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With so many beautiful poems and poets throughout American history, narrowing down the most significant is incredibly difficult. However, some poems, in particular, have made substantial marks on the history of America due to their messages, prose, and influence from their authors. This guide highlights fifteen of the most impactful, timeless poems in US history that are still relevant today.
Impactful, timeless poems in US history
1. Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
Despite being far more modern than most iconic poems, penned in 1978, this poem was and remains relevant to the darker side of American history and culture. Maya Angelou, the inspiring and influential civil rights activist, also had a creative and memorable writing style. She published many poems and memoirs, but Still I Rise remains one of the most prolific. The poem describes strength and perseverance as a Black woman despite hardships experienced due to anti-Black racism in American society.
2. The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe
The Raven is arguably one of the most famous poems ever written, especially in recent American history. This dark but musical poem was written in 1845 by Edgar Allan Poe, known for his often twisted, dark, and gothic themes in his works. The poem showcases a slow descent into madness after a grieving lover is tormented by a raven at his door. Most people remember this poem’s famous line, “Quoth the Raven, nevermore.”
3. Because I could not stop for Death by Emily Dickinson
One of Emily Dickinson’s final poems is particularly haunting due to its subject matter of death while being published posthumously in 1890. Emily Dickinson is often regarded as one of American history’s most prolific and inspiring poets, especially in the female artist movement. The poem explores the afterlife with Death, a personified figure. It is often recited in schools and universities as an example of personification and a step into the door of Emily Dickinson’s inspiring works.
4. Harlem (A Dream Deferred) by Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes was another inspirational civil rights activist known for his leadership in what was known as the ‘Harlem Renaissance.’ Often regarded for his innovations in the jazz poetry movement, Harlem (A Dream Deferred) is a defining example of modern poetry and American struggles, particularly regarding anti-Black racism. Written in 1951, it describes his experience of growing up as a Black man in a white supremacist world and, therefore, remains relevant to this day.
5. O Captain! My Captain! By Walt Whitman
Many people know Walt Whitman’s famous poem from the beloved Robin Williams film Dead Poets Society. However, this poem was initially written in 1865, during the aftermath of the Civil War, in response to the tragedy of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and what occurred afterward. O Captain! My Captain! is considered one of Walt Whitman’s most famous works, if not the most. It marks a dark time in American history when brother fought against brother.
6. The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
The Road Not Taken is another of the most famous and beloved American poems ever written. Frost has been hailed for his poetic take on American culture and people, and this is no exception. Written in 1916, the poem describes all the ‘roads’ or choices taken (or not taken) in life and how people reflect on them.
7. The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus
The New Colossus is a poem literally branded into American history, as it sits on a pedestal at the bottom of the iconic Statue of Liberty in New York City. It was written in 1883 to raise money for the symbolic monument and describes the hope for immigrants to create a new life in America.
8. The Wasteland by T.S. Eliot
Similar to The Road Not Taken, T.S. Eliot’s The Wasteland makes most critics’ top ten lists of American poems. The poem was published in 1922 and explores the loss and desolation of man, particularly after disasters like World War I. As America has seen its fair share of wars in its recent history, it remains a relevant and notable take on the collapse of society in a post-war world.
9. Daddy by Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath was well-known for her self-confessional poetry and writing style, as well as her struggle with depression that ended her life in 1963. She significantly influenced modern poetry, and this is one of her more spectacular works. Daddy is a harrowing take on her father, including connections to other men in her life. It includes themes of generational trauma and complex feelings between fathers and daughters.
10. The Bridge by Hart Crane
While The Bridge isn’t as commonly quoted as other poems on this list, it is a beautiful contribution to US history, especially as New York’s picturesque Brooklyn Bridge inspires it. It is poet Hart Crane’s first and only long poem. It emphasizes and summarizes the beauty and intricacy of New York life and its residents. The poem was written in 1930 and is, therefore, more modern than other works listed, but it remains an enchanting entry into American life.
11. Anabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was not well known for his romantic side, but Anabel Lee remains one of American history’s most haunting and forlorn love poems. Despite his works often depicting the loss of love, Anabel Lee portrays a softer, lighter side of grieving than his usual darker flair. Written in 1849, it discusses a romance so heavenly and beautiful that even the ‘angels’ were envious of it, but unfortunately, Anabel Lee dies, leaving the narrator heartbroken.
12. Defence of Fort M’Henry by Francis Scott Key
Most Americans are familiar with The Star Spangled Banner, as schoolchildren often recite it at the beginning of a school day. The patriotic tune was adapted from the poem Defence of Fort M’Henry by then-35-year-old Francis Scott Key, written after witnessing bombardments during the War of 1812 between the British and Americans. Once the poem was set to music, it became the National Anthem, arguably the most famous song in American history.
13. Stopping by Wood on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
Robert Frost is so influential that he deserves another spot on the list. As previously mentioned, Frost is famous for his American poetry, which often showcases the realism of American society. Stopping by Wood on a Snowy Evening, penned in 1922, describes American challenges and the ability to overcome them with independence and self-reliance.
14. Trees by Joyce Kilmer
Ironically, the poem Trees implies nature is better than any art man can create. Author Joyce Kilmer explores the beauty and majesty of nature in his famous 1913 American poem. America is filled with rich forests, towering mountains, and harsh deserts; its ecological diversity is one of the benefits of American life.
15. The Red Wheelbarrow by William Carlos Williams
While its subject matter is not particularly profound at first glance, The Red Wheelbarrow, published in 1923 by William Carlos Williams, inspired an entire century of poets and authors. As its title implies, it simply describes a red wheelbarrow out in the rain, but its free verse helped revolutionize American poetry as we know it.
Conclusion
It is challenging to select only fifteen influential and remarkable poems from American history, and therefore, many incredible poems and poets have been left out. However, poets such as Robert Frost, Edgar Allan Poe, Maya Angelou, and Walt Whitman have left incredible marks in literature and American history.
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