Poems · Classroom resources

Find a poem to recite.

A chooser for students, parents, and teachers picking a standalone poem for memorization or a poetry contest—not a contest itself, and not a mix of speeches, epics, or whole anthologies.

Grades are editorial guidance from each work’s reading level, not universal rules. Estimated times are approximate (120 words/minute plus short pauses)—not contest guarantees.Browse all poems & speeches →

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Approximate thoughtful school recitation (~120 words/minute), plus short pauses for line ends and stanza breaks. Not a contest guarantee; coaches vary.

Recitable poems

Self-Pity

D. H. Lawrence · 1929 · Grades 6–12

Lines
4
Words
26
Est. time
about 14 sec (approx.)

Very short lyric; fruitful from middle school up with guidance on lament vs. self-pity.

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Public-domain hosted text · Internet Archive pansies0000davi: Pansies (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1929).

In Neglect

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 9–12

Lines
6
Words
39
Est. time
about 23 sec (approx.)

Frost early-book lyric from hosted PD text (1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #3021 / #3026 / #29345.

To Auntie

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
6
Words
29
Est. time
about 19 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

To Make a Prairie

Emily Dickinson · 1890 · Grades 5–12

Lines
6
Words
28
Est. time
about 17 sec (approx.)

Short lyric; Todd/Higginson text of the three early series.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBook #12242, Poems by Emily Dickinson, Three Series, Complete.

A Word Is Dead

Emily Dickinson · 1890 · Grades 5–12

Lines
8
Words
22
Est. time
about 16 sec (approx.)

Short lyric; Todd/Higginson text of the three early series.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBook #12242, Poems by Emily Dickinson, Three Series, Complete.

A Patch Of Old Snow

Robert Frost · 1916 · Grades 5–12

Lines
9
Words
53
Est. time
about 32 sec (approx.)

Mountain Interval (1916), US public domain.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBooks #3021 (A Boy's Will, 1913), #3026 (North of Boston, 1914) and #29345 (Mountain Interval, 1916).

I Never Saw a Moor

Emily Dickinson · 1890 · Grades 6–12

Lines
9
Words
46
Est. time
about 28 sec (approx.)

Short lyric; Todd/Higginson text of the three early series.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBook #12242, Poems by Emily Dickinson, Three Series, Complete.

The Bustle in a House

Emily Dickinson · 1890 · Grades 8–12

Lines
9
Words
35
Est. time
about 23 sec (approx.)

Short lyric; Todd/Higginson text of the three early series.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBook #12242, Poems by Emily Dickinson, Three Series, Complete.

Cædmon's Hymn

Cædmon · c. 658-680 · Grades 9–12

Lines
10
Words
78
Est. time
about 44 sec (approx.)

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #31172: Old English Poems, translated into the original meter, by Cosette Faust and Stith Thompson (Chicago: Scott, Foresman, 1918) · Cosette Faust and Stith Thompson.

Fairy Bread

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
10
Words
46
Est. time
about 29 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

Singing

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
10
Words
47
Est. time
about 30 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

System

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
10
Words
57
Est. time
about 35 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

The Sky Is Low

Emily Dickinson · 1890 · Grades 6–12

Lines
10
Words
47
Est. time
about 30 sec (approx.)

Short lyric; Todd/Higginson text of the three early series.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBook #12242, Poems by Emily Dickinson, Three Series, Complete.

A Time To Talk

Robert Frost · 1916 · Grades 5–12

Lines
11
Words
81
Est. time
about 45 sec (approx.)

Mountain Interval (1916), US public domain.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBooks #3021 (A Boy's Will, 1913), #3026 (North of Boston, 1914) and #29345 (Mountain Interval, 1916).

A Good Boy

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
12
Words
122
Est. time
about 1 min 11 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

Psalm 23

Attributed to David · c. 1000 BC (traditional); KJV 1611 · Grades K–12

Lines
12
Words
131
Est. time
about 1 min 15 sec (approx.)

often memorized

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Public-domain hosted text · King James Version (1611), as in the library text of The Bible (Project Gutenberg #10).

The Cow In Apple Time

Robert Frost · 1916 · Grades 5–12

Lines
12
Words
98
Est. time
about 54 sec (approx.)

Mountain Interval (1916), US public domain.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBooks #3021 (A Boy's Will, 1913), #3026 (North of Boston, 1914) and #29345 (Mountain Interval, 1916).

I Died for Beauty

Emily Dickinson · 1890 · Grades 9–12

Lines
13
Words
71
Est. time
about 43 sec (approx.)

Short lyric; Todd/Higginson text of the three early series.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBook #12242, Poems by Emily Dickinson, Three Series, Complete.

Revelation

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 9–12

Lines
13
Words
80
Est. time
about 46 sec (approx.)

Frost early-book lyric from hosted PD text (1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #3021 / #3026 / #29345.

God's Grandeur

Gerard Manley Hopkins · written 1877; published 1918 · Grades 9–12

Lines
14
Words
125
Est. time
about 1 min 8 sec (approx.)

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Public-domain hosted text · Poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins, ed. Robert Bridges (London: Humphrey Milford, 1918), as in the library text of Hopkins's Poems (Project Gutenberg #22403).

Ozymandias

Percy Bysshe Shelley · 1818 · Grades 9–12

Lines
14
Words
111
Est. time
about 1 min (approx.)

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #4800: The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley, ed. Thomas Hutchinson (Oxford, 1914).

The Moon

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
14
Words
108
Est. time
about 1 min 3 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

The Swing

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
14
Words
84
Est. time
about 51 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

A Dream Pang

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 6–8

Lines
15
Words
129
Est. time
about 1 min 11 sec (approx.)

Frost early-book lyric from hosted PD text (1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #3021 / #3026 / #29345.

Into My Own

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 6–12

Lines
15
Words
125
Est. time
about 1 min 9 sec (approx.)

From Frost’s first three books (US public domain: published 1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBooks #3021 (A Boy's Will, 1913), #3026 (North of Boston, 1914) and #29345 (Mountain Interval, 1916).

Mowing

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 6–8

Lines
15
Words
132
Est. time
about 1 min 12 sec (approx.)

Frost early-book lyric from hosted PD text (1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #3021 / #3026 / #29345.

Sonnet 1

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
113
Est. time
about 1 min 3 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBook #1041, Shakespeare's Sonnets.

Sonnet 104

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
125
Est. time
about 1 min 9 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 106

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
113
Est. time
about 1 min 3 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBook #1041, Shakespeare's Sonnets.

Sonnet 107

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
119
Est. time
about 1 min 6 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBook #1041, Shakespeare's Sonnets.

Sonnet 110

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
124
Est. time
about 1 min 8 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 12

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
122
Est. time
about 1 min 7 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 123

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
117
Est. time
about 1 min 5 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBook #1041, Shakespeare's Sonnets.

Sonnet 128

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
117
Est. time
about 1 min 5 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBook #1041, Shakespeare's Sonnets.

Sonnet 129

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
115
Est. time
about 1 min 4 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 130

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
125
Est. time
about 1 min 9 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 132

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
115
Est. time
about 1 min 4 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBook #1041, Shakespeare's Sonnets.

Sonnet 138

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
123
Est. time
about 1 min 8 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 140

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
122
Est. time
about 1 min 7 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 144

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
118
Est. time
about 1 min 5 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 146

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
116
Est. time
about 1 min 4 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 15

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
112
Est. time
about 1 min 2 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 153

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
117
Est. time
about 1 min 5 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 154

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
115
Est. time
about 1 min 4 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 18

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
123
Est. time
about 1 min 8 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBook #1041, Shakespeare's Sonnets.

Sonnet 19

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
124
Est. time
about 1 min 8 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBook #1041, Shakespeare's Sonnets.

Sonnet 2

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
123
Est. time
about 1 min 8 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBook #1041, Shakespeare's Sonnets.

Sonnet 25

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
115
Est. time
about 1 min 4 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 27

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
116
Est. time
about 1 min 4 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 29

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
123
Est. time
about 1 min 8 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 3

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
120
Est. time
about 1 min 6 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 30

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
125
Est. time
about 1 min 9 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 32

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
121
Est. time
about 1 min 7 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 33

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
113
Est. time
about 1 min 3 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 34

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
125
Est. time
about 1 min 9 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 40

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
124
Est. time
about 1 min 8 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 49

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
117
Est. time
about 1 min 5 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 53

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
109
Est. time
about 1 min 1 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 54

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
115
Est. time
about 1 min 4 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 55

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
110
Est. time
about 1 min 1 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 57

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
120
Est. time
about 1 min 6 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 60

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
112
Est. time
about 1 min 2 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 64

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
117
Est. time
about 1 min 5 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 65

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
117
Est. time
about 1 min 5 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 71

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
124
Est. time
about 1 min 8 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 73

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
130
Est. time
about 1 min 11 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 75

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
121
Est. time
about 1 min 7 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 87

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
121
Est. time
about 1 min 7 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 91

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
118
Est. time
about 1 min 5 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 94

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
110
Est. time
about 1 min 1 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 97

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
114
Est. time
about 1 min 3 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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Sonnet 98

William Shakespeare · 1609 · Grades 9–12

Lines
15
Words
126
Est. time
about 1 min 9 sec (approx.)

English sonnet; dense metaphor—best with notes for younger high-school readers.

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The Oven Bird

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 6–8

Lines
15
Words
121
Est. time
about 1 min 7 sec (approx.)

Frost early-book lyric from hosted PD text (1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #3021 / #3026 / #29345.

A Good Play

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
16
Words
103
Est. time
about 1 min 1 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

Hyla Brook

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 6–8

Lines
16
Words
126
Est. time
about 1 min 10 sec (approx.)

Frost early-book lyric from hosted PD text (1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #3021 / #3026 / #29345.

A Red, Red Rose

Robert Burns · 1794 (published 1796) · Grades 6–12

Lines
17
Words
115
Est. time
about 1 min 7 sec (approx.)

Short love song; clean.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #1279: Poems and Songs of Robert Burns (chronological arrangement).

My Ship and I

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
17
Words
163
Est. time
about 1 min 31 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

My Shadow

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
18
Words
192
Est. time
about 1 min 47 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

My Treasures

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
18
Words
159
Est. time
about 1 min 31 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

The Cow

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
18
Words
99
Est. time
about 1 min 2 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

The Flowers

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
18
Words
91
Est. time
about 57 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

The Hayloft

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
18
Words
101
Est. time
about 1 min 2 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

Storm Fear

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 6–8

Lines
19
Words
106
Est. time
about 1 min 1 sec (approx.)

Frost early-book lyric from hosted PD text (1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #3021 / #3026 / #29345.

To Any Reader

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
19
Words
128
Est. time
about 1 min 13 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

Because I could not stop for Death

Emily Dickinson · written c. 1862-1863; published 1890 · Grades 9–12

Lines
20
Words
107
Est. time
about 1 min 5 sec (approx.)

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #12242: Poems by Emily Dickinson, Three Series, Complete (First Series, ed. Mabel Loomis Todd and T. W. Higginson, 1890), poem XXVII, titled "The Chariot".

The Wind

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
20
Words
134
Est. time
about 1 min 18 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

Bond and Free

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 9–12

Lines
21
Words
142
Est. time
about 1 min 22 sec (approx.)

Frost early-book lyric from hosted PD text (1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #3021 / #3026 / #29345.

The Lamb

William Blake · 1789 · Grades 2–8

Lines
21
Words
120
Est. time
about 1 min 9 sec (approx.)

Two short stanzas in simple words.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #1934: Songs of Innocence and of Experience.

Summer Sun

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
22
Words
134
Est. time
about 1 min 21 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

The Gardener

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
22
Words
138
Est. time
about 1 min 23 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

The Second Coming

W. B. Yeats · written 1919; published 1920 · Grades 9–12

Lines
22
Words
164
Est. time
about 1 min 31 sec (approx.)

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Public-domain hosted text · Wikisource transcription of W. B. Yeats, Michael Robartes and the Dancer (Churchtown, Dundrum: Cuala Press, 1920 [issued 1921]), pp. 19-20.

Winter-Time

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
22
Words
136
Est. time
about 1 min 22 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

Rain

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
23
Words
198
Est. time
about 1 min 53 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

She Walks in Beauty

Lord Byron · 1814 (published 1815) · Grades 6–12

Lines
23
Words
130
Est. time
about 1 min 20 sec (approx.)

Three short stanzas; some Latinate words.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #21811: The Works of Lord Byron, Poetry, Vol. 3, ed. Ernest Hartley Coleridge (1900).

Hatred of sin

William Cowper · 1779 · Grades 3–5

Lines
24
Words
145
Est. time
about 1 min 44 sec (approx.)

Olney hymn for school recitation; preview archaic diction.

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Public-domain hosted text · Christian Classics Ethereal Library (Olney Hymns, 1779).

O Captain! My Captain!

Walt Whitman · 1865 · Grades 6–12

Lines
24
Words
207
Est. time
about 1 min 54 sec (approx.)

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Public-domain hosted text · Leaves of Grass, "Memories of President Lincoln" (deathbed edition, 1891-92), as in the library text of Whitman's Complete Poems (Project Gutenberg #1322).

The Tyger

William Blake · 1794 · Grades 6–12

Lines
24
Words
142
Est. time
about 1 min 24 sec (approx.)

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Public-domain hosted text · Academy of American Poets, poets.org ("This poem is in the public domain"), following Songs of Experience (1794).

Block City

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
25
Words
214
Est. time
about 2 min 2 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

Rose Pogonias

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 6–8

Lines
25
Words
128
Est. time
about 1 min 14 sec (approx.)

Frost early-book lyric from hosted PD text (1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #3021 / #3026 / #29345.

In a Vale

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 6–8

Lines
26
Words
195
Est. time
about 1 min 48 sec (approx.)

Frost early-book lyric from hosted PD text (1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #3021 / #3026 / #29345.

Keepsake Mill

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
26
Words
205
Est. time
about 1 min 59 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

The Pasture

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 3–5

Lines
26
Words
115
Est. time
about 1 min 10 sec (approx.)

Frost early-book lyric from hosted PD text (1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #3021 / #3026 / #29345.

For the poor

William Cowper · 1779 · Grades 3–5

Lines
27
Words
135
Est. time
about 1 min 40 sec (approx.)

Olney hymn for school recitation; preview archaic diction.

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Public-domain hosted text · Christian Classics Ethereal Library (Olney Hymns, 1779).

JESUS my all

John Newton · 1779 · Grades 3–5

Lines
28
Words
168
Est. time
about 2 min 1 sec (approx.)

Olney hymn for school recitation; preview archaic diction.

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Public-domain hosted text · Christian Classics Ethereal Library (Olney Hymns, 1779).

The christian

William Cowper · 1779 · Grades 3–5

Lines
28
Words
155
Est. time
about 1 min 54 sec (approx.)

Olney hymn for school recitation; preview archaic diction.

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Public-domain hosted text · Christian Classics Ethereal Library (Olney Hymns, 1779).

The hidden life

William Cowper · 1779 · Grades 3–5

Lines
28
Words
156
Est. time
about 1 min 55 sec (approx.)

Olney hymn for school recitation; preview archaic diction.

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Public-domain hosted text · Christian Classics Ethereal Library (Olney Hymns, 1779).

The waiting soul

William Cowper · 1779 · Grades 3–5

Lines
28
Words
152
Est. time
about 1 min 53 sec (approx.)

Olney hymn for school recitation; preview archaic diction.

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Public-domain hosted text · Christian Classics Ethereal Library (Olney Hymns, 1779).

Auld Lang Syne

Robert Burns · 1788 (published 1796) · Grades 3–12

Lines
29
Words
163
Est. time
about 1 min 38 sec (approx.)

Short song; sing it.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #1279: Poems and Songs of Robert Burns (chronological arrangement).

The happy change

William Cowper · 1779 · Grades 3–5

Lines
29
Words
150
Est. time
about 1 min 52 sec (approx.)

Olney hymn for school recitation; preview archaic diction.

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Public-domain hosted text · Christian Classics Ethereal Library (Olney Hymns, 1779).

Welcome cross

William Cowper · 1779 · Grades 3–5

Lines
29
Words
148
Est. time
about 1 min 51 sec (approx.)

Olney hymn for school recitation; preview archaic diction.

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Public-domain hosted text · Christian Classics Ethereal Library (Olney Hymns, 1779).

A Late Walk

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 3–5

Lines
30
Words
168
Est. time
about 1 min 38 sec (approx.)

Frost early-book lyric from hosted PD text (1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #3021 / #3026 / #29345.

True pleasures

William Cowper · 1779 · Grades 3–5

Lines
30
Words
149
Est. time
about 1 min 52 sec (approx.)

Olney hymn for school recitation; preview archaic diction.

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Public-domain hosted text · Christian Classics Ethereal Library (Olney Hymns, 1779).

Ghost House

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 8–12

Lines
31
Words
226
Est. time
about 2 min 5 sec (approx.)

From Frost’s first three books (US public domain: published 1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBooks #3021 (A Boy's Will, 1913), #3026 (North of Boston, 1914) and #29345 (Mountain Interval, 1916).

If—

Rudyard Kipling · written c. 1895; published 1910 · Grades 6–12

Lines
32
Words
297
Est. time
about 2 min 43 sec (approx.)

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #556: Rewards and Fairies (London: Macmillan, 1910).

My Kingdom

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
32
Words
188
Est. time
about 1 min 51 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

Amazing Grace

John Newton · 1779 · Grades 3–5

Lines
33
Words
170
Est. time
about 2 min 8 sec (approx.)

Newton’s most famous Olney hymn; school memory staple.

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Public-domain hosted text · Christian Classics Ethereal Library (Olney Hymns, 1779).

Peace restored

John Newton · 1779 · Grades 3–5

Lines
33
Words
179
Est. time
about 2 min 12 sec (approx.)

Olney hymn for school recitation; preview archaic diction.

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Public-domain hosted text · Christian Classics Ethereal Library (Olney Hymns, 1779).

Nest Eggs

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
34
Words
137
Est. time
about 1 min 29 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

The prisoner

John Newton · 1779 · Grades 3–5

Lines
34
Words
178
Est. time
about 2 min 12 sec (approx.)

Olney hymn for school recitation; preview archaic diction.

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Public-domain hosted text · Christian Classics Ethereal Library (Olney Hymns, 1779).

Free Grace

Charles Wesley · 1739–1740 · Grades 3–12

Lines
38
Words
250
Est. time
about 2 min 24 sec (approx.)

Hymn text; suitable for singing or spoken recitation.

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Public-domain hosted text · The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, ed. G. Osborn, vol. 1 (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1868), reprinting Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739) and (1740), via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.

Hymn for Christmas Day

Charles Wesley · 1739–1740 · Grades 3–12

Lines
42
Words
234
Est. time
about 2 min 22 sec (approx.)

Hymn text; suitable for singing or spoken recitation.

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Public-domain hosted text · The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, ed. G. Osborn, vol. 1 (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1868), reprinting Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739) and (1740), via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.

In Temptation

Charles Wesley · 1739–1740 · Grades 3–12

Lines
42
Words
244
Est. time
about 2 min 22 sec (approx.)

Hymn text; suitable for singing or spoken recitation.

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Public-domain hosted text · The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, ed. G. Osborn, vol. 1 (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1868), reprinting Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739) and (1740), via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.

Journey of the Magi

T. S. Eliot · 1927 · Grades 9–12

Lines
43
Words
342
Est. time
about 3 min 8 sec (approx.)

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Public-domain hosted text · Academy of American Poets, poets.org ("This poem is in the public domain"), following the Ariel Poems pamphlet (London: Faber & Gwyer, 1927).

Hymn for Easter Day

Charles Wesley · 1739–1740 · Grades 3–12

Lines
46
Words
276
Est. time
about 2 min 45 sec (approx.)

Hymn text; suitable for singing or spoken recitation.

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Public-domain hosted text · The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, ed. G. Osborn, vol. 1 (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1868), reprinting Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739) and (1740), via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.

Mending Wall

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 8–12

Lines
46
Words
394
Est. time
about 3 min 34 sec (approx.)

From Frost’s first three books (US public domain: published 1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBooks #3021 (A Boy's Will, 1913), #3026 (North of Boston, 1914) and #29345 (Mountain Interval, 1916).

Night and Day

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
46
Words
220
Est. time
about 2 min 18 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

Travel

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
48
Words
258
Est. time
about 2 min 28 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

A Girl'S Garden

Robert Frost · 1916 · Grades 5–12

Lines
49
Words
288
Est. time
about 2 min 53 sec (approx.)

Mountain Interval (1916), US public domain.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBooks #3021 (A Boy's Will, 1913), #3026 (North of Boston, 1914) and #29345 (Mountain Interval, 1916).

To a Louse

Robert Burns · 1786 · Grades 6–12

Lines
49
Words
305
Est. time
about 2 min 58 sec (approx.)

Comic Scots poem; glossary needed.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #1279: Poems and Songs of Robert Burns (chronological arrangement).

To a Mouse

Robert Burns · 1785 (published 1786) · Grades 6–12

Lines
49
Words
303
Est. time
about 2 min 57 sec (approx.)

Scots dialect; read aloud with a glossary.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #1279: Poems and Songs of Robert Burns (chronological arrangement).

Pan with Us

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 9–12

Lines
50
Words
385
Est. time
about 3 min 33 sec (approx.)

Frost early-book lyric from hosted PD text (1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #3021 / #3026 / #29345.

Kubla Khan

Samuel Taylor Coleridge · 1797 (published 1816) · Grades 9–12

Lines
55
Words
356
Est. time
about 3 min 20 sec (approx.)

Short but allusive; preface mentions opium.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #29090: The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, ed. Ernest Hartley Coleridge (Oxford, 1912).

Reluctance

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 8–12

Lines
57
Words
292
Est. time
about 2 min 55 sec (approx.)

From Frost’s first three books (US public domain: published 1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBooks #3021 (A Boy's Will, 1913), #3026 (North of Boston, 1914) and #29345 (Mountain Interval, 1916).

To Minnie

Robert Louis Stevenson · 1885 · Grades K–5

Lines
69
Words
400
Est. time
about 3 min 47 sec (approx.)

Short children’s lyric; good for early memorization and reading aloud.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #136.

October

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 6–12

Lines
70
Words
426
Est. time
about 4 min 1 sec (approx.)

From Frost’s first three books (US public domain: published 1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBooks #3021 (A Boy's Will, 1913), #3026 (North of Boston, 1914) and #29345 (Mountain Interval, 1916).

Ulysses

Alfred, Lord Tennyson · written 1833; published 1842 · Grades 9–12

Lines
70
Words
579
Est. time
about 5 min 14 sec (approx.)

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #8601: The Early Poems of Alfred Lord Tennyson, ed. John Churton Collins (London: Methuen, 1900).

My November Guest

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 8–12

Lines
71
Words
449
Est. time
about 4 min 14 sec (approx.)

From Frost’s first three books (US public domain: published 1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBooks #3021 (A Boy's Will, 1913), #3026 (North of Boston, 1914) and #29345 (Mountain Interval, 1916).

For the Anniversary of One’s Conversion

Charles Wesley · 1739–1740 · Grades 3–12

Lines
74
Words
433
Est. time
about 4 min 20 sec (approx.)

Hymn text; suitable for singing or spoken recitation.

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Public-domain hosted text · The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, ed. G. Osborn, vol. 1 (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1868), reprinting Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739) and (1740), via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.

Frost at Midnight

Samuel Taylor Coleridge · 1798 · Grades 9–12

Lines
77
Words
580
Est. time
about 5 min 21 sec (approx.)

Blank verse meditation; clean.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #29090: The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, ed. Ernest Hartley Coleridge (Oxford, 1912).

Stars

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 6–12

Lines
77
Words
414
Est. time
about 4 min 1 sec (approx.)

From Frost’s first three books (US public domain: published 1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBooks #3021 (A Boy's Will, 1913), #3026 (North of Boston, 1914) and #29345 (Mountain Interval, 1916).

My Butterfly

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 6–8

Lines
79
Words
472
Est. time
about 4 min 31 sec (approx.)

Frost early-book lyric from hosted PD text (1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #3021 / #3026 / #29345.

Paul Revere's Ride

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow · written 1860; published 1861 · Grades 4–8

Lines
130
Words
994
Est. time
about 9 min 16 sec (approx.)

often memorized

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #25153: Tales of a Wayside Inn (Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1863), "The Landlord's Tale".

Lepanto

G. K. Chesterton · 1911 · Grades 6–12

Lines
143
Words
1372
Est. time
about 12 min 24 sec (approx.)

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #31184: G. K. Chesterton, Poems (London: Burns & Oates; New York: Dodd, Mead, 1915).

Birches

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 6–8

Lines
149
Words
1199
Est. time
about 11 min 9 sec (approx.)

Frost early-book lyric from hosted PD text (1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #3021 / #3026 / #29345.

The Dream of the Rood

Anonymous · c. 700-750 (Ruthwell Cross); Vercelli Book c. 975 · Grades 9–12

Lines
156
Words
1341
Est. time
about 12 min 5 sec (approx.)

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #15879: Elene; Judith; Athelstan; Byrhtnoth; and The Dream of the Rood, translated by James M. Garnett (Boston: Ginn, 1889; 2nd ed. 1901) · James M. Garnett.

Good Hours

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 6–8

Lines
162
Words
1046
Est. time
about 10 min 7 sec (approx.)

Frost early-book lyric from hosted PD text (1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #3021 / #3026 / #29345.

The Tuft of Flowers

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 6–12

Lines
176
Words
1226
Est. time
about 11 min 26 sec (approx.)

From Frost’s first three books (US public domain: published 1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBooks #3021 (A Boy's Will, 1913), #3026 (North of Boston, 1914) and #29345 (Mountain Interval, 1916).

Tam o’ Shanter

Robert Burns · 1790 (published 1791) · Grades 9–12

Lines
228
Words
1585
Est. time
about 14 min 54 sec (approx.)

HS preview: drink, witches, mild innuendo.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #1279: Poems and Songs of Robert Burns (chronological arrangement).

A Prayer in Spring

Robert Frost · 1913–1916 · Grades 5–12

Lines
341
Words
2410
Est. time
about 22 min 31 sec (approx.)

From Frost’s first three books (US public domain: published 1913–1916).

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg eBooks #3021 (A Boy's Will, 1913), #3026 (North of Boston, 1914) and #29345 (Mountain Interval, 1916).

To a Mountain Daisy

Robert Burns · 1786–1794 · Grades 6–12

Lines
355
Words
2155
Est. time
about 21 min 5 sec (approx.)

Scots diction—gloss words for younger readers.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #1279: Poems and Songs of Robert Burns (chronological arrangement).

The Prisoner of Chillon

Lord Byron · 1816 · Grades 8–12

Lines
407
Words
2655
Est. time
about 24 min 58 sec (approx.)

Narrative poem of fourteen sections; sad but not graphic.

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Public-domain hosted text · Project Gutenberg #20158: The Works of Lord Byron, Poetry, Vol. 4, ed. Ernest Hartley Coleridge (1901).