Tag: poetry

When students see poetry as a boring unit that’s all about nature, love, and feelings, it’s time to shake things up. Poets have always had a sense of humor, and students who appreciate sarcasm, wit, and outright jokes will love these funny poems. Put a few of these poems on the whiteboard or in their poetry packet and they’ll never look at poetry the same way again!

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Our Favorite Funny Poems for Everyone

1. How Not To Have To Dry the Dishes by Shel Silverstein

“If you have to dry the dishes
(Such an awful, boring chore)”

Themes: Mischief, humor, chores
Literary devices: Punctuation, refrain

Shel Silverstein is the master of funny poems for kids. Use this poem as a mentor text when students write their own funny poems. Silverstein uses rhyme and punctuation to set the scene and set up the punchline at the end.

2. The Crocodile by Lewis Carroll

“How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining tail …”

Themes: Deception, humor, animals
Literary devices: Rhyme, personification

This funny poem attributes human characteristics (“grin,” “welcomes little fishes in”) to a crocodile. Younger students can imagine the sneaky crocodile, while older students can discuss whether this poem was written for adults or children and why.

3. Be Glad Your Nose Is On Your Face by Jack Prelutsky

“Be glad your nose is on your face,
not pasted on some other place …”

Themes: Absurdity, contentment, humor, imagination
Literary devices: Contrast, rhyme, enjambment

A poem is a perfect place to imagine something ridiculous, like Prelutsky does in this poem. Students will giggle at all the ways Prelutsky expands on his premise that your nose could, in fact, have been placed somewhere else.

4. Don’t Go Into the Library by Alberto Rios

“The library is dangerous—
Don’t go in. If you do …”

Themes: Imagination, libraries, reading, irresistibility
Literary devices: Symbolism, enjambment, metaphor

This poem has a matter-of-fact style, so it’s a good one to show students who are learning how to analyze how authors insert their ideas into poems, and how they use poems to build to a final punch. This poem is also a great one to introduce students to the idea of enjambment, or when sentences continue across multiple lines, and extended metaphor—the library is not just a building but an entry point for imagination that is hard to resist.

5. Sick by Shel Silverstein

“‘I cannot go to school today,’”
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.”

Themes: Humor, motivation
Literary devices: Rhyme, hyperbole

Every elementary schooler should read this funny poem at least once. It’s a master class in drama that ends with a joke that lets all the air out of the balloon at once.

6. My Kitten Is a Ninja by Kenn Nesbitt

“My kitten is a ninja.
He wears a black disguise.”

Themes: Humor, pets
Literary devices: Rhyme, imagery, symbolism

Another silly scenario poem. Use this poem when you’re teaching students how to analyze structure and rhyme.

7. My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson

“I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me …”

Themes: Imagination, shadows
Literary devices: Rhyme, personification

You have to read the entire poem to see the humor in a shadow personified as busy until it’s time to get out of bed. This poem is also good to teach vocabulary, with words like “notion,” “proper,” and “coward.”

8. My Next Door Neighbor Is a Witch by Samiya Vallee

“My next door neighbor is a witch,
And she lives way down in a ditch.”

Themes: Humor, absurdity, the grotesque
Literary devices: Rhyme, imagery

The humor in this poem is in the details that the poet includes, like the “big fat wart” and “seventeen pimples on her toes.” Read it aloud and talk about the details that make this poem silly.

9. The Boy Who Didn’t Like Ice Cream by Rebecca Syx

“A boy who didn’t like ice cream?
That almost seems like a crime!”

Themes: Food, humor, trying new things
Literary devices: Rhyme, conversation, narrative

This poem is easy to read with a hysterical tone—a boy who doesn’t like ice cream! Students can practice reading it aloud to try to get the most humor out of each stanza.

10. Sweet Treat Dream by Gillian M. Ward

“If the world were made of chocolate
I know what I would do.”

Themes: Humor, food
Literary devices: Rhyme, repetition

Technically, this poem is a good example of how a poet uses a repeated word or phrase to drive their point home. It’s also a fun example of how to use poetry to imagine a silly scenario from every angle.

11. Don’t Be Silly by Dave Moran

“Are there bugs that live on the moon?
Can July come before June?”

Themes: Humor, questioning, absurdity
Literary devices: Rhyme, refrain

How often have students been told to be serious or stop being silly? This poem invites them to be even more silly. Read it and then imagine your own stanza. What silly scenes can you build into one stanza?

12. At the Zoo by William Makepeace Thackery

“First I saw the white bear, then I saw the black;
Then I saw the camel with a hump upon his back …”

Themes: Childhood, animals
Literary devices: Rhyme, repetition

This short poem is a great one to introduce students to poetry, or to get reluctant readers into poetry. Most students can relate to the experience of visiting a zoo, and students can analyze how the rhyming and repetition make the poem fun to read. 

13. Bleezer’s Ice Cream by Jack Prelutsky 

“I am Ebeneezer Bleezer
I run BLEEZER’S ICE CREAM STORE”

Themes: Humor, childhood, ice cream
Literary devices: Rhyme, capitalization, enjambment

This is another fun, classic poem that students can analyze for themes of childhood. Read it alongside other Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein poems to get a feel for the themes in children’s poetry. 

14. Tom Tigercat by J. Patrick Lewis

“Tom Tigercat is noted
for his manners and his wit.”

Themes: Playfulness, independence, animals
Literary devices: Personification, rhyme, wordplay, enjambment

When you get to the last line in this poem, it’s a double joke. There’s the literal joke and what happens when you read “ocelot” aloud. Start to talk about the oral nature of poetry and what happens when we hear versus see a poem, and how that impacts humor.

15. Herbert Hillbert Hubert Snod by Denise Rodgers

“Herbert Hillbert Hubert Snod
was known for eating all things odd.”

Themes: Humor, nonsense, food
Literary devices: Enjambment, alliteration, rhyme

Alliteration and rhyme make this funny poem come to life. Students can talk about how humor can turn a disgusting situation into a funny one.

16. About the Teeth of Sharks by John Ciardi

“The thing about the shark is—teeth
One row above, one row beneath.”

Themes: Humor, animals
Literary devices: Rhyme, enjambment

Similar to Silverstein’s “Boa Constrictor,” the humor in this poem happens when students put themselves in the shoes of the poet, whose companion ends up being eaten.

17. Clouds by Anonymous

“White sheep, white sheep
On a blue hill.”

Themes: Nature, animals, wonderment  
Literary devices: Imagery, rhyme, enjambment  

This poem reads like a nursery rhyme, and its simplicity makes it a good one to introduce students to poetry. They can talk about the images that the poet creates with just a few words. 

18. The Nest by Jessica Amanda Salmonson

“Have you heard
about the bird
Who built a nest
with zeal and zest?”

Themes: Competition, wildlife
Literary devices: Rhyme, alliteration, enjambment

Any student who has younger siblings can likely relate to this poem. It’s also a good one to use to talk about word choice and how word repetition contributes to a poem’s meaning.

19. Math Blues by Cindi Rockwell

“They try to give math a happier spin
‘How many times can this number go in?’”

Themes: School, math, humor
Literary devices: Rhyme, enjambment

Who says you can’t use math in poetry? This poem is a fun one to use when students express frustration with math. Can they create their own math blues poem?

20. Homework by Mariam Traore

“Homework, oh homework
All kids say it stinks …”

Themes: Homework, school, humor
Literary devices: Rhyme

The ending question, “Don’t you?” throws the rest of the poem into question. It’s a great example of how a poem can set up a premise and then bring it all into question with a twist ending.

21. My Doggy Ate My Essay by Darren Sardelli

“My doggy ate my essay.
He picked up all my mail.”

Themes: Homework, absurdity, pets
Literary devices: Rhyme, personification, enjambment

Another poem about homework that has a twist ending. Read this one and talk about how poets can create short stories one line at a time.

22. The Parakeets by Alberto Blanco

“They talk all day
and when it starts to get dark”

Themes: Pets, humor
Literary devices: Punctuation, repetition, personification, enjambment

How are the parakeets like your students? The more talkative a class you have, the more funny this poem will be. A great opportunity to talk about how poetry can connect with real life.

23. Mother Doesn’t Want a Dog by Judith Viorst

“Mother doesn’t want a dog.
Mother says they smell …”

Themes: Humor, pets
Literary devices: Rhyme, anaphora, refrain, enjambment

This poem is fun to read aloud, as it has a clear rhyming structure. It’s also a good example of how poets structure funny poems to throw out a punchline in the last stanza.

24. Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne

“When I was One,
I had just begun.”

Themes: Growing up, ages
Literary devices: Progression, rhyme, repetition

This sweet ode to childhood was written by the creator of Winnie the Pooh. Students can think about what Milne is saying about childhood, and how he uses structure to create a poem that sounds like it was written by a 6-year-old.

25. Help Wanted by Timothy Tocher

“Santa needs new reindeer.
The first bunch has grown old.”

Themes: Humor, holidays, Santa Claus and his reindeer
Literary devices: Allusion, rhyme, personification

A great poem to read during the holidays, Tocher imagines what might happen if Santa needed to recruit more reindeer. In terms of teaching, talk about the background knowledge students bring to the poem that makes it funny.

26. Summer Camp Souvenirs by Richard Thomas

“When I got home from camp today
My parents almost died.”

Themes: Camp, humor, being accident-prone
Literary devices: Rhyme, hyperbole

The dismissive, ambivalent tone of this poem is what makes it funny. Talk about how the poet uses phrases like “The poison ivy’s not too bad” and “And all these bruises, scabs, and cuts? I haven’t got a clue” to make the poem more silly than serious.

27. Adventures of Isabel by Ogden Nash

“Isabel met an enormous bear
Isabel, Isabel, didn’t care”

Themes: Humor, bravery
Literary devices: Repetition, rhyme, juxtaposition, personification

“Adventures of Isabel” reads like a fairy tale in poem form. Analyze how the poet creates absurd scenes using familiar fairy-tale characters.

28. Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out by Shel Silverstein

“She’d scour the pots and scrape the pans,
Candy the yams and spice the hams …”

Themes: Humor, responsibility, chores, absurdity
Literary devices: Alliteration, hyperbole, imagery, rhyme

Another classic Silverstein funny poem, this one is about a girl who refuses to take the garbage out until it reaches the ceiling and takes over the floor. It’s the imagery and absurdity of the situation, as well as the rhymes, that makes this poem giggle-worthy.

29. Eletelephony by Laura Elizabeth Richards

“Once there was an elephant,
Who tried to use the telephant—”

Themes: Silliness
Literary devices: Wordplay, rhyme

This imaginative poem about what would happen if an elephant used the telephone is a fun one to read with today’s kids as they try to imagine not only elephants, but old-fashioned telephones. The wordplay depicts a frustration with trying to tell the story at all.

30. The Dentist and the Crocodile by Roald Dahl

“The crocodile, with cunning smile, sat in the dentist’s chair.”

Themes: Absurdity, humor
Literary devices: Narrative, rhyme, personification

Did students know that Roald Dahl wrote poetry too? His poem “The Dentist and the Crocodile” has all the humor of Dahl’s novels, with an exchange between a dentist and a crocodile who have very different goals.

31. Daddy Fell Into the Pond by Alfred Noyes

“Everyone grumbled. The sky was gray.
We had nothing to do and nothing to say.”

Themes: Absurdity
Literary devices: Contrast, repetition, personification

This poem shows how a dismal day can be turned around by one funny event. Talk about juxtaposition and how the poet sets up two contrasting situations to create the humor.

32. The Vulture by Hilaire Belloc

“The Vulture eats between his meals
And that’s the reason why …”

Themes: Animals, absurdity
Literary devices: Rhyme, personification

This classic poem uses humor to get to the moral of not eating between meals. Use it to discuss the best way to “teach” kids through literature.

33. The Silliest Teacher in School by Darren Sardelli

“Our teacher gave detention
to the fountains in the hall.”

Themes: School, humor, poor eyesight
Literary devices: Rhyme scheme, narrative, enjambment

This poem, about a teacher who makes mistakes until the principal points out her biggest mistake, is a good one to read with students who are learning how to follow poems that tell stories. In this case, you have to read to the end to fully get the joke.

34. Boa Constrictor by Shel Silverstein

“I’m being eaten by a boa constrictor,
And I don’t like it one bit.”

Themes: Humor, absurdity, dangerous animals
Literary devices: Rhyme, imagery, repetition

This poem, which can also be sung, is funny both because of the ending and because of the way it rhymes up until the Ummmph!

35. Nonsense Alphabet by Edward Lear

“A was an ant
Who seldom stood still
And who made a nice house
In the side of a hill.”

Themes: Fun
Literary devices: Rhyme, wordplay 

Edward Lear’s writing is pure silliness. You can read this alphabet poem in its entirety or choose parts to focus on. Either way, it’s a fun way to practice fluency and talk about the various scenes that Leer creates for each letter. 

36. How To Paint a Wall by Joanna Fuchs

“While I went off to work one day,
She decided to paint the wall”

Themes: Humor, absurdity
Literary devices: Narrative, rhyme

Language and the nuances of language are at the heart of funny poems. This is a great example of that, when someone decides to paint a wall and “puts on two coats.”

37. Working From Home by Phil J. Johnson

“The grass needs cutting,
I must mend the gate.
I’m expecting a parcel,
I hope it’s not late.”

Themes: Humor, working, chores
Literary devices: Repetition, rhyme

Students can analyze the structure of this poem—a list with a common ending line. And they can create their own poems about the challenges of doing homework or logging into online classes on a snow day.

38. Our Imperfect Dog by Cynthia Naspinski 

“We love our dog with all our hearts,
But not so much her stinky farts.”

Themes: Pets, humor, love, acceptance
Literary devices: Hyperbole, rhyme

This poem is more complicated than the title lets on. Use it to analyze, line by line, what the poet is telling us about her dog that “wages war with the lawnmower” and “to baths she has a strong aversion.” The humor comes in the dog’s antics and the question: Will the family still love her?

39. Pizza the Size of the Sun by Jack Prelutsky

“I’m making a pizza the size of the sun
a pizza that’s sure to weigh more than a ton”

Themes: Absurdity, favorite food
Literary devices: Hyperbole, rhyme, simile

In “Pizza the Size of the Sun,” Prelutsky imagines what it would take to make a pizza with mountains of cheese that would take a year and a half to bake. The pizza lovers in your class will have fun imagining what it would be like to dig into this enormous pie.

40. The Eagle by Lord Tennyson

“He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands …”

Themes: Animal behavior
Literary devices: Rhyme, imagery, personification

This short poem is great to use as a warm-up or quick mini-lesson on imagery or rhyme. Students can create images to show the eagle, or read this poem alongside articles about eagles. 

41. The People Upstairs by Ogden Nash

“The people upstairs all practise ballet
Their living room is a bowling alley …”

Themes: Humor, noisy neighbors
Literary devices: Contrast, rhyme, symbolism, hyperbole

Read this poem and talk about the vocabulary (“abate,” “conducted”) and imagine what experiences the poet had to inspire this poem.

42. Messy Room by Shel Silverstein

“Whosever room this is should be ashamed!
His underwear is hanging on the lamp.”

Themes: Chores, humor
Literary devices: Contrast, rhyme

This poem by Shel Silverstein uses the classic technique of building a scene and then turning it back onto the reader. Whose room is this? Oh, it’s mine!

43. Yes, I’ll Marry You, My Dear by Pam Ayres

“Yes, I’ll marry you, my dear and here’s the reason why;
So I can push you out of bed when the baby starts to cry …”

Themes: Humor, relationships
Literary devices: Rhyme

Older students can see the humor in this poem about the dual roles in a relationship, and the sometimes unequal tasks in a marriage. Note: This poem is written for an older audience.

44. The Purple Cow by Gelett Burgess

“I never saw a Purple Cow
I never hope to see one …”

Themes: Humor, absurdity
Literary devices: Rhyme

This poem reads like a nursery rhyme for older kids. Talk about how a short poem can create a clear image and be memorable. 

45. Granny by Spike Milligan

“Through every nook and every cranny
The wind blew in on poor old Granny …”

Themes: Humor, wind
Literary devices: Imagery, rhyme

Use this poem to talk about how poets use repetition to build a stanza line by line. You can also talk about the silly images that the poet creates in this poem about a windy day and his granny.

46. Eating Habits by Alan Balter

“Tomato sauce I’m at a loss
I simply don’t know why …”

Themes: Food, humor
Literary devices: Imagery, rhyme

This poem is about how clothing never stands a chance against food, from tomato sauce to cheese. It’s a great read, especially if you have a class that can relate to the feeling of always having stains that seem to appear after lunch.

47. Monosyllabics by Laura Richards

“The black cat sat
In the fat man’s hat …”

Themes: Animals
Literary devices: Rhyme, enjambment

This poem is an easier read than its title suggests. It’s written with words with one syllable, which means that it’s a good one to use with younger students who can decode most of the words to build comprehension as they read.

8. Dream Variations by Langston Hughes 

“To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and to dance
Till the white day is done.”

Themes: Freedom, joy, imagination, race 
Literary devices: Repetition, imagery

Even young readers can read Langston Hughes, and this light, energetic poem is a great way to introduce students to the legendary American poet. 

49. Kid, this is the first rain by Jeffrey Bean

“of November. It strips off the rest
of the leaves, reminds trees
how to shiver.”

Themes: Environment, nostalgia
Literary devices: Imagery, tone, enjambment

This is a more complicated poem for younger kids to read, but it’s worth spending some time to analyze this poem. Students can develop background knowledge that helps them understand the poem, which was inspired by the poet’s childhood in the 1980s. 

50. The Shapes of Leaves by Arthur Sze

“Ginkgo, cottonwood, pin oak, sweet gum, tulip tree:
our emotions resemble leaves and alive
to their shapes we are nourished.”

Themes: Nature, connection 
Literary devices: Symbolism, tone, imagery

Use this poem about observing trees and feeling connection to trees to engage students in creating their own poems based on observations of trees or other natural elements.  

Ideas for Using Funny Poems in the Classroom

If you include picture books, which are often lyrical, students have been exposed to lots of poetry. Still, seeing those poems on the page can feel either intimidating or underwhelming. Use these activities to make poetry your students’ favorite unit: 

• Hook students with humor. Students may look at a poem and groan because of previous experiences they’ve had with poetry or because poetry feels too wishy-washy. Read a few hilarious poems aloud to get the poetry unit started and help students warm up to the genre.
• Get the most out of every joke. Support students’ analysis of poems with anchor charts and bookmarks with information about poetic devices. These tools support students’ ability to focus on the text as they read line by line. 
• Make hilarious drawings. Poems are meant to be sensory. Have students imagine what’s happening in each poem and create a drawing that could go along with it—the funnier the better. Then, if there is an image for the poem, like Shel Silverstein’s “Sick,” compare students’ drawings with the original. Who drew it better?
• Create funny stories. If you are reading a narrative poem, have students turn the poem into a comic strip, story, letter, or another narrative. What happens to the story when you change the format? 
• Let hilarity ensue. A poetry slam is a perfect way to practice fluency. Challenge students to get other classes to laugh with how they read a silly poem. What voices or intonation can they add to really hit that punchline?

Get my printable poetry worksheet bundle!

If you’re getting ready for a poetry unit, you’re going to want our poetry worksheet bundle featuring eight different styles of poetry. Click the button below and fill out the form to get it.

If you liked these poems, check out our must-share poems for elementary school students.

It can be hard to know which poems will spur your middle and high schoolers into deep, meaningful discussion and which will leave them yawning. So we asked experienced teachers to share their favorite poems—the ones that always get a reaction, even from teens. Here are their top picks for the best poems for middle school and high school students.

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Note: Every classroom is different, so please be sure to review these poems for middle and high school students before sharing to ensure they align with your learning environment.

Poems for Middle School and High School

1. Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost

Nature’s first green is gold …

Themes: The life cycle, loss, regret
Literary devices: Alliteration, metaphor, personification

This poem is a great introduction to poetry that can be analyzed and discussed within a class period. Plus you can talk about how the poem relates to what students experience as they move through childhood milestones.

2. The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both …

Themes: Individualism vs. nonconformity; choices and consequences
Literary devices: Extended metaphor, imagery, symbolism, rhyme

“The Road Not Taken” is a classic poem that every middle and high schooler really should read. It’s also a poem about things that teens struggle with, like whether to conform or be themselves, or the consequences of their actions. Engage students in a classic close reading of this poem so they can experience it for themselves, and discuss it as a class.

3. Rat Ode by Elizabeth Acevedo

Because you are not the admired nightingale …

Themes: Resilience, survival, misunderstanding
Literary devices: Personification, metaphor, tone

Listen to the author herself as she performs her poetry. Study how Acevedo creates a shift in tone and how that changes the meaning of the poem and the readers’ expectations.

4. I Lost My Talk by Rita Joe

I lost my talk
The talk you took away.

Themes: Loss, cultural identity, oppression
Literary devices: Repetition, symbolism, tone shift

This poem follows the pain and suffering Joe experienced at Shubenacadie Residential School in Nova Scotia. As middle schoolers find their own voices, this poem is a great one for students to read and discuss for the general meaning. Or you can research residential schools in Canada and the United States and talk about the history and ethics of those schools with regard to Indigenous people. As you analyze it, talk about the various meanings of “talk” as it relates to language, culture, and identity.

5. Friend by Josephine Miles

I met a man in a woolen reefer,
A friend of my friend’s.

Themes: Change, memory, passage of time
Literary devices: Symbolism, metaphor, enjambment

This poem uses run-on lines to create a flowing rhythm (enjambment), so it’s a great one to read aloud or encourage students to read in a poetry slam. You can also use it to talk about how friendships change over time.

6. There Are Birds Here by Jamaal May

when they said those birds were metaphors
for what is trapped
between buildings …

Themes: Challenging stereotypes, resilience, misrepresentation, hope
Literary devices: Repetition, contrast, symbolism

The repeated line “There are birds here” reinforces the idea that life and beauty exist even when things seem hopeless. Students can use this poem in a Socratic seminar to talk about how the author describes and reflects on Detroit and negative perceptions of the city, and the presence of joy, nature, and community that point to a broader endurance.

7. Fire and Ice by Robert Frost

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.

Themes: End of the world, emotions
Literary devices: Symbolism, contrast, imagery

This poem will especially engage students who like “Game of Thrones” as there is discussion that the poem inspired the author of that work. For all middle schoolers, Frost doesn’t hold back with this poem, and it’s an ideal one for discussion and debate. Where do students fall, fire or ice?

8. Dear Future Generations: Sorry by Prince Ea

I think I speak for the rest of us when I say
Sorry, sorry we left you with our mess of a planet …

Themes: Destruction, responsibility, climate
Literary devices: Personification, direct address, metaphor

Ea documented this to raise awareness about the alarming rates of deforestation and the reckless destruction of our environment. Read this poem to discuss themes of climate change, or bring it into science class to show students how poets can reflect the times they write in, and what is a writer’s responsibility to reflect and work to change problems they see.

9. Casey at the Bat by Ernest Lawrence Thayer

The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the Mudville nine that day …

Themes: Pride, failure, sports
Literary devices: Hyperbole, alliteration, rhyme and meter

An oldie but goodie! Use this poem to engage your sports-obsessed middle schoolers or to analyze the AABB rhyme scheme.

10. The Rose That Grew From Concrete by Tupac Shakur

Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams,
it learned to breathe fresh air.

Themes: Perseverance, transformation, hope
Literary devices: Metaphor, symbolism, rhyme and rhythm

The late artist created a clear connection between the rhythm and deeper meaning of poetry and rap. Yes, this poem is good to engage students who are interested in music, but it’s also a good poem to analyze and connect to students’ lives as they go through their own transformative experiences.

11. The Listeners by Walter de la Mare

“Is there anybody there?” said the Traveller,
Knocking on the moonlit door …

Themes: Unanswered questions, isolation, the passage of time
Literary devices: Symbolism, personification, repetition

“The Listeners” is a poem for your fans of science fiction. Read this poem aloud and talk about tone—how does the poet create that eerie atmosphere?

12. We Wear the Mask by Paul Laurence Dunbar

We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes …

Themes: Racial injustice, masking emotions, resilience
Literary devices: Metaphor, personification, imagery

A reaction to the experience of being Black in America in the late 19th century. The mask is a metaphor that is used to symbolize the facade that individuals put on to hide their own emotions (a metaphor that adolescents can relate to). It’s also important to talk about how Dunbar’s poem fits into African American history.

13. A Dream Within a Dream by Edgar Allan Poe

You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream …

Themes: Fleeting nature of time, illusion vs. reality
Literary devices: Rhyme scheme, metaphor, imagery

“A Dream Within a Dream” is an introspective poem that delves into the nature of reality and the fragility of life. Poe was an expert at rhyme scheme—and this poem is clear evidence of that with its AABACDCD pattern. Use it to introduce and analyze rhyme scheme in a poem.

14. Deer Hit by Jon Loomis

You’re seventeen and tunnel-vision drunk,
swerving in your father’s Fairlane wagon home …

Themes: Human impact on nature, reflection, guilt
Literary devices: Juxtaposition, personification, tone

Students won’t soon forget this poem, both for the story and the sensory details. “Deer Hit” is about the moments immediately after a deer is hit by a car. Read it for the impact that sensory details can have on a reader or to talk about themes of how humans interact with nature.

15. Eating Poetry by Mark Strand

Ink runs from the corners of my mouth.

Themes: Power of poetry, art, self-transformation
Literary devices: Surrealism, enjambment, personification, simile

The title may entice some more reluctant poetry readers into this poem about the power of literature. Strand imagines a scenario where eating poetry is literally transformative. You can read it with students to discuss how poetry can transform or how something they love can feel like a powerful force in their lives.

16. And the Ghosts by Graham Foust

they own everything

Themes: Loss, memory, absence
Literary devices: Metaphor, imagery

Put this poem up for students to discuss when you want to show them just how powerful one line can be. Students can also reflect on the various meanings of the word “ghosts” and what that means for them.

17. That Sure Is My Little Dog by Eleanor Lerman

Yes, indeed, that is my house that I am carrying around …

Themes: Companionship, pets, love and loss
Literary devices: Contrast, metaphor, imagery

Many poems engage with the theme of the connection between humans and animals, which makes them great to bring into the classroom. Use “That Sure Is My Little Dog” to talk about how people can make their pets an extension of themselves.

18. Another Reason Why I Don’t Keep a Gun in the House by Billy Collins

The neighbors’ dog will not stop barking.

Themes: Violence, impulsivity and control, absurdity
Literary devices: Tone, hyperbole, allusion

Any student who has ever felt annoyed or had to put up with daily frustrations will relate to this poem, which reflects on the absurdity of a violent impulse. This is also a good poem to use to talk about how our thoughts can have unpredictable consequences. The poem also alludes to broader conversations about gun control, which older students may be ready to discuss.

19. Mother to Son by Langston Hughes

Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

Themes: Perseverance, resilience, hope
Literary devices: Dialect, tone, symbolism

A politically charged poem that still rings true today, “Mother to Son” is a powerful, heartfelt narrative about perseverance, resilience, and hope through a mother’s advice to her son. Students should also read Hughes’ other impactful works.

20. Beethoven by Shane Koyczan

Listen
his father
made a habit
out of hitting him …

Themes: Resilience, art, adversity
Literary devices: Allusion, enjambment, symbolism

Through a poem with allusion to Beethoven’s life that flows easily from line to line, Koyczan reflects on resilience and the healing power of music. This poem is worth reading and discussing on its own or alongside information about Beethoven.

21. Oranges by Gary Soto

The first time I walked
With a girl, I was twelve …

Themes: Love, small moments, adolescence
Literary devices: Imagery, symbolism, enjambment

Soto’s poem about trying to impress a girl shows what small moments reveal about ourselves and how those moments embed themselves in our memories. Support students in reflecting on how this poem connects to their own lives. Plus, this poem, with its story-like quality and enjambment, is a great one to read aloud.

22. This Is Just To Say by William Carlos Williams

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the ice box …

Themes: Temptation, regret, imperfection
Literary devices: Enjambment, symbolism

“This Is Just to Say” leaves lots of space for inference, which leads to great discussion. It’s a poem that creates a simple expression of human behavior, but that is more layered the more students read and analyze it. In particular, students can talk about how the poet creates a casual tone and whether or not he actually regrets eating the plums.

23. Having a Coke With You by Frank O’Hara

is even more fun than going to San Sebastian …

Themes: Love, ordinary moments, admiration
Literary devices: Imagery, metaphor

O’Hara explores a simple moment between two people and is full of personal reflection. With the longer lines and stream-of-consciousness format, it’s a good one to talk about the various ways that poets organize their writing.

24. Pass On by Michael Lee

When searching for the lost, remember eight things …

Themes: Time, acceptance, memory
Literary devices: Tone, enjambment, imagery

Lee’s poem creates snapshots of memory, creating lines and ideas for every student to grab and hold on to. This is a good poem to talk about tone, which is reflective, and accepting life’s impermanence.

25. Snow by David Berman

Walking through a field with my little brother Seth …

Themes: Change, nature, isolation
Literary devices: Juxtaposition, tone, imagery

“Snow” is a melancholy narrative in miniature. Berman discusses the complexity of human emotion within imagery of snow and the environment. Talk about the juxtaposition between the events and what’s happening and the beauty of nature.

26. Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter twisted lies …

Themes: Empowerment, resilience, triumph
Literary devices: Repetition, simile, rhetorical questions

This is a poem that must be read aloud and listened to. Find videos of the poem being read by Angelou and other orators to show the way the energy of the poem can be interpreted. Then, students can discuss what Angelou is saying about the African American experience, what she may have been responding to when she wrote it, and how the poem is relevant today.

Learn more: Maya Angelou Quote posters for your classroom.

27. So You Want To Be a Writer by Charles Bukowski

if it doesn’t come bursting out of you
in spite of everything,
don’t do it.

Themes: Writing, rejection and persistence, self-expression
Literary devices: Direct address, tone, metaphor

Bukowski’s poem is a blunt commentary about what it really means to write and be a writer. Middle and high schoolers will appreciate the blunt and unflinching tone. And as they develop their own writing selves, they can talk about why writing remains an important human experience. This poem is also written directly to the reader, which is unique for poems and an interesting aspect for analysis.

28. We Real Cool by Gwendolyn Brooks

We real cool. We
Left school. We
Lurk late. …

Themes: Rebellion, youth, identity
Literary devices: Enjambment, rhyme, tone

This poem, about independence and defiance, speaks directly to the adolescent experience. Talk about what was happening in history when Brooks wrote this poem, and how it’s become a timeless poem. If you’re doing a poetry slam, this poem is great for students to read aloud and make their own.

29. Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day …

Themes: Fighting for life, resistance to death, regret
Literary devices: Villanelle, repetition, metaphor

This reflection on life, death, and the human drive to resist is a great one for close reading and line-by-line analysis. It’s also a villanelle, a 19-line fixed form with five tercets and final quintain—students can analyze the structure and how it moves the poem forward.

30. Daddy by Sylvia Plath

You do not do, you do not do
Any more, black shoe …

Themes: Family relationship, anger, resentment
Literary devices: Allusion, imagery, simile

Sylvia Plath is an author whom students may discover during their high school years, so her poem is a good introduction to the classic writer. This poem explores a complex relationship between father and daughter in Plath’s unsparing tone.

31. I Died for Beauty by Emily Dickinson

I died for beauty, but was scarce
Adjusted in the tomb …

Themes: Beauty, truth, death
Literary devices: Symbolism, tone, imagery

Dickinson was so good at creating mood, this time about the connection between beauty and truth. Dickinson’s poems often require context, so study this poem alongside some information about Dickinson’s life and what she’s most known for. In this poem, students can analyze the symbolism that Dickinson uses to describe time and death, and what else the words “tomb” and “moss” could represent.

32. Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe

It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee …

Themes: Love, death, obsession
Literary devices: Repetition, rhythm and rhyme, imagery

A ghost story wrapped up in a poem, this story is a classic Poe poem. Poe writes in his haunting, macabre style and describes a love so strong it can transcend death. This poem is great for close readings and for reading aloud or a poetry slam. It’s also a perfect poem for students to use to inspire projects—how can they make this poem come alive?

33. Ode to a Large Tuna in the Market by Pablo Neruda

Here,
among the market vegetables,
this torpedo
from the ocean …

Themes: Nature, transformation, death
Literary devices: Imagery, personification, free verse, metaphor

The rest of the poem is as humorous as the title, and it’s fun to dissect and analyze how Neruda writes about everyday objects, like the tuna on ice. It’s also a statement about nature, as Neruda contrasts the tuna’s former life with its presentation in the supermarket. Students can unpack this poem and identify the literary devices that make it most effective.

34. Among These Red Pieces by e.e. cummings

Among
these
red pieces of
day(against which and
quite silently hills
made of blueandgreen paper …

Themes: Love, beauty, individuality
Literary devices: Alliteration, metaphor, symbolism, enjambment

The use of color and how Cummings arranges the lines, punctuation, and spacing are all quintessential Cummings. In addition to how Cummings weaves English and Italian to create the scene, students can discuss how the dashes and parentheses affect how we read the poem.

35. Very Like a Whale by Ogden Nash

One thing that literature would be greatly the better for
Would be the more restricted employment by the authors of simile and metaphor.

Themes: Poetry, language, humor
Literary devices: Satire, rhyme, hyperbole

Nash’s comical poem pokes fun at the overuse of similes and metaphors in literature. It’s a good poem to end a unit on. Once students have developed their own opinions of what is missing in literature and what they think authors and poets should do, they can give a deeper commentary on Nash’s opinion.

36. The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert W. Service

There are strange things done in the midnight sun …

Themes: Friendship, loyalty, humor
Literary devices: Imagery, narrative, irony

This poem, with its satire and dark humor, is an all-American poem. Students can read it to discuss the references that Service included and how they create the atmosphere and setting. Then, students can read the poem for the story to discuss what actually happens in the poem. Read it aloud so students can hear the rhythm.

37. The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes

The wind was a torrent of darkness among the dusty trees.

Themes: Love, loyalty and betrayal, revenge
Literary devices: Metaphor, simile, rhythm, narrative

When a highwayman meets the inn owner’s daughter, they fall in love immediately … as a rival eavesdrops. This narrative poem is another fun one to use with other narrative poems, like “Annabel Lee” and “The Cremation of Sam McGee,” to show how poets can be storytellers.

38. Language Lessons by Alexandra Teague

The carpet in the kindergarten room
was alphabet blocks; all of us fidgeting …

Themes: Communication, memory, realization
Literary devices: Imagery, enjambment

This poem, with themes of language, culture, and identity as the author reflects on learning language in school, is one that students can relate to as they grow out of elementary school and move on to higher grades. How can students connect with the poet’s experience and feelings?

39. Mirror by Sylvia Plath

I am silver and exact. I have no preconceptions.

Themes: Identity, perception, aging
Literary devices: Personification, metaphor, imagery

This poem speaks from a mirror’s perspective, sharing truths as a woman looks at her own reflection. All middle and high schoolers can delve into a poem about identity and aesthetics and how we perceive ourselves.

40. She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies …

Themes: Beauty, idealized love, purity
Literary devices: Imagery, metaphor, rhyme scheme

Byron describes a beautiful woman in this poem. Students can analyze it on its own or in comparison to other poems about beauty and identity, like those by Dickinson and Plath. This is also a good poem to include if you are talking about themes of love and how poets treat love in their work.

41. A Man Said to the Universe by Stephen Crane

A man said to the universe:
“Sir, I exist!”

Themes: Human struggles, futility
Literary devices: Dialogue, personification

This short poem speaks volumes. In today’s world, students can analyze the staying power of this poem and what it could mean for teens in today’s busy, social-media-filled world.

42. The Laughing Heart by Charles Bukowski

your life is your life
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.

Themes: Embracing life, individuality, freedom
Literary devices: Imagery, repetition, metaphor

In this uplifting poem that is written directly to the reader, Bukowski encourages people to make the most of each day. It’s a good poem to incorporate into a poetry unit to lighten the mood or engage students in a carpe diem moment.

43. Tattoo by Ted Kooser

What once was meant to be a statement—
a dripping dagger held in the fist …

Themes: Aging, change
Literary devices: Enjambment, metaphor, personification

What stories can an old man’s tattoo tell us? This soft, lyrical poem about watching an old man who has a tattoo will resonate with middle and high schoolers because of the vivid images and wistful wondering about who this old man once was. Students can reflect on what their younger selves might see if they came across their current selves, or what they may look like in the future.

44. A Litany in Time of Plague by Thomas Nashe

Adieu, farewell, earth’s bliss;
This world uncertain is;
Fond are life’s lustful joys …

Themes: Death, life, powerlessness, illness
Literary devices: Tone, imagery, symbolism, refrain

This poem, written in the late 16th century in response to the bubonic plague, is still relevant today. The idea that no one is immune from a pandemic is depicted in the lines “Rich men, trust not in wealth, Gold cannot buy you health.” Include this poem in a collection of poems that were written in response to historical events so students can analyze how poets incorporate pivotal events into their writing.

45. I’m Nobody, Who are you? by Emily Dickinson

I’m Nobody! Who are you?
Are you – Nobody – too?

Themes: Identity, rejection of fame, privacy
Literary devices: Punctuation, metaphor, rhythm

This playful poem is about identity and wanting not to be famous. It’s an interesting poem to analyze today, when students have multiple social media pages. This poem is also an example of irregular rhythm, which is fun to read alongside more predictable poetry.

46. The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary …

Themes: Psychological torment, grief, hopelessness
Literary devices: Repetition, alliteration, symbolism

Have you even read poetry if you haven’t read “The Raven”? It’s a Poe classic, probably because of the evocative yet accessible language and melancholic storytelling. Depending on your students, start a unit with this poem to engage them in one of the most suspenseful poems, or incorporate it into a storytelling packet.

47. I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills …

Themes: Nature, memory, inspiration
Literary devices: Metaphor, imagery, simile

Wordsworth uses lots of great poetry tools in this poem. Use it to model and teach the basics of poetry—simile, metaphor, imagery, and more.

48. The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman

When day comes we ask ourselves,
“where can we find light in this never-ending shade?”

Themes: Democracy, progress, hope
Literary devices: Anaphora, imagery, symbolism

Amanda Gorman is an amazing modern poet who resonates with young people. Students will love pulling apart all the meaning in Gorman’s poem, which she recited at Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration. The poem also incorporates interesting literary devices like anaphora, or repeating phrases at the beginning of lines, and personification of history in the line “History has its eyes on us.”

49. If – by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you …

Themes: Resilience, leadership, integrity
Literary devices: Anaphora, parallelism, metaphor

This poem will kick off some lively analysis as students make connections and pick apart Kipling’s message, which still rings true today. Kipling’s poem is didactic, so this is a good poem to use when talking about the messages that we can can glean from poems.

50. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though …

Themes: Temptation, life and death, responsibility
Literary devices: Imagery, repetition, alliteration, personification

Read this poem aloud so students can hear how Frost created the soft, contemplative scene. The poem is deceptively simple to read through but can be analyzed as a statement about temptation or life and death. Students can also analyze the rhyme scheme and talk about how it changes in the final stanza.

51. Invictus by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole …

Themes: Overcoming challenges, strength in adversity, destiny
Literary devices: Symbolism, imagery

The themes of overcoming challenge and resilience still resonate with adolescents. In particular, the final two lines of this poem are worth analysis all on their own. What does it mean to be the captain of your soul? How much control do we really have?

52. Webcam the World by Heather McHugh

Get all of it. set up the shots …

Themes: Technology, modern life
Literary devices: Punctuation, enjambment

A statement on technology and nature, McHugh develops a very modern theme in a traditional-looking poem. There’s a lot for students to unpack, from how the traditional format either goes against or helps reinforce the themes to what McHugh is saying about technology use.

53. The Doll House by A.E. Stallings

There in the attic of forgotten shapes
(Old coats in plastic, hat boxes, fur capes
Amongst the smells of mothballs and cigars) …

Themes: Illusion vs. reality, childhood, passage of time
Literary devices: Contrast, symbolism

Stallings digs into her childhood dollhouse and reflects on what it means about childhood and the simple things in life. Even middle schoolers experience nostalgia, and this poem will tap into that. Use this poem to talk about contrast and how Stallings contrasts the dollhouse with everyday life.

54. See It Through by Edgar Albert Guest

When you’re up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face …

Themes: Courage, optimism, determination
Literary devices: Refrain, imagery

This uplifting poem about perseverance has a message about learning from failure. After you have read it with students, use the poem to make inspirational posters that reinforce the idea that we learn through failure.

55. Be the Best of Whatever You Are by Douglas Malloch

If you can’t be a pine on the top of a hill,
Be a scrub in the valley—but be
The best little scrub by the side of the rill …

Themes: Persistence, optimism, determination, being the best you can be
Literary devices: Repetition, anaphora, metaphor, rhyme

This poem is a reminder for students that they should be true to themselves and be proud of that. Take this poem stanza by stanza and discuss all the messages that the poet has for the reader.

56. Adventures of Isabel by Ogden Nash

Isabel met an enormous bear,
Isabel, Isabel, didn’t care …

Themes: Fearlessness, confidence, humor
Literary devices: Rhyme, hyperbole, repetition, personification

A great example of how poetry can be humorous and fun to read—think Shel Silverstein for middle and high schoolers. This whimsical poem tells the story of a fearless girl named Isabel. This is also a great poem to introduce younger students to poetry (think 6th and 7th graders).

57. On Turning Ten by Billy Collins

The whole idea of it makes me feel
like I’m coming down with something …
a kind of measles of the spirit,
a mumps of the psyche …

Themes: Growing up, loss of innocence, nostalgia
Literary devices: Enjambment, imagery, metaphor

It’s silly to read an in-depth reflection about moving into double digits, but middle and high schoolers can see the humor in this poem, as well as the serious side. Using it in combination with other poems that have the theme of nostalgia and looking back, students can analyze the poems side-by-side and talk about whether or not 10 is too young to be nostalgic.

58. Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size …

Themes: Confidence, self-acceptance, individuality
Literary devices: Repetition, rhyme, refrain

A great read for Women’s History Month or any month. Angelou explores the stereotypes that are typically associated with women and what they mean and has created a powerful poem about self-acceptance and self-love. Use this poem to critique modern beauty standards.

59. Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe …

Themes: Heroism, good vs. evil, language
Literary devices: Portmanteau, rhyme scheme, repetition, alliteration, nonsense verse

Older students are able to analyze “Jabberwocky” and talk about how Carroll used his imagination to make up everything from worlds to words. Younger students can listen to this classic poem read aloud and talk about how the words sound and feel to them.

60. Harlem by Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

Themes: Frustration, inequality, hope
Literary devices: Simile, rhetorical questions

This poem has one of the strongest and best-known first lines. Take students through this poem line by line so they can discuss what Hughes imagines happens to a dream, and how that relates to the dreams they have or have had. A line from the poem also inspired the play “A Raisin in the Sun.”

61. Venus and Adonis by Shakespeare

Even as the sun with purple-color’d face
Had ta’en his last leave of the weeping morn …

Themes: Love, Greek myths
Literary devices: Rhyme, narrative, personification

In this story of the unrequited love between the goddess Venus and the human Adonis, students can be introduced to Shakespeare and his style in a more readable poem.

62. His Excellency General Washington by Phillis Wheatley

Celestial choir! enthron’d in realms of light,
Columbia’s scenes of glorious toils I write.

Themes: History, democracy
Literary devices: Rhyme, symbolism

Phillis Wheatley was a well-known poet in the 18th century and in the anti-slavery movement. Her poems align well with social studies classes about colonial America. In this poem, Wheatley implores President George Washington to continue fighting for democracy.

63. O Captain! My Captain! by Walt Whitman

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done …

Themes: Loss, victory, admiration
Literary devices: Extended metaphor, symbolism, repetition

This elegy mourning the death of Abraham Lincoln is a great one to read with students once they’ve learned about Lincoln and his life. Students can talk about the historical context of the poem, what an elegy is, and what Whitman admired about Lincoln. Through this poem, students can also analyze an extended metaphor where the “captain” represents Lincoln.

64. “Faith” is a fine invention by Emily Dickinson

“Faith” is a fine invention
For Gentlemen who see!

Themes: Faith versus action, skepticism 
Literary devices: Metaphor, capitalization, juxtaposition

Dickinson always accomplishes so much in so few lines. This poem is a perfect example of how Dickinson packs a punch in her writing. Challenge students to unravel this poem considering all the techniques she uses, from capital letters to word choice and metaphor. 

65. Since Hanna Moved Away by Judith Viorst

The tires on my bike are flat.
The sky is grouchy gray.
At least it sure feels like that.
Since Hanna moved away.

Themes: Friendship, loss
Literary devices: Rhyme, refrain, hyperbole, symbolism

Children’s author Judith Viorst knows how to talk to kids. Pair this poem with a story about grief and loss, or use it in a poetry packet about feelings. This poem also is easy to differentiate, with access points for students of varying reading levels.

66. With This Bright Voice by Amanda Gorman

Be bold, sang Time
For when you honor yesterday
Tomorrow ye will find …

Themes: Hope, resilience, taking action 
Literary devices: Metaphor, enjambment

Gorman wrote this poem for the UNICEF Gala in 2025. Lead students into a unit on poetry with Gorman’s recent words so they can see how poetry is relevant and powerful in today’s world. 

67. Not Here, Exactly by Joanna Fuhrman

One mountain tried
to taste another,
then spit it out. 

Themes: Isolation, detachment
Literary devices: Free verse, personification, simile, enjambment  

This poem uses emotion and feelings, rather than story, to explore the feeling of being detached from those around you. Modern teens can discuss how this poem reflects, or does not reflect, their experiences. 

68. Travelling by William Wordsworth

This is the spot:—how mildly does the sun
Shine in between the fading leaves!

Themes: Companionship, solitude, memory, imagination 
Literary devices: Enjambment, personification, imagery 

Wordsworth is a must-read, and his poems can feel challenging for students. In “Travelling,” he examines how memory can change loneliness into comfort. Students can do a surface-level analysis of the poem, or go deeper by reflecting on how their experiences are similar to or different from Wordsworth’s. 

69. The List of Famous Hats by James Tate

Napoleon’s hat is an obvious choice I guess to list as a famous hat, but that’s not the hat I have in mind. That was his hat for show.

Themes: History, humor 
Literary devices: List, irony, juxtaposition, conversational tone

Build background knowledge before reading this poem, or challenge students to build knowledge as they read about hats and history. Students can discuss the structure of the poem—is this really a random list of historical figures or is there more going on? 

70. A Way of Seeing by Kwame Dawes

It all comes from this dark dirt,
memory as casual as a laborer.

Themes: Perspective, empathy, mindfulness
Literary devices: Imagery, metaphor, repetition 

Dawes explores how focus and observation can build understanding and how history can be learned without a formal documentation of it. Analyze the way Dawes explores ordinary moments creating connection.

71. Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes

Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.

Themes: The American dream, inequality, identity and voice 
Literary devices: Repetition, imagery, lists

Hughes was so good at putting the American experience and struggle into prose. In this poem, Hughes explores the gap between America’s ideals and realities while urging readers to work together to reclaim those promises.

72. There is no Frigate like a Book by Emily Dickinson

There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away.

Themes: Reading, imagination
Literary devices: Metaphor, simile 

This short, accessible poem is a good introduction to Emily Dickinson. It celebrates reading and imagination as Dickinson argues that books are a powerful way to travel. Is her message still relevant today? 

73. Nature by George Herbert

Full of rebellion, I would die
Or fight, or travell, or denie
That thou hast ought to do with me.

Themes: Human nature, appearance
Literary devices: Personification, metaphor, tone

Herbert argues that there are limitations to human nature and the natural world. Students can unpack the poem line by line, and talk about how Herbert’s message would have connected with readers in his time. 

74. I, Too by Langston Hughes

Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.

Themes: Equity, pride, identity
Literary devices: Metaphor, symbolism, imagery, enjambment

Langston Hughes’ “I, Too” is a must-read for students who are learning about American history. Reading Hughes’ poem as they develop background knowledge about African American history will make the poem’s literal and figurative meanings come to light.

75. Carrying Our Words by Ofelia Zepeda

We travel carrying our words.
We arrive at the ocean.

Themes: Language, nature, reciprocity
Literary devices: Repetition, imagery

It’s impossible to read “Carrying Our Words” without learning about Zepeda, a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation of southwestern Arizona. Learn about Zepeda and other Native American poets and how their poetry draws from their culture, history, and experience.

76. Square Cells by Jenny Xie

The screens plant bulbs
of tension inward, but hit no nerves.

Themes: Digital vs. physical reality, surveillance 
Literary devices: Imagery, metaphor, symbolism, enjambment

Students, who have been on screens since toddlerhood, can apply the reality of living in a digital world with Xie’s perspective on it. How do screens shape perception? How do they shape our emotions? 

77. Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats

Thou still unravish’d bride of quietness,
Thou foster-child of Silence and slow Time

Themes: Beauty, truth, history, culture 
Literary devices: Imagery, symbolism, metaphor 

Reading this classic poem, especially with some knowledge of ancient Greece, is a good exercise in how poetry has evolved over time. This poem is fun to read for fluency—with all the old-fashioned phrasing—and is a good exercise in classic poetry analysis.

78. Art Project: Earth by Karen Skolfield

Balloon, then papier mâché.
Gray paint, blue and turquoise green
a clouded world with fishing line attached.

Themes: Beauty, wonder, love, meaning 
Literary devices: Imagery, symbolism, tone

Skolfield explores how humans understand and shape their world through the experience of a papier-mâché Earth. Teach this poem alongside a classic poem about nature and humans to see how these themes have evolved.

Teaching Ideas Using These Poems for Middle School and High School

We never said teaching poetry to teenagers would be easy. Here are some teaching tips and tricks for using the poems above in your ELA class:

• Scaffold analysis: Poems seem easy to read, but they’re not, and poetry interpretation can be tough! Use a graphic organizer or other support to help students work through poems. 
• Teach through theme: Choose four or five poems that have similar themes, then read and discuss the poems as a group. What is each poet saying about this theme? How have these ideas stayed the same or changed over time? 
• Blackout poetry: Show students how word choice matters with blackout poetry. As students pore over a text, choosing just the right words, they’ll get a feel for the poetry writing process.
• Study a poet: Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Amanda Gorman, whichever poet you choose, examine how they approach their craft. What do they like to write about? What inspired them? Which literary tools do they use most?
• Use imagery: Have students take one poem that has a lot of imagery and create a drawing (or painting, chalk drawing, etc.) that depicts their poem. Encourage them to go beyond a literal interpretation.

Get your free printable poetry bundle!

If you love these poems and want some of your favorites to pass out to students, grab our free printable poetry bundle. It includes our favorite poems for middle and high school students. Just fill out the form on this page to get it.

Do you teach younger students? Check out our favorite elementary school poems.

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Dating back to the 14th century, limericks are a delightful, often silly way to tell a short story. These quick poems are wildly entertaining and imaginative, and anyone can write them. Once you’ve mastered the rhythm of the limerick poem, you can spin a tale that leaves people roaring with laughter. That’s why limericks for kids continue to be a staple in classrooms—students find them so fun!

What is a limerick?

Limericks follow a single stanza structure and consist of five lines. You’ll need to use an AABBA rhyme scheme, with lines one, two, and five ending with rhyming words. Lines three and four should use a second rhyme. It might sound a little tricky, but once you’ve read a few, you’ll quickly pick up the sequence.

Edward Lear popularized limericks with his famous The Book of Nonsense, which was released in the 1800s. Modern authors have reprinted his work in books such as The Complete Nonsense of Edward Lear. Some of the limericks for kids on this list are from that very collection!

Limericks for Kids

Here’s a list of limericks for kids to share your classroom. (Be sure to read them for appropriateness first!)

1. There was an old man from Nantucket

There was an old man from Nantucket

Who kept all his cash in a bucket;

But his daughter named Nan,

Ran away with a man—

And as far as the bucket, Nantucket.

2. A certain young fellow named Bee-Bee

A certain young fellow named Bee-Bee

Wished to wed a woman named Phoebe.

“But,” he said, “I must see

What the clerical fee

Be before Phoebe be Phoebe Bee-Bee.”

3. There once was a fly on the wall

There once was a fly on the wall

I wonder why didn’t it fall

Because its feet stuck

Or was it just luck

Or does gravity miss things so small?

4. There once was a farmer from Leeds

There once was a farmer from Leeds

Who swallowed a packet of seeds.

It soon came to pass,

He was covered with grass,

But has all the tomatoes he needs.

5. A canner, exceedingly canny

A canner, exceedingly canny,

One morning remarked to his granny,

“A canner can can

Anything that he can;

But a canner can’t can a can, can he?”

6. There was a young man from Dealing

There was a young man from Dealing

Who caught the bus for Ealing.

It said on the door,

“Don’t spit on the floor,”

So he jumped up and spat on the ceiling.

7. A fellow jumped off a high wall

A fellow jumped off a high wall

And had a most terrible fall.

He went back to bed,

With a bump on his head,

That’s why you don’t jump off a wall.

8. Here’s to the chigger

Here’s to the chigger,

The bug that’s no bigger

Than the point of an undersized pin;

But the welt that he raises

Sure itches like blazes,

And that’s where the rub comes in!

9. As 007 walked by

As 007 walked by,

He heard a wee spider say “Hi.”

But shaken, he shot

It right there on the spot

As it tried to explain, “I’m a spi …”

10. An elderly man called Keith

An elderly man called Keith

Mislaid his set of false teeth—

They’d been laid on a chair,

He forgot they were there,

Sat down, and was bitten beneath.

11. There was an old man from Milan

There was an old man from Milan

Whose limericks never would scan.

When told this was so,

He said, “Yes, I know.

But I always try to get as many syllables into the last line as I possibly can.”

12. I’m papering walls in the loo

I’m papering walls in the loo

And quite frankly I haven’t a clue;

For the pattern’s all wrong

(Or the paper’s too long)

And I’m stuck to the toilet with glue.

13. There was an odd fellow named Gus

There was an odd fellow named Gus,

When traveling he made such a fuss.

He was banned from the train,

Not allowed on a plane,

And now travels only by bus.

14. Is it me or the nature of money

Is it me or the nature of money

That’s odd and peculiar? Funny,

But when I have dough,

It goes quickly, you know,

And seeps out of my pockets like honey.

15. There was a young woman named Bright

There was a young woman named Bright

Whose speed was much faster than light.

She set out one day,

In a relative way,

And returned on the previous night.

16. There once was a man from Tibet

There once was a man from Tibet

Who couldn’t find a cigarette,

So he smoked all his socks,

And got chicken-pox,

And had to go to the vet.

17. I need a front door for my hall

I need a front door for my hall

The replacement I bought was too tall.

So I hacked it and chopped it,

And carefully lopped it,

And now the dumb thing is too small.

18. A newspaperman named Fling

A newspaperman named Fling

Could make “copy” from any old thing.

But the copy he wrote

Of a five-dollar note

Was so good he now wears so much bling.

19. There was an old man of Peru

There was an old man of Peru

Who dreamed he was eating his shoe.

He woke in the night

With a terrible fright,

And found it was perfectly true.

20. I know an old owl named Boo

I know an old owl named Boo

Every night he yelled Hoo,

Once a kid walked by,

And started to cry,

And yelled “I don’t have a clue!”

21. I once fell in love with a blonde

I once fell in love with a blonde

But found that she wasn’t so fond

Of my pet turtle named Odle,

Whom I’d taught how to yodel,

So she dumped him outside in the pond.

22. My dog is really quite hip

My dog is really quite hip

Except when he takes a cold dip.

He looks like a fool,

When he jumps in the pool,

And reminds me of a sinking ship.

23. I’d rather have fingers than toes

I’d rather have fingers than toes.

I’d rather have ears than a nose.

And as for my hair,

I’m glad it’s all there,

I’ll be awfully sad when it goes.

24. There was a young schoolboy of Rye

There was a young schoolboy of Rye

Who was baked by mistake in a pie.

To his mother’s disgust,

He emerged through the crust,

And exclaimed with a yawn, “Where am I?”

25. There was a Young Lady whose chin

There was a Young Lady whose chin

Resembled the point of a pin:

So she had it made sharp,

And purchased a harp,

And played several tunes with her chin.

26. There was a young lady of Cork

There was a young lady of Cork

Whose pa made a fortune in pork.

He bought for his daughter

A tutor who taught her

To balance green peas on her fork.

27. A painter who lived in Great Britain

A painter who lived in Great Britain

Interrupted two girls with their knitting.

He said, with a sigh,

“That park bench—well I

Just painted it, right where you’re sitting.”

28. Hickory dickory dock

Hickory dickory dock,

The mouse ran up the clock;

The clock struck one,

And down he run,

Hickory dickory dock.

29. There is a young schoolboy named Mason

There is a young schoolboy named Mason

Whose mom cuts his hair with a basin.

When he stands in one place,

With a scarf round his face,

It’s a mystery which way he’s facing.

30. The incredible Wizard of Oz

The incredible Wizard of Oz

Retired from his business becoz,

Due to up-to-date science,

To most of his clients,

He wasn’t the Wizard he woz.

31. There once was a cat from Spain

There once was a cat from Spain

Who loved to dance in the rain.

With each step and twirl,

She’d give a whirl,

And then start all over again!

32. A young bear named Lou

A young bear named Lou

Found a large pot of blue goo.

He painted his chair,

And most of his hair,

And then laughed at the colorful view.

33. There was an old owl who loved books

There was an old owl who loved books.

He read in all crannies and nooks.

With his big, round glasses,

He taught reading classes,

And got lots of appreciative looks.

34. A bouncy young kangaroo

A bouncy young kangaroo

Wore shoes that were bright, shiny blue.

He hopped in the sun,

Having so much fun,

And he made all his friends want some too.

35. A small, happy frog named Finn

A small, happy frog named Finn

Loved to leap and spin in the wind.

With a jump and a hop,

He just couldn’t stop,

Wearing always a big, wide grin.

36. There once was a dog from Kent

There once was a dog from Kent,

Who to the circus he went.

He juggled some bones,

And balanced on cones,

And was happy wherever he went.

37. A little bird loved to sing

A little bird loved to sing,

In the garden during the spring.

With notes high and low,

In the sunshine’s glow,

She made the whole neighborhood ring.

38. There once was a mouse so keen

There once was a mouse so keen,

Who invented a cleaning machine.

It swept and it scrubbed

And even dust-rubbed,

Leaving everywhere wonderfully clean.

39. A cheerful young duck in a pond

A cheerful young duck in a pond,

Of swimming was incredibly fond.

She’d dive and she’d splash,

In a jubilant dash,

Forming ripples that reached far beyond.

40. There was a bright young bee

There was a bright young bee,

Who buzzed merrily by the sea.

Collecting some nectar,

With skill of a collector,

As busy and happy as can be.

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