Ririro.com - Poetry

A Christmas Day Poem by Elizabeth F. Guptil captures the bright-eyed excitement that builds in children as December 25th draws near. From sparkling eyes and Christmas trees to stockings hung by the wall and stories of the Christ-child, the poem moves through the sights, sounds, and secrets that make the season feel magical. Short and rhythmic, it builds toward a simple but heartfelt conclusion — t...

"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is a Christmas poem by Charles Wesley that opens with a triumphant call for all nations to rise and join the celestial rejoicing over the birth of Christ. Wesley moves swiftly from jubilation to theological depth, meditating on the Incarnation — God taking human form — and the promise of reconciliation between the divine and the fallen. Each stanza builds in intensit...

The Blind Men and the Elephant poem by John Godfrey Saxe is a witty, thought-provoking verse that invites readers to explore the limits of perception and the wisdom of seeing the bigger picture. Through six blind men who each touch a different part of an elephant, the poem reveals how partial truths can spark stubborn disagreements. Also known as the 6 blind men and the elephant poem, it remains a...

Lord Byron’s She Walks in Beauty is a lyrical meditation on the harmony between outward beauty and inner virtue. The speaker describes a woman whose appearance blends the best qualities of darkness and light, creating a gentle, luminous grace. Her serene expression and calm demeanor reveal a mind at peace and a heart full of innocence. Through elegant imagery and balanced contrasts, the poem sugge...

Walt Whitman’s When I Heard at the Close of the Day contrasts public praise and outward success with the deeper fulfillment found in love and companionship. The speaker recalls that applause and achievements brought him little happiness, while moments spent in nature and anticipation of a beloved friend brought true joy. The poem culminates in a quiet, intimate scene where the speaker lies beside...

Robert Burns’s A Red, Red Rose is a lyrical declaration of deep romantic devotion. The speaker compares his beloved to a newly blossoming rose and a beautiful melody, expressing both admiration and emotional intensity. Through vivid hyperbole, he vows that his love will endure beyond the drying of seas and the melting of rocks. Even as the poem closes with a temporary farewell, the speaker promise...

Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43 expresses the speaker’s profound and multifaceted love for her beloved. Through a series of heartfelt declarations beginning with “I love thee,” the poem measures love in spiritual, moral, and everyday dimensions—from the quiet needs of daily life to the deepest reaches of the soul. The speaker portrays love as pure, steadfast, and enduring beyond suffering,...

Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata is a reflective prose poem offering gentle counsel for living a balanced and meaningful life. Through calm, instructive lines, the speaker advises the reader to move peacefully through the noise of the world, treat others with kindness, remain true to oneself, and cultivate inner strength in times of hardship. The poem emphasizes humility, authenticity, and spiritual peace...

In Ozymandias, a traveller describes the ruins of a colossal statue in the desert. The broken monument bears an inscription boasting of the king’s greatness, yet nothing of his empire remains. The contrast between the proud message and the surrounding emptiness underscores the inevitable decline of human power. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ririro-com-poetry-...

This hymn celebrates the coming and reign of the Savior, urging both people and all creation to rejoice and make room in their hearts for him; it repeatedly emphasizes exuberant praise as fields, floods, rocks, hills and plains echo the "sounding joy." It frames his advent as the undoing of sin and curse—bringing blessings and restoration to the earth—and describes his rule as one of truth, grace,...

The poem reflects on the spiritual significance of Christmas, focusing on the theme of love as its central message. It describes how love is born into the world during the Christmas season, symbolized by signs such as stars and angels. The poem encourages worship of the divine nature of Jesus and highlights love as a universal token, shared between individuals and extended to God and all humanity....

This poem recounts the traditional nativity story, highlighting the visitations to the newborn Jesus by various groups. The kings from the south arrive dressed in luxurious ermine, bringing valuable gifts of gold, chrysoprase, and wine. Meanwhile, humble shepherds from the north bring newborn lambs as they cannot afford gifts of gold, emphasizing the contrast in social statuses. Wise men from the...

This poem reflects on the island, Zante, which derives its name from its association with beautiful flowers, symbolizing gentle and precious memories. The speaker reminisces about the radiant hours and scenes of past happiness experienced on the island, linking it to the memory of a cherished maiden who is no longer present. The island's beauty and the memories it holds have turned bittersweet, as...

The poem expresses a heartfelt plea for divine guidance and protection, specifically through the intercession of Maria, the Mother of God. The narrator highlights the constancy of their devotion, emphasizing that they have sought Maria's presence during moments of joy and sorrow, as well as in times of good and ill fortune. The text conveys a sense of unwavering faith, suggesting that Maria's grac...

The piece describes a surreal journey through a mysterious, melancholic landscape where night reigns supreme, and otherworldly elements abound. It portrays a traveler navigating through eerie settings marked by shadowy lakes, colossal mountains, and haunting memories of the past, creating an atmosphere that blends desolation with a mystic allure. Within this dreamlike realm, dark and enigmatic, gh...

This lyrical piece explores the concept of duality, particularly focusing on silence as a phenomenon that exists in both physical and abstract forms. It describes silence as a 'two-fold' entity, likening it to the sea and the shore, as well as body and soul. The poem delves into the idea that silence can be both a comforting presence and a daunting absence, depending on one's perspective. It prese...

This poem presents a dramatic allegory set in a theatre where a host of weeping angels watches a tragic play unfold. The stage displays scenes representing human hopes and fears, with performers who are manipulated like puppets by unseen forces, symbolizing life's uncontrollable nature. As the drama progresses, a sinister, blood-red worm writhes onto the stage, consuming the actors and horrifying...

The piece describes the rise and fall of a majestic palace once radiant and alive with beauty and harmony. Initially, it is a splendid and vibrant abode, graced by angels and filled with melodious spirits, the epitome of grandeur and joy. However, over time, dark and sorrowful forces infiltrate, dimming the palace's glory. The once lively and harmonious environment becomes eerie and discordant, wi...

The piece reflects on the grandeur and decay of the Roman Coliseum, depicting it as a monument that stands as a testament to the passage of time and the transience of human achievement. It evokes the silent echoes of history, where once resided the power and splendor of ancient Rome, now replaced by ruin and desolation. The narrative captures the transformation from a place of grandeur and archite...

This poetic work expresses deep longing and loss through vivid imagery and emotional language. It reflects on a love that was intensely cherished, symbolized by a lush, idyllic isle filled with beauty and personal meaning. The speaker laments a lost hope, characterized by the transient nature of dreams and aspirations that were too radiant to endure. The piece transitions into a sorrowful acceptan...

This piece portrays a mournful reflection on the death of a young woman named Lenore. It follows the emotional response of her lover, Guy De Vere, who grapples with the funeral rites and feelings of the attendees who seemingly valued Lenore's wealth over her character. The poem emphasizes the contrast between the somber traditional mourning practices and Guy's desire to celebrate Lenore's ascent t...

The story explores a haunting and eerie nighttime scene where the narrator stands under a moonlit sky in June, observing the tranquil beauty of the landscape. The imagery conveys a calm yet ominous atmosphere, with references to opiate vapors, shadowy breezes, and a sleeping lady named Irene. The narrative contemplates the woman's mysterious and deep sleep, filled with pale shades, silent surround...

The narrative explores an ethereal city dominated by the presence of Death, situated in a remote region of the Western world. This abandoned city is a hauntingly beautiful place, characterized by ancient, time-worn towers, shrines, and palaces that seem to defy the passage of time. Luminous waters surround the city, casting an unsettling yet mesmerizing glow on the structures, and the eerie silenc...

This poem explores the limitations of human expression, emphasizing the futility in capturing profound thoughts and emotions through words. The narrator reflects on their previous belief in the power of words, only to find themselves unable to express the depth of their feelings when confronted with the beauty evoked by two simple Italian words. The speaker describes an overwhelming sensation that...

The poem reflects a deep sense of gratitude and reverence towards an individual whose presence brings light, hope, and a rekindling of faith to those around them. It portrays this person as a beacon of inspiration and virtue, capable of transforming despair into enlightenment with their mere words and presence. The narrator expresses profound appreciation and devotion, suggesting their indebtednes...