Short Poems

Short poems are concise poetic compositions that convey deep meaning, emotion, or vivid imagery in a limited number of lines or stanzas. Despite their brevity, they can evoke powerful responses and encapsulate complex ideas, making every word and phrase significant. Often characterized by their ability to deliver impactful messages quickly, short poems are accessible, memorable, and highly appreciated for their artistic precision and emotional resonance.

Definition

“Short poems” typically refer to poetic works characterized by brevity, often consisting of just a few lines or stanzas. These concise compositions aim to convey depth of meaning, emotion, or imagery in a compact form.

Examples of Short Poems

Here are some short poems that showcase a range of themes, styles, and emotions. These concise works of art capture the essence of poetry through their brevity and impactful language.

1. Haiku By Matsuo Basho

An old silent pond…
A frog jumps into the pond,
Splash! Silence again.

2. Limerick Traditional

There once was a man from Peru,
Who dreamt he was eating his shoe.
He awoke with a fright,
In the middle of the night,
To find that his dream had come true.

3. Cinquain By Adelaide Crapsey

Listen…
With faint dry sound,
Like steps of passing ghosts,
The leaves, frost-crisp’d, break from the trees
And fall.

4. Couplets By Alexander Pope

True wit is nature to advantage dressed;
What oft was thought, but ne’er so well expressed.

5. Epigram By Samuel Taylor Coleridge

What is an epigram? A dwarfish whole,
Its body brevity, and wit its soul.

6. Quatrain By Emily Dickinson

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all.

7. Acrostic By Edgar Allan Poe

Elizabeth it is in vain you say
“Love not” — thou sayest it in so sweet a way:
In vain those words from thee or L. E. L.
Zantippe’s talents had enforced so well:
Ah! if that language from thy heart arise,
Breathe it less gently forth — and veil thine eyes.
Endymion, recollect, when Luna tried
To cure his love — was cured of all beside —
His folly — pride — and passion — for he died.

8. Free Verse By Walt Whitman

I celebrate myself, and sing myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.

9. Tanka By Masaoka Shiki

A lightning flash:
Between the forest trees
I have seen water.
The eyes of a dragonfly—
The summer reeds.

10. Rhyming Couplet By William Shakespeare

Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow.

These short poems, from various poets and styles, highlight the beauty and versatility of poetry. Whether structured or freeform, each poem delivers a powerful message in just a few lines.

Short Easy Poems

1. “The Swing” By Robert Louis Stevenson

How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!

2. “Fog” By Carl Sandburg

The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

3. “At the Sea-Side” By Robert Louis Stevenson

When I was down beside the sea
A wooden spade they gave to me
To dig the sandy shore.
My holes were empty like a cup.
In every hole the sea came up,
Till it could come no more.

4. “The Purple Cow” By Gelett Burgess

I never saw a purple cow,
I never hope to see one;
But I can tell you, anyhow,
I’d rather see than be one!

5. “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” By Jane Taylor

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

6. “The Caterpillar” By Christina Rossetti

Brown and furry
Caterpillar in a hurry,
Take your walk
To the shady leaf, or stalk,
Or what not,
Which may be the chosen spot.
No toad spy you,
Hovering bird of prey pass by you;
Spin and die,
To live again a butterfly.

7. “The Little Turtle” By Vachel Lindsay

There was a little turtle.
He lived in a box.
He swam in a puddle.
He climbed on the rocks.

He snapped at a mosquito.
He snapped at a flea.
He snapped at a minnow.
And he snapped at me.

He caught the mosquito.
He caught the flea.
He caught the minnow.
But he didn’t catch me.

8. “The Wind” By Christina Rossetti

Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you:
But when the leaves hang trembling,
The wind is passing through.

9. “April Rain Song” By Langston Hughes

Let the rain kiss you.
Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops.
Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk.
The rain makes running pools in the gutter.
The rain plays a little sleep-song on our roof at night—
And I love the rain.

10. “Bed in Summer” By Robert Louis Stevenson

In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer, quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.

I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree,
Or hear the grown-up people’s feet
Still going past me in the street.

Short Poems for Kids

The Little Bird

A little bird with feathers bright,
Sings sweet songs from morning light.
Flitting here and there so free,
In the green and leafy tree.

The Friendly Sun

The sun is high up in the sky,
It warms the earth as hours pass by.
Golden rays on flowers shine,
Making all the world divine.

Tiny Feet

Tiny feet go pitter-patter,
As they race and climb the ladder.
Up and down and round they go,
With smiles and laughter all aglow.

Rainbow Colors

Red, orange, yellow, green, and blue,
Indigo and violet, too.
A rainbow paints the sky so bright,
A magical and wondrous sight.

The Busy Bee

The busy bee goes buzzing by,
From flower to flower, oh so high.
Gathering nectar all day long,
Humming a sweet, gentle song.

Twinkling Stars

Twinkling stars in the night,
Shining softly, pure and bright.
High above the world they peek,
Secrets of the night they keep.

Playful Puppy

A playful puppy wags its tail,
Chasing after every trail.
Running fast and having fun,
Beneath the warm and glowing sun.

Ocean Waves

Ocean waves crash on the shore,
Whispering tales of distant lore.
Rolling in and out with grace,
Leaving foam in their embrace.

The Moon’s Glow

The moon glows softly in the night,
A silver orb with gentle light.
Guiding dreams and lighting way,
Until the dawn of a new day.

Butterfly Wings

Butterflies with wings so bright,
Fluttering in the warm sunlight.
Colors dancing in the breeze,
Resting lightly on the trees.

Short Poems about Life

A Journey

Life’s a journey, step by step,
Twists and turns, secrets kept.
With each dawn, a brand new start,
Memories etched upon the heart.

Moments

Moments come and moments go,
Like the river’s steady flow.
Cherish each and every one,
Before the fleeting time is done.

Simple Joys

Life is full of simple joys,
Laughter, love, and playful noise.
Sunrise paints the skies so clear,
Bringing hope and drawing near.

Seasons

Life has seasons, like the year,
Spring brings growth, autumn’s near.
Winter’s rest, summer’s light,
Each phase holding its own might.

Reflections

In the mirror, life reflects,
Choices made and paths it checks.
Lessons learned and wisdom gained,
Through the joy and through the pain.

Dreams

Life is full of dreams to chase,
Boundless hopes in every place.
Hold them close and set them free,
They’ll guide you to where you should be.

Short Inspirational Poems

Rise Above

When challenges seem hard to bear,
And life feels heavy with despair,
Remember this, you have the might,
To rise above and find the light.

Believe

Believe in yourself, and all you do,
Great things will come, they’ll come to you.
With courage strong and heart so true,
The world will open up to you.

Shine On

Like the sun that lights the day,
Let your spirit find its way.
Shine on brightly, never dim,
With hope and faith, you’ll always win.

Brave Heart

A brave heart faces fears unknown,
It stands its ground, it’s never prone.
With strength and will, it conquers all,
And rises high when others fall.

Dreams to Chase

Chase your dreams with all your might,
Through darkest days and brightest light.
With passion’s fire and hope’s embrace,
You’ll find your way, you’ll find your place.

The Climb

Life’s a mountain, steep and tall,
With every step, you may feel small.
But keep on climbing, don’t look back,
Each step forward keeps you on track.

Inner Light

Within you lies a light so strong,
It guides you when the road seems long.
Trust yourself and let it show,
With inner light, you’ll always glow.

Endless Possibilities

The world is full of endless dreams,
Much brighter than they often seem.
With open mind and heart so wide,
Embrace the journey, enjoy the ride.

Courage

Courage isn’t loud or bold,
It’s the quiet strength we hold.
In every heart, it finds its place,
Giving power, granting grace.

Embrace the Day

Each new day’s a chance to start,
With open mind and willing heart.
Embrace the day with joy and glee,
And all your dreams will come to be.

Short Love Poems

Endless Love

Your love’s a fire that warms my soul,
In your embrace, I feel whole.
With every heartbeat, every sigh,
Our love will soar, reach the sky.

Forever Yours

In your eyes, I see my dreams,
With you, life’s more than it seems.
Forever yours, my heart will be,
Bound by love, eternally.

Heart to Heart

Two hearts beating, side by side,
In love’s embrace, we confide.
With whispered words and gentle touch,
We find our way, we love so much.

Love’s Embrace

In your arms, I find my place,
A world of warmth, a sweet embrace.
With every kiss, my heart takes flight,
Guided by your love’s pure light.

Soulmates

Two souls entwined, forever near,
In love, there is no need to fear.
Together strong, we face the night,
With you, my world is pure delight.

Whispered Love

Your voice, a whisper in the dark,
Ignites a flame, a loving spark.
With every word, my heart does leap,
A love so true, so pure, so deep.

Eternal Flame

Love’s eternal, burning bright,
Guiding us through day and night.
With you, my love, my heart’s complete,
In your presence, life is sweet.

Love’s Melody

Our love’s a song, a melody,
A symphony of you and me.
With every note, our hearts align,
A timeless love, forever mine.

Cherished Moments

In every moment, love does grow,
A gentle touch, a tender glow.
With you, my dear, life is a dream,
Together, we’re a perfect team.

True Love

True love is found within your eyes,
A bond that time cannot disguise.
With every breath, with every beat,
My love for you is pure and sweet.

Famous Short Poems

“Hope is the thing with feathers” by Emily Dickinson

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all.

“The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williams

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

“This Is Just To Say” by William Carlos Williams

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

“Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice..

“Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

“The Eagle” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ring’d with the azure world, he stands.

The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
He watches from his mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls.

“There is no Frigate like a Book” by Emily Dickinson

There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away,
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of prancing Poetry –
This Traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of Toll –
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears the Human soul.

“Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley

I met a traveler from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

“The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

FAQ’s

What is a short poem?

A short poem is a concise piece of poetry, typically composed of a few lines, that captures a single thought, feeling, or image.

Why are short poems popular?

Short poems are popular because they are quick to read, memorable, and can convey powerful emotions or ideas with brevity and clarity.

How do I write a short poem?

To write a short poem, focus on a specific emotion, image, or moment. Use vivid language and concise phrasing to capture the essence in just a few lines.

Can a short poem rhyme?

Yes, short poems can rhyme. Rhyming can add a musical quality and enhance the poem’s memorability and impact.

What are some common themes for short poems?

Common themes include love, nature, loss, happiness, and everyday moments. Short poems often focus on capturing the essence of these themes in a brief format.

Are haikus considered short poems?

Yes, haikus are short poems. They consist of three lines with a syllable pattern of 5-7-5, often focusing on nature and seasons.

How many lines does a short poem have?

A short poem can range from a single line to about ten lines. The key is to keep it brief while conveying a complete thought or image.

Where can I find inspiration for short poems?

Inspiration for short poems can come from personal experiences, nature, emotions, art, or everyday observations. Keep a journal to jot down ideas.

What makes a short poem effective?

An effective short poem uses precise language, vivid imagery, and strong emotions to leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Can short poems be used in cards and gifts?

Yes, short poems are perfect for cards and gifts. They add a personal, heartfelt touch and can convey deep feelings succinctly.