Sonnet Poems

Sonnet Poems

Sonnet Examples

A sonnet is a poem that has 14 lines and follows a specific rhyme scheme. It comes from the Italian word that means “little song.” There are various types of sonnets, and each one is formatted a little differently, following various rhyme schemes. The three main types are the Italian (or Petrarchan) sonnet, the English (or Shakespearean) sonnet, and the Spenserian sonnet. They are named after the poets who made them famous. These forms have been around since the sixteenth century.

Visit our Poetic Forms page for More about Sonnets

12 Different Types of Sonnets

1 - 12 of 12

  1. 1. How Do I Love Thee?


    How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
    I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
    My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
    For the ends of being and ideal grace.

    Read Complete Poem

    • Stories 6
    • Shares 19042
    • Favorited 93
    • Votes 1120
    • Rating 4.40
    • Poem of the Day
    Featured Shared Story

    On August 25, 2017, the love of my life and I had been chatting while he shaved. I walked away, and I was gone 12 minutes. Sometime in those stupid 12 minutes he dropped to his knees and died...

    Read complete story

  2. Advertisement

    Advertisement

  3. 2. Acquainted With The Night

    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.

    Read Complete Poem

    • Stories 2
    • Shares 3954
    • Favorited 30
    • Votes 359
    • Rating 4.25
    • Poem of the Week
    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

  4. Advertisement

    Advertisement

  5. 3. Stay Or Go?


    • By GA Thompson
    • Published: March 2016

    The days go by, then a month, then a year,
    and still through the days I see not a change.
    No matter what happens, you still aren't here,
    and how you just disappeared is what's strange.

    Read Complete Poem

    • Stories 6
    • Shares 9140
    • Favorited 54
    • Votes 853
    • Rating 4.44
    Featured Shared Story

    I love this poem, and like you, I had to grow up at a young age. A sick parent, being bullied and just life in general. To me this poem expresses the inner struggles with myself; knowing that...

    Read complete story

  6. 4. In The Shadow Of Your Warm Love

    In the shadow of your warm love
    I feel so safe and secure,
    And your soft, caring hands
    Urge me on to bravely endure.

    Read Complete Poem

    • Stories 0
    • Shares 10072
    • Favorited 34
    • Votes 626
    • Rating 4.49
  7. 5. I Wish I Could Remember That First Day

    I wish I could remember that first day,
    First hour, first moment of your meeting me,
    If bright or dim the season, it might be
    Summer or winter for aught I can say;

    Read Complete Poem

    • Stories 0
    • Shares 75
    • Favorited 2
    • Votes 8
    • Rating 4.88
  8. 6. I, Being Born A Woman And Distressed

    I, being born a woman and distressed
    By all the needs and notions of my kind,
    Am urged by your propinquity to find
    Your person fair, and feel a certain zest

    Read Complete Poem

    • Stories 0
    • Shares 14
    • Favorited 1
    • Votes 8
    • Rating 4.25
  9. 7. When I Have Fears

    When I have fears that I may cease to be
    Before my pen has gleaned my teeming brain,
    Before high-pilèd books, in charactery,
    Hold like rich garners the full ripened grain;

    Read Complete Poem

    • Stories 1
    • Shares 1511
    • Favorited 4
    • Votes 87
    • Rating 4.24
    Featured Shared Story

    My brief thoughts on what I believe makes this poem a Classic. We all want to make and leave a mark in life. We all have anxiety. I want to fear not life or death but take the chance called...

    Read complete story

  10. 8. Candy Corn

    • By Jan R
    • Published: December 2014

    Analysis of Form and Technique

    Against the black void, looms the lunar sphere.
    Hungry ghosts haunt, satisfied by fright.
    Oh my! The children's faces blanch in fear.
    And thus the small summit embodies white.

    Read Complete Poem

    • Stories 0
    • Shares 2959
    • Favorited 15
    • Votes 74
    • Rating 4.07
  11. 9. My Mistress' Eyes Are Nothing Like The Sun

    My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
    Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
    If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
    If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.

    Read Complete Poem

    • Stories 1
    • Shares 1809
    • Favorited 12
    • Votes 139
    • Rating 3.99
    Featured Shared Story

    How absolutely lovely! The way the poem 'shows' more than tells is magnificent; this is an art unto itself!

  12. 10. Autumn Storm By Firelight

    A flash of lightning streaks across the sky.
    We huddle close beneath the trembling eaves
    As thunder roars a nightmare lullaby
    And strips the trees outside of summer leaves.

    Read Complete Poem

    • Stories 2
    • Shares 3407
    • Favorited 13
    • Votes 124
    • Rating 4.22
    Featured Shared Story

    Hi! English teacher here... I have it included in class lessons! I love the imagery of the poem, and it's a sonnet my students can understand!

  13. 11. There's No Obscurity

    • By Astrid Sardinas
    • Published: May 2009

    As I gaze into his liquid gold eyes,
    Poetry radiates from his warm soul
    His lips brush mine and I soar through the skies
    Passion seizes me; I loose my control

    Read Complete Poem

    • Stories 0
    • Shares 1781
    • Favorited 17
    • Votes 121
    • Rating 4.04
  14. 12. Halloween Sonnet

    • By Paul Cleere
    • Published: December 2014

    When leaves start turning orange and golden-brown,
    Kids start to dress in costumes so dandy.
    For one day a year, all throughout the town
    It's time for kids to amass some candy.

    Read Complete Poem

    • Stories 0
    • Shares 2570
    • Favorited 2
    • Votes 89
    • Rating 4.03

1 - 12 of 12

Back to Top