Famous Enlightening Poems by Famous Poets

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

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I play at Riches -- to appease

by Emily Dickinson
 I play at Riches -- to appease
The Clamoring for Gold --
It kept me from a Thief, I think,
For often, overbold

With Want, and Opportunity --
I could have done a Sin
And been Myself that easy Thing
An independent Man --

But often as my lot displays
Too hungry to be borne
I deem Myself what I would be --
And novel Comforting

My Poverty and I derive...Read more of this...

The Retreat From Moscow

by Victor Hugo
 ("Il neigeait.") 
 
 {Bk. V. xiii., Nov. 25-30, 1852.} 


 It snowed. A defeat was our conquest red! 
 For once the eagle was hanging its head. 
 Sad days! the Emperor turned slowly his back 
 On smoking Moscow, blent orange and black. 
 The winter burst, avalanche-like, to reign 
 Over the endless blanched sheet of...Read more of this...

Liberty Enlightening the World

by Henry Van Dyke
 Thou warden of the western gate, above Manhatten Bay, 
The fogs of doubt that hid thy face are driven clean away: 
Thine eyes at last look far and clear, thou liftest high thy hand 
To spread the light of liberty world-wide for every land. 

No more thou dreamest of a peace reserved alone for thee, 
While friends are fighting...Read more of this...

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