Famous Predecessor Poems by Famous Poets

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

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Behind the Arras

...wild. 


Passing the door where an old wind-harp swings, 
With its five strings, 
Contrived long years ago 
By my first predecessor bent to show 
His handcraft so, 


He lay his fingers on the aeolian wire, 
As a core of fire 
Is laid upon the blast 
To kindle and glow and fill the purple vast 
Of dark at last. 


Weird wise, and low, piercing and keen and glad, 
Or dim and sad 
As a forgotten strain 
Born when the broken legions of the rain 
Swept through the plain— 


He pl...Read more of this...
by Carman, Bliss


Bishop Blougrams Apology

...I think! 
In no wise! all we've gained is, that belief, 
As unbelief before, shakes us by fits, 
Confounds us like its predecessor. Where's 
The gain? how can we guard our unbelief, 
Make it bear fruit to us?--the problem here. 
Just when we are safest, there's a sunset-touch, 
A fancy from a flower-bell, some one's death, 
A chorus-ending from Euripides,-- 
And that's enough for fifty hopes and fears 
As old and new at once as nature's self, 
To rap and knock and enter in o...Read more of this...
by Browning, Robert

On the Death of the Honourable Mr. James Thynne

...cestors repose; 
Where COVENTRY withdrew All but in Name, 
Leaving the World his Benefits and Fame; 
Where his Paternal Predecessor lies, 
Once large of Thought, and rank'd among the Wise; 
Whose Genius in Long-Leat we may behold 
(A Pile, as noble as if he'd been told 
By WEYMOUTH, it shou'd be in time possest, 
And strove to suit the Mansion to the Guest.) 
Nor favour'd, nor disgrac'd, there ESSEX sleeps, 
Nor SOMERSET his Master's Sorrows weeps, 
Who to the shelter of th' ...Read more of this...
by Finch, Anne Kingsmill

Room Ghost

...was rather bored;
I don't think he was over old.

And where on books I dully browse,
And gaze in rapture at the sea,
My predecessor world carouse
In lavish infidelity
With ladies amoral as cows;
But interesting, you'll agree.

I'm dull as water in a ditch,
Making these silly bits of rhyme;
My Lord, I'm told, was passing rich
And must have has a lovely time;
With champagne and a pretty *****
No need to heed the church-bell chime.

My living-room is marble floored,
And on its c...Read more of this...
by Service, Robert William

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