Famous Heartbreaking Poems by Famous Poets

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

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Forgetfulness

by Billy Collins
 The name of the author is the first to go
followed obediently by the title, the plot,
the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel
which suddenly becomes one you have never read,
never even heard of,

as if, one by one, the memories you used to harbor
decided to retire to the southern hemisphere of the brain,
to a little fishing village where there are no phones.

Long...Read more of this...

The City of the Dead XX

by Kahlil Gibran
 Yesterday I drew myself from the noisome throngs and proceeded into the field until I reached a knoll upon which Nature had spread her comely garments. Now I could breathe. 

I looked back, and the city appeared with its magnificent mosques and stately residences veiled by the smoke of the shops. 

I commenced analyzing man's mission, but could conclude...Read more of this...

On a Dead Child

by Robert Seymour Bridges
 Perfect little body, without fault or stain on thee, 
With promise of strength and manhood full and fair! 
Though cold and stark and bare, 
The bloom and the charm of life doth awhile remain on thee. 

Thy mother's treasure wert thou;—alas! no longer 
To visit her heart with wondrous joy; to be 
Thy father's pride:—ah, he 
Must gather his...Read more of this...

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