No Man is an Island
John Donne’s poem No Man is an Island, expresses the idea of Oneness, the concept that the whole never loses contact with its parts, they are never lost or forgotten, and we are all part of the whole.
A Fairy Song
A Fairy Song, by William Shakespeare (b.1564) This poem is from Shakespeare’s comedy play, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ (Act 2, Scene 1).
The Raven
” The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe, 1845, is noted for its lyrical and fanciful language, and its eerie atmosphere. It tells of a mysterious visit to a man who has lost his lover, Lenore.
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
This little poem by Robert Frost is filled with vivid winter imagery. The words have a gentle rhythm and a soft rhyme, It is about an experience in nature where the poet would like to linger and enjoy the beauty of his experience, but he must return to his life of duty and responsibility.
Tyger Tyger
The Tiger by William Blake 1757–1827 Blake, an English Romantic poet,lived in London at a time of great social and political change that profoundly influenced his writing. In this poem he seems to question everything, including, perhaps, his faith.
I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
Written by William Wordsworth in 1804, it is a classic English Romantic lyric poem about an experience in nature which brings us comfort (“the bliss of solitude”), when we’re alone. I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud (also known as Daffodils) is one of the best-known and most loved poems in the English language.
The Road Not Taken
This famous poem by Robert Frost is about the paths we choose — the turning points we reach and the decisions we make that can determine the course of our lives.
Gravity’s Law
This poem by Rainer Maria Rilke is about accepting and appreciating nature (gravity). The poet recommends that we learn from, and respect the wisdom of the natural world, rather than fighting against it.
Sailing to Byzantium
In this poem W.B.Yeats considers the fleeting nature of mortality (“a tattered coat upon a stick”), compared to the timeless endurance of works of art (“Of hammered gold and gold enameling”).
Second Coming
This poem by William Butler Yeats, written in 1919, seems strangely prophetic today, at a time of plague and political unrest.
Don’t Go Back to Sleep
13th century Sufi mystic poet Rumi enjoins us to wake up, be present and become aware of the depth and complexity of the unseen world— that lies just beyond the doorsill.
The Moon
Poet, Zhang Jiuling (张九龄, 675-740 AD), is one of the most famous and popular of all Chinese poets. In fact this poem is often taught to young school children in China today. Looking at the Moon and Thinking of One Far Away, We dedicate Looking at the Moon to everyone who feels lonely and misses […]
Pied Beauty
Pied Beauty, by Jerard Manley Hopkins, is a classic— a lovely little poem from the 1800’s which is so lyrical and so evocative that it is still relevant and can still charm us, even today.
The Night
Rainer Maria Rilke uses the image of night to take us beyond the surface and the limits of our prejudices, to see “people, nations, just as they are”.
All That Has Never Been Spoken
This is a meditation from a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke in his Book of Hours 1,12, in which the poet prays to his muse for inspiration.
The Hour is Striking
This lovely little poem by Rainer Maria Rilke speaks to the importance of our being mindful and aware — to live in the moment.
I am the One
Hildegard von Bingen, a mystic and visionary from the Middle Ages, wrote beautiful songs, chants and poetry. This is one of our favorites — crafted into a visual meditation with beautiful and evocative imagery.
The King’s Robes
Rainer Maria Rilke’s poem, The King’s Robes from his Book of Hours, is one of his “Love Poems to God.” It reminds the reader to avoid worshipping false images.
Embracing Our Vulnerability
Visual translation of Rainer Maria Rilke poem. Perhaps all the dragons in our lives….