7 Must-Read Best Poems of All Time – Part I

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Yes, I’m saying this straightaway – the title was clickbait (or is it?) Once you have read a few poems (or a few hundred), something changes in you. A sense of fulfillment grows, levels of introspection evolve, and the horizons of imagination and empathy widen. Yes, you might contemplate once in a while how to put a rank against these poems and what could have been the greatest or the top ten best poems of all time.

As time passes and you read even more poems, that thought subsides behind the idea that each poem offers something unique (and often, personal). So, to compare would be to confine or stereotype them. How do you compare flowers or the colors in a rainbow?

Moreover, your favorite poetry books to read will very likely not be the same as mine. After all, poetry is not science. Poetry is subjective. Poetry is emotion-evoking, and obviously, there is no way to rate emotions. Nor should there be.

Why You Need to Read the Best Poems of All Time in 2023

So, this article is not about what I feel are the best-written works of poetry in the history of mankind or what I think you should regard as the best either. Instead, this is my list of poems from different ages of literature that have withstood the test of time and still have something relevant and valuable to say.

Today, we stand at the crossroads of unprecedented technological advancements and enduring socio-political challenges. Understanding our emotions and feeling love, hope, and mutual connection is key to our survival. 

The best poems of all time, spanning different eras and backgrounds, offer us a unique vantage point to reflect on our progress, setbacks, and the intricacies of the human condition in this rapidly evolving landscape.

Top 7 Among My List of Best Poems of All Time

Are you ready to traverse the realms of emotions, thoughts, and imagination? Let’s begin our journey with these seven must-read poems that have captivated hearts across generations.

1. ‘Mending Walls’ by Robert Frost

A month after Chris Nolan’s magnum opus ‘Oppenheimer’ took us back to the horrors of wars, and at an era marked by geopolitical crises (Afghanistan, Ukraine) and religious and ideological clashes, this poem offers a breath of fresh air.

In the said poem, a stone wall (symbolizing archaic beliefs and practices) separates the speaker’s property from his neighbor’s. The speaker is more rational and skeptical of the necessity of a wall where there are no cows (there are multiple hints that nature does not give reasons to build walls) and the diversity of each individual is unlikely to be corrupted by the absence of a wall.

However, the neighbor is a savage from the Stone Age and keeps uttering like a robot, “Good walls make good neighbors.” Never questioning, never introspecting. The poem is a contemporary must-read to discuss the issues of nationalism, international borders, and immigration.

2. ‘You’re’ by Sylvia Plath

Quite a detour in Sylvia Plath’s art form, this poem is a celebration of new life and all the emotions that a mother passes through during pregnancy. Even more surprising is that it was written during a time when Ted Hughes had left Sylvia Plath, and she had to bear with the pregnancy all on her own.

Yet, this poem seldom has any complaint. The 18-line Sylvia Plath poem, divided into two stanzas of nine lines (signifying the nine months of pregnancy), compares the fetus or the unborn baby to a variety of metaphors. Some can be considered cute and pleasant, some are weird, and some levitate the stature of the baby to the Moon or a god.

If you’re a fan of Sylvia Plath poems, this is a curious and even amusing read.

3. ‘At the Last Watch’ by Rabindranath Tagore

This one is, without a doubt, the least talked about poem on the list. Even I came across this poem on the internet out of sheer luck. The first three lines, “Pity, in place of love, / That pettiest of gifts, / Is but a sugar—coating over neglect,” immediately drew me in with their simplicity yet depth of meaning.

How often, in love, we plunge so deep that even a touch of pity seems worth it? The poem goes on to narrate the excruciating moments leading up to the final goodbye and the endless despair that lies beyond. How the protagonist of the poem clings on to hope beyond this despair makes the poem a terrific and eternal read.

The line, “I realised, what was to go went away in a moment, / What was to stay behind stayed on / For all time,” haunts me even today with this harsh truth about life.

4. ‘Tell all the truth but tell it slant’ by Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson is one of my favorite poets, and I cannot create a list of the best poems of all time without any from hers. But instead of some of her insanely famous works, I’ll choose this short and impactful poem.

In this 8-line poem, Dickinson accepts the power of truth and the need to disclose it but argues against bluntly throwing it at someone’s face. For me, the poem is more about empathy than anything else. Dickinson does advocate for lies but believes being empathetic while serving the truth can prevent the world from going blind.

In these trying times, which theme can be more compelling than empathy?

5. ‘Alone’ by Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe, a master of the macabre, presents us with “Alone,” a haunting introspection into the depths of his psyche. The first time I touched these lines, it felt like someone has reached out to my soul – a gentle caressing that said to me, you are not alone

Poe’s words paint a vivid picture of a soul adrift in a sea of isolation, capturing the essence of human solitude. Critical analysis of this poem unveils Poe’s personal struggles, as he grapples with the haunting specters of his past. ‘Alone’ drives home the idea that belongingness is the only line separating loneliness and solitude. And the line “And all I lov’d—I lov’d alone—” is etched all over my heart.

In an era where mental health awareness has gained prominence, “Alone” serves as a haunting reminder of the labyrinthine corridors within our minds and the need for self-compassion.

The poem also begs the question of whether this loneliness is a blessing or a curse for artists. What do you think?

6. ‘All the World’s a Stage’ by William Shakespeare

Despite never being quite a staunch supporter of arguably the greatest stalwart in English literature, a.k.a. William Shakespeare, this poem finds a place on my list. Regarded as one of the best poems of all time, this critical masterpiece from his play “As You Like It” offers a profound reflection on the stages of human existence. Shakespeare’s acute observation of the seven ages of life encapsulates the myriad roles we assume in our journey. 

This is a monologue spoken by the melancholic court fool, Jaques, and is written in blank verse. One can interpret the poem to say that we all have the same journey and that life is, thus, meaningless. However, I read this poem to feel more connected and find some sense of hope and motivation. 

In a contemporary world marred by curated personas on social media and societal expectations, this poem serves as a poignant critique of the masks we wear and the authentic selves we often hide.

7. ‘Hope’ by F.D. Reeve

To end this list, I have chosen this 15-line poem that I only luckily stumbled across on Google. There is barely any critical appreciation or analysis of this poem available. The poem uses quite a few simple but deep metaphors, for instance, the river that washes everything away stands for time.

Then Reeve goes on to describe the impacts of time on people, while some follow ‘a silver monarch’ and leave, others stay behind as friends. Yet, everyone gets weathered by the current and changes, but it is only the hopeful lover who still wears a smile at the end of the day when the “rest are washed away”.

As we come to the end of this article, I have to admit that it is not comprehensive at all. If I had to talk about my favorite poems, this article would become a book or two itself. Rather, I’d be breaking it down into similar posts over time and hopefully, be able to add some more flavor to your TBR list.

Until then, may these seven of the best poems of all time resonate within you, becoming the reminder that poetry is not merely an art form—it is a mirror that reflects the very essence of our existence.