Famous Topic Poems by Famous Poets

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

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Beowulf (Old English)

...something finely feminine in this speech of Wealhtheow’s, apart from its somewhat irregular and irrelevant sequence of topics. Both she and her lord probably distrust Hrothulf; but she bids the king to be of good cheer, and, turning to the suspect, heaps affectionate assurances on his probity. “My own Hrothulf” will surely not forget these favors and benefits of the past, but will repay them to the orphaned boy.

{19a} They had laid their arms on the benches near where the...Read more of this...
by Anonymous,


Bloom upon the Mountain -- stated --

...--
Efflorescence of a Sunset --
Reproduced -- the same --

Seed, had I, my Purple Sowing
Should endow the Day --
Not a Topic of a Twilight --
Show itself away --

Who for tilling -- to the Mountain
Come, and disappear --
Whose be Her Renown, or fading,
Witness, is not here --

While I state -- the Solemn Petals,
Far as North -- and East,
Far as South and West -- expanding --
Culminate -- in Rest --

And the Mountain to the Evening
Fit His Countenance --
Indicating, by no Mus...Read more of this...
by Dickinson, Emily

Modern Love XVII: At Dinner She Is Hostess

...At dinner, she is hostess, I am host. 
Went the feast ever cheerfuller? She keeps 
The Topic over intellectual deeps 
In buoyancy afloat. They see no ghost. 
With sparkling surface-eyes we ply the ball: 
It is in truth a most contagious game: 
HIDING THE SKELETON, shall be its name. 
Such play as this the devils might appal! 
But here's the greater wonder; in that we, 
Enamoured of an acting nought can tire, 
Each other, like true hypocrites, ...Read more of this...
by Meredith, George

Says

...

6
I say the word of lands fearing nothing—I will have no other land;
I say discuss all and expose all—I am for every topic openly; 
I say there can be no salvation for These States without innovators—without free
 tongues,
 and ears willing to hear the tongues; 
And I announce as a glory of These States, that they respectfully listen to propositions,
 reforms, fresh views and doctrines, from successions of men and women, 
Each age with its own growth. 

7
I have said many ...Read more of this...
by Whitman, Walt

The Princess (part 3)

...'Again?' she cried, 'are you ambassadresses 
From him to me? we give you, being strange, 
A license: speak, and let the topic die.' 

I stammered that I knew him--could have wished-- 
'Our king expects--was there no precontract? 
There is no truer-hearted--ah, you seem 
All he prefigured, and he could not see 
The bird of passage flying south but longed 
To follow: surely, if your Highness keep 
Your purport, you will shock him even to death, 
Or baser courses, children of de...Read more of this...
by Tennyson, Alfred Lord


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