Classic Poetry
Fourteen public-domain poems to read, share, and teach: Shakespeare, Dickinson, Poe, Keats, and more, each with its full text, poet biography, themes, and a reading note.
Poem of the day
A new classic every day, chosen by the date. Read today's poem
All poems
- Sonnet 18William Shakespeare
- Because I could not stop for DeathEmily Dickinson
- The RavenEdgar Allan Poe
- O Captain! My Captain!Walt Whitman
- Ode to a NightingaleJohn Keats
- OzymandiasPercy Bysshe Shelley
- She Walks in BeautyLord Byron
- A Red, Red RoseRobert Burns
- I Wandered Lonely as a CloudWilliam Wordsworth
- RememberChristina Rossetti
- JabberwockyLewis Carroll
- The Owl and the Pussy-catEdward Lear
- Old PondMatsuo Basho
- Rima XXIGustavo Adolfo Bécquer
Browse by poet
- William ShakespeareSonnet 18
- Emily DickinsonBecause I could not stop for Death
- Edgar Allan PoeThe Raven
- Walt WhitmanO Captain! My Captain!
- John KeatsOde to a Nightingale
- Percy Bysshe ShelleyOzymandias
- Lord ByronShe Walks in Beauty
- Robert BurnsA Red, Red Rose
- William WordsworthI Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
- Christina RossettiRemember
- Lewis CarrollJabberwocky
- Edward LearThe Owl and the Pussy-cat
- Matsuo BashoOld Pond
- Gustavo Adolfo BécquerRima XXI
Frequently asked questions
What poems are on this page?
Fourteen public-domain classics: Shakespeare's Sonnet 18, Dickinson's "Because I could not stop for Death", Poe's "The Raven", Whitman's "O Captain! My Captain!", Keats's "Ode to a Nightingale", Shelley's "Ozymandias", Byron's "She Walks in Beauty", Burns's "A Red, Red Rose", Wordsworth's "Daffodils", Rossetti's "Remember", Carroll's "Jabberwocky", Lear's "The Owl and the Pussy-cat", Basho's old pond haiku, and Bécquer's Rima XXI. Each has its full text, a short biography of the poet, themes, and a reading note.
Are these poems really free to read?
Yes. Every poem here is in the public domain, which means its copyright has expired. You can read, copy, print, and share them freely. For the two non-English poems (Basho's haiku and Bécquer's rima), we include the original text plus our own English translation.
What is the poem of the day?
A daily pick from the fourteen poems, chosen by the day of the year, so the selection is the same for everyone on the same date. Visit the poem of the day page for today's poem in full.
Can I use these poems in school or at home?
Yes. They are ideal for classrooms, homeschooling, and family reading: short enough to read aloud, rich enough to discuss. Each poem page includes themes and a reading note to help you talk about it.