Famous Encouraged Poems by Famous Poets

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

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The Battle of Glencoe

by William Topaz McGonagall
 Twas in the month of October, and in the year of 1899,
Which the Boers will remember for a very long time,
Because by the British Army they received a crushing blow;
And were driven from Smith's Hill at the Battle of Glencoe. 

The Boers' plan of the battle was devised with great skill,
And about 7000 men of them were camped on...Read more of this...

Kingdom of Love

by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
 In the dawn of the day when the sea and the earth
Reflected the sunrise above,
I set forth with a heart full of courage and mirth
To seek for the Kingdom of Love.
I asked of a Poet I met on the way
Which cross-road would lead me aright.
And he said: "Follow me, and not long you shall see
Its glittering turrets of light."...Read more of this...

Vespers

by Louise Gluck
 In your extended absence, you permit me
use of earth, anticipating
some return on investment. I must report
failure in my assignment, principally
regarding the tomato plants.
I think I should not be encouraged to grow
tomatoes. Or, if I am, you should withhold
the heavy rains, the cold nights that come
so often here, while other regions get
twelve weeks of summer. All this
belongs to you: on...Read more of this...

Encouraged

by Paul Laurence Dunbar
 Because you love me I have much achieved, 
Had you despised me then I must have failed, 
But since I knew you trusted and believed, 
I could not disappoint you and so prevailed....Read more of this...

Lines in Defence of the Stage

by William Topaz McGonagall
 Good people of high and low degree,
I pray ye all be advised by me,
And don't believe what the clergy doth say,
That by going to the theatre you will be led astray. 

No, in the theatre we see vice punished and virtue rewarded,
The villain either hanged or shot, and his career retarded;
Therefore the theatre is useful in every way,
And has...Read more of this...

Our Son

by Barry Tebb
 Quarter to three: I wake again at the hour of his birth

Thirty years ago and now he paces corridors of dark

In nightmares of self-condemnation where random thoughts

Besiege his fevered imagination – England’s 

Imminent destruction, his own, the world’s…

Sixty to eighty cigarettes a day, unavailing depot injections,

Failed abscondings, failed everything: Eton and Balliol

Hold no sway on ward one, nor even...Read more of this...

General Gordon the Hero of Khartoum

by William Topaz McGonagall
 Alas! now o'er the civilised world there hangs a gloom
For brave General Gordon, that was killed in Khartoum,
He was a Christian hero, and a soldier of the Cross,
And to England his death will be a very great loss. 

He was very cool in temper, generous and brave,
The friend of the poor, the sick, and the slave;
And many a poor...Read more of this...

Sonnet XLVI

by Francesco Petrarch
[Pg 61] SONNET XLVI. L' arbor gentil che forte amai molt' anni. IMPRECATION AGAINST THE LAUREL.  The graceful tree I loved so long and well,Ere its fair boughs in scorn my flame declined,Beneath its shade encouraged my poor mindTo bud and bloom, and 'mid its sorrow swell.But now,...Read more of this...

Sonnet LXXIV

by Francesco Petrarch
SONNET LXXIV. Spinse amor e dolor ove ir non debbe. REFLECTING THAT LAURA IS IN HEAVEN, HE REPENTS HIS EXCESSIVE GRIEF, AND IS CONSOLED.  Sorrow and Love encouraged my poor tongue,Discreet in sadness, where it should not go,To speak of her for whom I burn'd and sung,What, even were it true, 'twere...Read more of this...

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