whats your favourite poem and why?

Answer 1

My favourite Poem is Jerusalem by William Blake.
The true meaning of this poem has been lost in the Hymn that seems to be a boast of patriotism, yet the truth is that Blake was calling for a humanist-gnostic- Christian utopia as a egalitarian poet and artist.
What also makes William Blake special as an individual and poet is the fact that he was an outsider in the literary circles and true to his art and vision.

WILLIAM BLAKE from Milton [preface]

And did those feet in ancient time.
Walk upon England's mountains green:
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On England's pleasant pastures seen!

And did the countenance Divine,
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here,
Among these dark Satanic Mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrow of desire:
Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!

I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In England's green and pleasant land.

A close second is again another poem by William Blake, from Auguries of innocence.

To see a World in a Grain of sand
And a heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour........

Answer 2

I have two that I really like.

The first is "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost. I think I like it because I am interested in the whole end of the world, armeggeddon type writings and movies. I also like the fact that he is not really talking about "fire" and "ice," but different forms of war.

The other is "Southbound on the Freeway" by May Swenson (I am pretty sure this is the poem I am thinking of). The poem is written as though by aliens, or some other creatures that do not know our ways. The portion of the poem that always sticks with me, talks about a unique description of vehicles. How they have metal bodies and the shadowy shapes inside; are they the brains or the guts of this metal body. It also talks about the metal bodies with the extra "eye" on top and how the other metal bodies show respect towards them and go slow. I like it because it offers a brief outside view to our society.

Answer 3

Anabel Lee by Edgar Allen Poe Very rhythmic & somewhat sad a beautiful poem about the power of love

Answer 4

I lost a cat recently and because of that my current favourite poem is Weep Not For Me by Constance Jenkins. It makes me cry but in a nice way (if you know what I mean!).

Answer 5

Stealing by Carol Ann Duffy

It's like a confession by a thief, and it is just not what I expected the first time I read it.

I also like Eldon Hole by David Constantine. It's dark, and surprising. I won't say any more in case you decide to find it and read.

Just noticed someone has put that Wilfred Owen's poems are about WW2, that's wrong, they are about WW1, he died in 1918.

Answer 6

This Be The Verse by Philip Larkin

They fvck you up, your mum and dad
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.

But they were fvcked up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another's throats

Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don't have any kids yourself.


for its uncompromising miserablism. I don't entirely agree with it but i like its force and humour.

also Blakes 'marriage of heaven and hell' and coleridges 'kubla kahn' for their imagery

Answer 7

Not Waving But Drowning
by Stevie Smith

Nobody heard him, the dead man,
But still he lay moaning:
I was much further out than you thought
And not waving but drowning.

Poor chap, he always loved larking
And now he's dead
It must have been too cold for him his heart gave way,
They said.

Oh, no no no, it was too cold always
(Still the dead one lay moaning)
I was much too far out all my life
And not waving but drowning.

****

I love this poem because it represents a person who covered up his problems with a happy facade. All of his life, he had been asking for help, but no one noticed. I think it's brilliant.

Answer 8

Maya Angelo. And still I rise. In times of stress when I read this poem I feel,energy,my spirits are lifted,and it makes me feel stronger.

Answer 9

2 roads diverged in a yellow woods. It is the most
captivating poetry ever. Simply because of the
picture that it paints at the beginning.

Answer 10

I love Wilfred Owen's poem they are about WW2 and i think they are very deep and get you thinking about life and i also love Refugee Blues