Short Poems in English: Pomes are an important part of human life. Pomes helps people to express their feelings and emotions with the help of words. Poetry allows the poet and also the readers to connect with each other and understand the deep emotions within themselves but sometimes poetry becomes so long that the readers get bored So to cure this problem we present some of the best short poems written by world-known poets with explanations.
Also Read : William Blake Pomes
1-Short Poems in English: The Red Wheelbarrow
so much depends
upon
a red wheel
barrow
glazed with rain
water
beside the white
chickens.
Explanation :
The poem “The Red Wheelbarrow” is a very simple poem yet made a big impact on American literature the poem contains a mere 16 words but has always been a subject of discussion. The theme of the poem explores the beauty in ordinary scenes of nature. The poet wants the readers to pay attention to little things in nature to find inner calmness.
2- A Dream Within a Dream
Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow —
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand —
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep — while I weep!
O God! Can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
Explanation :
The poem “A Dream Within a Dream” is a self-analyzing poem. The poem revolves around the theme of time. The poet says that time will not wait for anyone and is constantly running. The speaker thinks that everything in life could be a dream and everything will fade away after waking up. In the second stanza, the poet grabs some sand in his hand and it slips away which indicates the passing of time constantly. The poem beautifully shows the uncertainty and risks of life.
3-Short Poems in English: The Owl and the Pussy-Cat
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat:
They took some honey, and plenty of money
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
“O lovely Pussy, O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!”
Pussy said to the Owl, “You elegant fowl,
How charmingly sweet you sing!
O let us be married! too long we have tarried:
But what shall we do for a ring?”
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong Tree grows
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose,
His nose,
His nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.
“Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
Your ring?” Said the Piggy, “I will.”
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.
Explanation :
The poem “The Owl and the Pussy-Cat” is a narrative poem. The shoes have two characters a cat and an owl. The theme of the poem is love and marriage between two animals who set off on an adventure in the sea on a pea-green boat. The contains a lot of humor and sarcasm, the poem is often considered nonsense literature. The poet’s imagination gives a great touch to the poem.
4- Haiku
An old silent pond…
A frog jumps into the pond—
Splash! Silence again.
Explanation :
The “Haiku” is a traditional poem that contains only 3 lines. The poet in this Haiku describes a frog jumping into a pond, the sound of the jumping of the frog is referred to as “Splash”. The Haiku describes the beauty of nature in a very minimal and simple manner. The poets reflect the essence of simple and ordinary things in the Haiku.
5-Short Poems in English: The Lake Isle of Innisfree
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee;
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.
Explanation :
“The Lake Isle of Innisfree” is a poignant poem. The poet says that he wants to leave the life of the city and want to live in the village. The poem shows that the poet is fed up with the hustle and bustle life of the city and wants some peace and quietness. The poem portrays the thinking of the poet to connect with nature which is impossible in the city.
The are some of the best short English poems with explanations. Stay tuned for poetry and updates.