Poetry is one of humanity’s oldest and most treasured modes of expression. From the oral traditions of Native Americans to the written works of the ancient Greeks and Babylonians, humanity’s practice of poetry is a transcendent force in our shared history.
A poem isn’t just something you read—it’s something you experience. Our favorite written works span styles, cultures, and time periods, yet they all succeed in creating their own world. And powerful performances by poets including Phil Kaye, Amanda Gorman, and Ada Limón transport us to new perspectives. Whether spoken or written, poetry has challenged and inspired generations—so take a look, read or listen closely, and see what resonates with you.
Poetry Examples: Selection of Written Poems
Some poems abide by rules of rhyme and meter, while others unspool like a musical riff. There is no set way to write a poem as long as the language is fresh, the rhythm inviting, the subject authentic. The following poems illustrate just how magically multifarious written poetry can be.
Empty Space by Amrita Pritam
Lullaby by Ilya Kaminsky
Mending Wall by Robert Frost
My House is the Red Earth by Joy Harjo
Names by Wendy Cope
Nora by Na Hye-seok
Digging by Seamus Heaney
One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
Oranges by Gary Soto
Stationery by Agha Shahid Ali
The Weaver Bird by Kofi Awoonor
Theme for English B by Langston Hughes
Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden
Toy Boat by Ocean Vuong
Zazen on Ching-t’ing Mountain by Li Bai
Poetry Examples: Selection of Spoken Word
The following performances demonstrate how the delivery of a spoken word piece creates just as much mood and meaning as the words themselves. Also, notice how the spoken word genre celebrates authenticity of voice and subject matter. These artists write about what matters most to them and express these sentiments in their own voices.
Coconut Oil by Caleb Femi
Earthrise by Amanda Gorman, WtW’s 2018 guest judge
Faith by Malika Booker, WtW’s 2024 guest judge
Girl by Olivia Gatwood
Lift Off by Donovan Livingston, WtW’s 2017 guest judge
Repetition by Phil Kaye, WtW’s 2025 guest judge
Rifle by Rudy Francisco
Tamaraʼs Opus by Joshua Bennett, WtW’s 2015 guest judge
The End of Poetry by Ada Limón
The Minister of Loneliness by Sarah Kay
