Famous Sad Poems - Page 2

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  1. 21. Never Shall I Forget

    "Never Shall I Forget" by Elie Wiesel is a poem about the Holocaust and the atrocities committed against the Jewish people. Elie Wiesel writes about his personal experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps, the horrors committed during the Holocaust and the lasting impact they had on the him. The poem is written in a simple, direct style and uses vivid imagery to convey the unimaginable horrors of the camps. The repetition of the phrase "Never shall I forget" serves to emphasize the emotional impact of the memories and the importance of remembering the past in order to learn from it and prevent antisemitic hatred from arising again.



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    Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, that turned my life into one long night seven times sealed.
    Never shall I forget that smoke.
    Never shall I forget the small faces of the children whose bodies I saw transformed into smoke under a silent sky.
    Never shall I forget those flames that consumed my faith for ever.

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  3. 22. Walking Around

    "Walking Around" by Pablo Neruda delves into the disquieting thoughts of the speaker, exploring their disillusionment with life and a profound desire to break free from societal constraints. Through vivid imagery and metaphor, Neruda uses the repetitious line "It so happens I am sick of being a man" to create a rhythmic structure that emphasizes the speaker's growing discontent. The poem also employs contrasting imagery, such as the juxtaposition of a "swan made of felt" and "water of wombs and ashes," to evoke a sense of emotional and existential turmoil. Neruda's use of surreal and unsettling scenes, like wanting to "terrify a law clerk with a cut lily" or "kill a nun with a blow on the ear," further contributes to the poem's dark and introspective tone. The poem's vivid language and exploration of existential themes make it a thought-provoking piece that invites readers to reflect on the complexities of human existence.

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    It so happens I am sick of being a man.
    And it happens that I walk into tailorshops and movie houses
    dried up, waterproof, like a swan made of felt
    steering my way in a water of wombs and ashes.

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  5. 23. The Genius Of The Crowd

    Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) warns of people who say one thing but have actions that show something different. The hypocrisy of these people is extremely dangerous, and their hatred creates an incredible amount of destruction. Charles used his writing to shed light on the less glorious parts of urban life. Some people were offended by his writing style, but he held back nothing.

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    There is enough treachery, hatred violence absurdity in the average
    Human being to supply any given army on any given day

    And the best at murder are those who preach against it

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  6. 24. Suicide In The Trenches

    Siegfried Sassoon's "Suicide in the Trenches" paints a grim picture of war's toll on a young soldier. The poem starts with a joyful pre-war life, but the cheerful facade crumbles as the soldier faces the harsh realities of the trenches. The juxtaposition between his carefree past and his ultimate suicide in the trenches is a powerful indictment of war. The final lines, addressing the ignorant civilians who glorify war, leave a stinging criticism, urging them to confront the true cost of conflict.

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    I knew a simple soldier boy
    Who grinned at life in empty joy,
    Slept soundly through the lonesome dark,
    And whistled early with the lark.

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  7. 25. Defeat

    In Kahlil Gibran's poem "Defeat," the poet presents a unique perspective on defeat and embraces it as a cherished companion. Through poetic language and metaphors, Gibran explores the deeper meaning of defeat and its transformative power. The poet personifies defeat, addressing it directly as a trusted confidant and source of self-knowledge. Gibran suggests that defeat brings wisdom and strength, allowing one to remain untethered by the allure of worldly success and instead find solace in solitude and rejection. The poem evokes a sense of defiance and resilience, emphasizing that defeat is not a sign of weakness but a catalyst for growth and a reminder of one's mortality. Gibran's imagery of soaring wings, crashing seas, and burning mountains conveys the tumultuous journey of the soul and the profound connection between defeat and personal courage. Ultimately, the poem exudes a spirit of determination and danger, urging the reader to face adversity with unwavering resolve and to embrace the transformative power of defeat.

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    Defeat, my Defeat, my solitude and my aloofness;
    You are dearer to me than a thousand triumphs,
    And sweeter to my heart than all world-glory.

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  8. 26. Windows

    You’ve probably heard the saying, “The grass is greener on the other side.” This poem captures that sentiment. Often, we look longingly at what others have while looking down on what is ours. The irony is that others see such beauty in what we have.

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    I looked through others' windows
    On an enchanted earth,
    But out of my own window-
    Solitude and dearth.

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  9. 27. I Sit And Look Out

    “I Sit and Look Out” captures the corruption of the world. Walt Whitman, an influential American poet, lived in the 1800s, a time that saw things like political slander, Trail of Tears, slavery, and the Civil War. In this poem, the speaker is merely an onlooker, not someone to get involved in all these negative affairs of society. However, readers might be inspired to do their part to create a positive influence on the world that will lessen the destruction.

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    I SIT and look out upon all the sorrows of the world, and upon all
            oppression and shame;
    I hear secret convulsive sobs from young men, at anguish with
            themselves, remorseful after deeds done;

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  10. 28. The Door

    In Jessie B. Rittenhouse's poignant poem "The Door," the poet employs metaphor and symbolism to convey a sense of missed opportunities and regret. The "door" represents a path or chance that was always available but overlooked in favor of less accessible ones. The "gust of wind" symbolizing the sudden and uncontrollable forces that close off these opportunities, leaving the speaker in darkness. The poem's simple yet powerful imagery encapsulates the universal experience of realizing too late the value of what was once within reach.

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    There was a door stood long ajar
    That one had left for me,
    While I went trying other doors
    To which I had no key.

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  11. 29. Bluebird

    Charles Bukowski's poem "Bluebird" explores the poet's internal struggle to suppress his vulnerable emotions. There is a bluebird residing in his heart, yearning to be set free, yet the speaker's toughness and fear of exposing his true self prevent it from escaping. He resorts to numbing the bird's presence with whiskey, smoke, and distractions from the outside world. The poem reveals a complex relationship between the speaker and the bluebird, with moments of tenderness and acknowledgment. Their secret bond brings solace, evoking powerful emotions that resonate deeply, leaving readers to contemplate their own capacity for vulnerability.

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    there's a bluebird in my heart that
    wants to get out
    but I'm too tough for him,
    I say, stay in there, I'm not going

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  12. 30. The Rainy Day

    "The Rainy Day" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is a melancholic poem about the feelings of sadness. The poem uses imagery and metaphor to depict the bleakness of a rainy day. The wind and rain symbolize the constant struggles and difficulties in life, and the fallen leaves represent lost hopes and dreams. The poet tries to find comfort in the idea that everyone experiences hardships in life, but the sadness still lingers. The rhyme scheme used in the poem is ABAAB. The message is that life can be dark and difficult, but one must keep hope and find the sunshine behind the clouds.

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    The day is cold, and dark, and dreary
    It rains, and the wind is never weary;
    The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,
    But at every gust the dead leaves fall,

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  13. 31. One Art

    Possibly her most famous poem, Elizabeth Bishop's,"One Art" is a villanelle, a 6 stanza poem that consists of five tercets (3 line stanzas), and one concluding quatrain (4 line stanza). For more about this challenging poetry form see How To Write a Villanelle.
    This poem is about loss and starts off light with a touch of humor, but loss is certainly not a humorous topic and as the stanzas go on the losses mount. Losing our most precious possessions, our friends and loved ones is a most difficult burden. Bishop lost both her parents as a child. Her father died when she was an infant and her mother was committed to an Insane Asylum when she was five. She never saw her mother again and grew up in the homes of various relatives.

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    The art of losing isn’t hard to master;
    so many things seem filled with the intent
    to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

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  14. 32. Circus In Three Rings

    Sylvia Plath was an American poet who lived from 1932-1963. Sylvia’s dad died during her childhood, and her husband left her for another woman. She experienced heartbreak and depression that ultimately led to her commit suicide at the age of 30. Her poetry was raw and honest, which can be seen in the chaos she captures in this poem. First published in The Atlantic Monthly in 1955, the hurricane mentioned in the poem could be compared to the personal struggles that swirled inside of her.

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    In the circus tent of a hurricane
    designed by a drunken god
    my extravagant heart blows up again
    in a rampage of champagne-colored rain

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  15. 33. The Flower That Smiles To-day

    The poem "The Flower That Smiles Today" talks about how happiness and good times don't last forever. It compares happiness to a flower that blooms one day but withers away the next. The poet reflects on how things we hope will stay often end up leaving us disappointed when they disappear. The poem mentions how fragile things like being good, having friends, and feeling love can be. Even though they may seem strong, they can easily lead to sadness and despair. Despite this, the poem suggests that we can survive these ups and downs. It tells us to enjoy happy moments while they last, but also reminds us that sadness is a part of life too.

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    The flower that smiles to-day
    To-morrow dies;
    All that we wish to stay
    Tempts and then flies.

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  16. 34. An Irish Airman Foresees His Death

    William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) was an Irish poet. This poem was written in 1918, near the end of World War I, and published the following year. In it, the speaker is coming to terms with the reality that he could die in the war. The speaker shares that the war will not make life better or worse. William Butler Yeats was highly involved in Ireland's politics, but the speaker of this poem did not fight in the war for political reasons. Instead, it was an “impulse of delight.” This poem does not have any stanza breaks, but it does follow the ABAB rhyme scheme.

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    I know that I shall meet my fate
    Somewhere among the clouds above;
    Those that I fight I do not hate,
    Those that I guard I do not love;

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  17. 35. The New Moon

    In Sara Teasdale's "The New Moon," the poet reflects on a day of hardship and struggle. Through the use of vivid imagery and personification, the poem portrays the day as a force that has physically and emotionally wounded her. However, amidst the bleakness, the poet discovers a glimmer of hope in the form of a delicate new moon. This celestial presence, described as a "maiden moon," brings beauty and inspiration, challenging bitterness and despair. Teasdale's skillful use of contrast and the moon's symbolism creates a sense of resilience and the power of finding solace in moments of darkness.

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    Day, you have bruised and beaten me,
    As rain beats down the bright, proud sea,
    Beaten my body, bruised my soul,
    Left me nothing lovely or whole—

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  18. 36. London

    In the streets of London, William Blake paints a portrait of a city burdened with suffering and oppression. From the marked faces of weakness and woe to the cries of anguish and the shackles of the mind, he captures the harsh realities of a society where even the most vulnerable, like chimney sweepers and soldiers, bear the weight of their circumstances. Amidst the curses of harlots and the tears of infants, Blake reveals the dark underbelly that plagues the institution of marriage. Through his poignant words, he offers a glimpse into the complex tapestry of London's existence.

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    I wander thro' each charter'd street,
    Near where the charter'd Thames does flow.
    And mark in every face I meet
    Marks of weakness, marks of woe.

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  19. 37. The Room Of My Life

    Anne Sexton is a famous poet known for writing about challenging topics, often expressing despair in her work. In the poem "Room of Life," she reveals the troubled life she led through vivid imagery, including objects that seem to take on a life of their own. Sexton sees each object in her room as a reflection of her own life, including the books, the typewriter, the phone, and even the windows. She feeds both the world outside and her own inner world, but she struggles to find meaning in her existence.

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    Here,
    in the room of my life
    the objects keep changing.
    Ashtrays to cry into,

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  20. 38. I Sit Beside The Fire And Think

    The poem is from the perspective of an older person reflects on the past summers and autumns, while acknowledging the inevitability of winter and the unknown future. The poem uses repetition, to create a reflective and contemplative mood. The vivid imagery of nature serves to evoke a sense of nostalgia and emphasize the fleeting nature of life. Overall, the poem is about the passage of time and the transience of human existence.

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    I sit beside the fire and think
    of all that I have seen
    of meadow-flowers and butterflies
    in summers that have been;

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  21. 39. Miss Rosie

    Lucille Clifton was an American poet who lived from 1936-2010. Many of her poems show a theme of having strength through adversity. In this poem, a passerby finds Miss Rosie along the street, and she hurls insult after insult at the homeless lady. But this old lady used to be the most beautiful lady in all of Georgia. The last line of the poem changes the tone that was used at the beginning.

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    when I watch you
    wrapped up like garbage
    sitting, surrounded by the smell
    of too old potato peels

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  22. 40. After Auschwitz

    Anne Sexton's poem "After Auschwitz" is a powerful emotional response to the Holocaust and slaughter of 6 million innocent Jewish men, women and children.. The speaker expresses anger towards the atrocities committed and questions why death doesn't seem to take those who deserve it. She condemns the men responsible for the Holocaust and suggests that all humanity must now bear guilt. For the depravity that the Nazis exhibited, demonstrated that all of us are capable of the same and that is a burden humanity must forever bear.

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    Anger,
    as black as a hook,
    overtakes me.
    Each day,

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