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Famous 20Th Poems by Famous Poets

These are examples of famous 20Th poems written by some of the greatest and most-well-known modern and classical poets. PoetrySoup is a great educational poetry resource of famous 20th poems. These examples illustrate what a famous 20th poem looks like and its form, scheme, or style (where appropriate).

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Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry
...
The soldier sparkled in his eye,
 A diamond water.
I blest that noble badge with joy,
 That owned me frater. 3


After 20th stanza of the text (at “Dispensing good”):—Near by arose a mansion fine 4
The seat of many a muse divine;
Not rustic muses such as mine,
 With holly crown’d,
But th’ ancient, tuneful, laurell’d Nine,
 From classic ground.


I mourn’d the card that Fortune dealt,
To see where bonie Whitefoords dwelt; 5
But other prospects made me melt,
 That village near...Read more of this...
by Burns, Robert



...buttering and he can't go around with 
one of his shoelaces needing to be tied, can he?
 Certainly it's true, when the 20th century gets written 
in full it will be mainly about him. That's the way the 
cookie crumbles--ah, there's a phrase that'll be quoted 
for centuries to come.
 Self-conscious? A little; how can one help it with all 
those yet-to-be-born eyes of the future watching him?
 Uh oh, he feels another historical event coming . . . 
Ah, there it is, a cup of cof...Read more of this...
by Edson, Russell
...ould see

his fellow prisoners captivated
by shadows; everything he had believed
was false. And he was suddenly

in the 20th century, in the sunlight
and violence of history, encumbered
by knowledge. Only a hero

would dare return with the truth.
So from the cave's upper reaches,
removed from harm, he called out

the disturbing news.
What lovely echoes, the prisoners said,
what a fine musical place to live.

He spelled it out, then, in clear prose
on paper scraps, which he fl...Read more of this...
by Dunn, Stephen
...nd rapture and ragtime and also the secret city in the
 heart and mind
This is the song of the natural city self in the 20th century.

It is true but only partly true that a city is a "tyranny of
 numbers"
(This is the chant of the urban metropolitan and
 metaphysical self
After the first two World Wars of the 20th century)

--- This is the city self, looking from window to lighted
 window
When the squares and checks of faintly yellow light
Shine at night, upon a huge dim boa...Read more of this...
by Schwartz, Delmore
...riages are pulled across by a rope,
Therefore Brooklyn Bridge cannot with thee cope;
And as you have been opened on the 20th day of June,
I hope Her Majesty Queen Victoria will visit thee very soon,
Because thou art worthy of a visit from Duke, Lord or Queen,
And strong and securely built, which is most worthy to be seen
Near by Dundee and the bonnie Magdalen Green....Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz



...In the 5th century B.C.
an Indian philosopher
Gautama teaches "All is emptiness" 
and "There is no self." 
In the 20th century A.D.
Barbie agrees, but wonders how a man 
with such a belly could pose, 
smiling, and without a shirt....Read more of this...
by Duhamel, Denise
...e rain which
almost isn't rain, more like thawed-
out hail. All this beauty in the
mess of this small apartment on
West 20th in Chelsea, New York.
Slowly the notes pour out, slowly,
more slowly still, fat rain falls....Read more of this...
by Schuyler, James
...'Twas in the year of 1849, and on the 20th of February,
Lord Gough met and attacked Shere Sing right manfully.
The Sikh Army numbered 40,000 in strength,
And showing a front about two miles length. 

It was a glorious morning, the sun was shining in a cloudless sky;
And the larks were singing merrily in the heavens high;
And 'twas about nine o'clock in the morning the battle was begun,
But at th...Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz
...'Twas in the year of 1884, and on Saturday the 20th of September,
Which the inhabitants of Dundee will long remember
The great Liberal Franchise Demonstration,
Which filled their minds with admiration. 

Oh! it was a most magnificent display,
To see about 20 or 30 thousand men all in grand array;
And each man with a medal on his breast;
And every man in the procession dressed in his best. 

The banners o...Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz
...'Twas on the 20th of November, and in the year of 1897,
That the cheers of the Gordon Highlanders ascended to heaven,
As they stormed the Dargai heights without delay,
And made the Indian rebels fly in great dismay. 

"Men of the Gordon Highlanders," Colonel Mathias said,
"Now, my brave lads, who never were afraid,
Our General says ye must take Dargai heights to-day;
So,...Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz

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Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry