of the greater deities.

Make me a path that curves around trees
Of stepping stone, wood chip, and moss
Varying in array of colors
Causing one's mind to venture in thought.

Make me a garden so rich in hue
That the sun will fight not to set,
Where merely viewing its beauty
All differences one will forget.

Make me a garden like people of the world,
All different in culture and view,
Contributing to the person I am
Without your prejudicial few.

A garden of only one color, it seems
Would be dull and so very alone.
I want my garden of life to be filled
With every color known.
More...
Go To Complete Poem
Featured Shared Story

No Stories yet, You can be the first!

Touched by the poem? Share your story! (0)

Advice To A Girl
- By Sara Teasdale
Famous Poem

Sara Teasdale (1884-1933) was an American poet who wrote seven books of poetry during her lifetime. Many of her poems focused on the emotional development of women. In this poem, the opening lines are repeated at the end, bringing attention to the theme of this poem that no one is in control of who you are. Each person has value and cannot be possessed by another.

in Famous Love Poems

No one worth possessing
Can be quite possessed;
Lay that on your heart,
My young angry dear;

No one worth possessing
Can be quite possessed;
Lay that on your heart,
My young angry dear;
This truth, this hard and precious stone,
Lay it on your hot cheek,
Let it hide your tear.
Hold it like a crystal
When you are alone
And gaze in the depths of the icy stone.
Long, look long and you will be blessed:
No one worth possessing
Can be quite possessed.
More...
Go To Complete Poem
Featured Shared Story

No Stories yet, You can be the first!

Touched by the poem? Share your story! (0)
Storm At Sea
- By Amar Qamar
- Published by Family Friend Poems August 2008 with permission of the Author.
This poem uses point of view to make the readers feel as though they're one of the sailors trying to survive the storm.

Poem About The Power Of Storms

in Ocean Poems

Analysis of Form and Technique

CRASHING waves... SMASHING seas...
Bringing sailors to their knees.
As they struggle to save their lives,
Hoping and praying help arrives.

CRASHING waves... SMASHING seas...
Bringing sailors to their knees.
As they struggle to save their lives,
Hoping and praying help arrives.

The stormy seas as dark as coal,
Preventing the sailors from reaching their goal.
Battered and bruised, but still they fight...
Staring ahead into the dead of night.
Rocking and rolling as they try to stand...
Hoping against hope that they soon reach land.

Bleary eyed from lack of sleep.
Down in their cabins, huddled like sheep.
As they're rocking and rolling down beneath,
Weary sailors above resist with gritted teeth.

Hours later, as the storm starts to dissipate,
It leaves a calm tranquil sea in it wake.
The veteran sailors know the battle is over and they have won...
As they contemplate other storms yet to come...
More...
Go To Complete Poem
Featured Shared Story

This poem brought a tear to my eye and I love the way that the author has written this particular poem. It definitely is top in my book.

Touched by the poem? Share your story! (2)
My Papa's Waltz
- By Theodore Roethke
Famous Poem

Theodore Roethke is the small boy in this poem. His father died when he was just fifteen. Roethke struggled with mental illness all his life. His first book of poetry, Open House, was published in 1941. His relationship with his father occupied a large part of his writings.
In this poem it is unclear if the memories of his drunk father putting him to bed are happy or sad, abusive or merry, scary or sweet.

in Famous Family Poems

The whiskey on your breath
Could make a small boy dizzy;
But I hung on like death:
Such waltzing was not easy.

The whiskey on your breath
Could make a small boy dizzy;
But I hung on like death:
Such waltzing was not easy.

We romped until the pans
Slid from the kitchen shelf;
My mother's countenance
Could not unfrown itself.

The hand that held my wrist
Was battered on one knuckle;
At every step you missed
My right ear scraped a buckle.

You beat time on my head
With a palm caked hard by dirt,
Then waltzed me off to bed
Still clinging to your shirt.
More...
Go To Complete Poem
Featured Shared Story

No Stories yet, You can be the first!

Touched by the poem? Share your story! (0)

21 - 27 of 27

Poems For High School Students - Page 2

If Only

Every night I dream of how the world could be a better place. I long for the simplest of changes, simple acts of kindness, love, truth, and simple whispers of hope in the night sky. When I see these dreams each night as I pray, the only words that come to my mind are, "If only..."

Caged Bird

Acquainted With The Night

Make Me A Garden

Advice To A Girl

Storm At Sea

This poem uses point of view to make the readers feel as though they're one of the sailors trying to survive the storm.

My Papa's Waltz