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Famous Roles Poems by Famous Poets

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

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by Rilke, Rainer Maria
...ove or hate;
his mask of feigned tragic lament gives us

a false impression. The world's stage is still
filled with roles which we play. While we worry
that our performances may not please, 
death also performs, although to no applause.

But as you left us, there broke upon this stage
a glimpse of reality, shown through the slight
opening through which you dissapeared: green,
evergreen, bathed in sunlight, actual woods.

We keep on playiing, still anxious, our...Read more of this...



by Whitman, Walt
...ll go on with our affectations and sneaking? 
Let me bring this to a close—I pronounce openly for a new distribution of roles;
Let that which stood in front go behind! and let that which was behind advance to the
 front and
 speak; 
Let murderers, bigots, fools, unclean persons, offer new propositions! 
Let the old propositions be postponed! 
Let faces and theories be turn’d inside out! let meanings be freely criminal, as well
 as
 results! 
Let there be no suggestion above t...Read more of this...

by Ashbery, John
...we have really
No time for these, except to use them
For kindling. The sooner they are burnt up
The better for the roles we have to play.
Therefore I beseech you, withdraw that hand,
Offer it no longer as shield or greeting,
The shield of a greeting, Francesco:
There is room for one bullet in the chamber:
Our looking through the wrong end
Of the telescope as you fall back at a speed
Faster than that of light to flatten ultimately
Among the features of the room, an in...Read more of this...

by Laurence Dunbar, Paul
...ts it;
He paints a little,—gathers some
Of Nature's gold and mints it.
He plays a little, sings a song,
Acts tragic roles, or funny;
He does, because his love is strong,
[Pg 50]But not, oh, not for money!
He studies almost everything
From social art to science;
A thirsty mind, a flowing spring,
Demand and swift compliance.
He looms above the sordid crowd—
At least through friendly lenses;
While his mamma looks pl...Read more of this...

by Kipling, Rudyard
...ord Apollyon lying
 To the State-kept Stockholmites,
The Pope, the swithering Neutrals
 The Kaiser and his Gott--
Their roles, their goals, their naked souls--
 He knew and drew the lot.


Now he hath left his quarters,
 In Bunhill Fields to lie,
The wisdom that he taught us
 Is proven prophecy--
One watchword through our Armies,
 One answer from our Lands:--
"No dealings with Diabolus
 As long as Mansoul stands!"


A pedlar from a hovel,
 The lowest of the low,
The Fathe...Read more of this...



by Darwish, Mahmoud
...arned me: Do not believe their ululations 
Believe my father when, weeping, he looks at my photograph 
How did we trade roles, my son, how did you precede me. 
I first, I the first one! 

*** 
The martyr encircles me: my place and my crude furniture are all that I have changed. 
I put a gazelle on my bed, 
And a crescent of moon on my finger 
To appease my sorrow. 

*** 
The siege will last in order to convince us we must choose an enslavement that does no harm, i...Read more of this...

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