Famous Yardstick Poems by Famous Poets

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

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The White Peacock

by Stephen Vincent Benet
 (France -- Ancient Regime.) 

I.

Go away! 
Go away; I will not confess to you! 
His black biretta clings like a hangman's cap; under his twitching fingers the beads shiver and click, 
As he mumbles in his corner, the shadow deepens upon him; 
I will not confess! . . . 

Is he there or is it intenser shadow? 
Dark huddled...Read more of this...

Fighting Mac

by Robert William Service
 A Life Tragedy

A pistol shot rings round and round the world;
 In pitiful defeat a warrior lies.
A last defiance to dark Death is hurled,
 A last wild challenge shocks the sunlit skies.
 Alone he falls, with wide, wan, woeful eyes:
Eyes that could smile at death -- could not face shame.

Alone, alone he paced his narrow room,
 In the bright...Read more of this...

Angels Of The Love Affair

by Anne Sexton
 "Angels of the love affair, do you know that other,
the dark one, that other me?"

1. ANGEL OF FIRE AND GENITALS

Angel of fire and genitals, do you know slime,
that green mama who first forced me to sing,
who put me first in the latrine, that pantomime
of brown where I was beggar and she was king?
I said, "The devil is down that...Read more of this...

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