Famous Autograph Poems by Famous Poets

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

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A Familiar Letter

...the eloquent school-boy rehearses,
Her album the school-girl presents for your name;

Each morning the post brings you autograph letters;
You'll answer them promptly,-- an hour isn't much
For the honor of sharing a page with your betters,
With magistrates, members of Congress, and such.

Of course you're delighted to serve the committees
That come with requests from the country all round,
You would grace the occasion with poems and ditties
When they've got a new schoolhouse,...Read more of this...
by Holmes, Oliver Wendell


American Beauty

...raised him
on Beowulf and Grendal.

Much later in New York we reunited;
in an elevator at Sak's a woman asked for
your autograph.
You glowed like a star, like Anouk Aimee
at forty, close enough.

Your pedantry found its place in the Women's Movement.
You rose fast, seen suddenly as the morning star;
wrote the ERA
found the right man at last, a sensitive artist;
flying too high

not to crash. When the cancer caught you
you went on talk shows to say you had no fear
or faith.
I...Read more of this...
by Kizer, Carolyn

An Autograph

...I write my name as one, 
On sands by waves o'errun 
Or winter's frosted pane, 
Traces a record vain. 

Oblivion's blankness claims 
Wiser and better names, 
And well my own may pass 
As from the strand or glass. 

Wash on, O waves of time! 
Melt, noons, the frosty rime! 
Welcome the shadow vast, 
The silence that shall last! 

When I and all who know 
And ...Read more of this...
by Whittier, John Greenleaf

Death and Fame

...borors, cultural 
 historians come to witness the historic funeral
Super-fans, poetasters, aging Beatnicks & Deadheads, autograph-
 hunters, distinguished paparazzi, intelligent gawkers
Everyone knew they were part of 'History" except the deceased
who never knew exactly what was happening even when I was alive

 February 22, 1997...Read more of this...
by Ginsberg, Allen

Four-Foot Shelf

...is books I knew.

Said I: 'I'd like to borrow one,
 Fond memories to recall.'
Said he: 'I'll gladly give you some,
 And autograph them all.'
And so a dozen books he brought,
 And signed tome after tome:
Of course I thanked him quite a lot,
 And took them home.

So now I have to read his work,
 Though dry as dust it be;
No portion of it may I shirk,
 Lest he should question me.
This tale is true,--although it looks
 To me a bloody shame,
A guy could father forty books,
 yet no...Read more of this...
by Service, Robert William


Hero Worship

...my friend, I merit mirth.
You're bold, you have the right to laugh,
And if Christ came again to earth
 You'd cadge his autograph."...Read more of this...
by Service, Robert William

Ireland

...Written for the Art Autograph during the Irish Famine, 1880.


Heartsome Ireland, winsome Ireland,
Charmer of the sun and sea,
Bright beguiler of old anguish,
How could Famine frown on thee?

As our Gulf-Stream, drawn to thee-ward,
Turns him from his northward flow,
And our wintry western headlands
Send thee summer from their snow,

Thus the main and cordial current
Of our love...Read more of this...
by Lanier, Sidney

Los Angeles 1954

...anketed the pills
She'd slipped beneath her tongue.
Maestro'd kick the **** out of anybody
Who tried to sneak up for an autograph;
He'd say, Jordan, just let me know if
 Somebody gets too close....
Then he'd turn to her and whisper, Here's
 Where you get to be Miss Nobody...
And she'd smile as she let him
Kiss her hand. For a while, there was a singer
At the club, a guy named Louis--
But Maestro'd change his name to "Michael Champion";
Well, when this guy leaned forward,
Crad...Read more of this...
by John, David St

Sonnet 08

...und: And the repeated air
Of sad Electra's Poet had the power
To save th' Athenian Walls from ruine bare.

Notes:
Camb. autograph supplies title, When the assault was intended
to the city.
3 If deed of honour did thee ever please, 1673....Read more of this...
by Milton, John

Sonnet 10

...noble vertues praise,
That all both judge you to relate them true,
And to possess them, Honour'd Margaret.

Note: Camb. autograph supplies title, To the Lady Margaret
Ley....Read more of this...
by Milton, John

Sonnet 11

...ohn Cheek,
Hated not Learning wors then Toad or Asp;
When thou taught'st Cambridge, and King Edward Greek.

Note: Camb. Autograph supplies title, On the Detraction which
followed my writing certain Treatises....Read more of this...
by Milton, John

Sonnet 13

...hee higher
Then his Casella, whom he woo'd to sing
Met in the milder shades of Purgatory.

Note: 9 send] lend Cambridge Autograph MS....Read more of this...
by Milton, John

Sonnet 14

...orious Theams
Before the Judge, who thenceforth bid thee rest
And drink thy fill of pure immortal streams.

Note: Camb. Autograph supplies title, On the Religious
Memory of Catherine Thomson, my Christian Friend, deceased
16 Decemb., 1646....Read more of this...
by Milton, John

To Longfellow

...break,
  Its circle is complete;
And yet each heart some gem will keep
  To make its life more sweet.
The following autograph letter was received from the poet:

Dear Miss Sherrick:—I am much pleased and touched by the graceful and beautiful tribute you have paid me in your poem. I beg you to accept my best thanks for these kind words, and for the friendly expressions of your letter, which I have left too long unanswered. Pardon the delay and believe me with great regar...Read more of this...
by Sherrick, Fannie Isabelle

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