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Famous Poets
Be inspired by the words of these famous poets whose poems continue to encourage, comfort, and uplift readers across generations.
Famous poets have a way of reaching the heart with just a few carefully chosen words. Their poems speak about life, love, faith, struggle, hope, and everyday moments that still feel familiar today. Even though many of these poets lived long ago, their words continue to touch lives in meaningful ways.
Poetry has the power to remind us that we are not alone in our thoughts or feelings. The poets featured here wrote from their own experiences, observations, and beliefs, creating verses that still bring encouragement and reflection. As you explore this collection, you may find words that give comfort, spark inspiration, or offer a gentle reminder to keep going.
This page brings together well known poets whose works have stood the test of time. Their poems are shared and read because they continue to matter, offering wisdom and encouragement that remain just as valuable today as when they were first written.
You may also be inspired by our collection of Famous Poems or our collection of Famous Quotes by Famous Poets.
"Poetry reminds us that words can lift a heavy day, calm a worried mind, and help us see hope again."
Updated July 17, 2026, by Catherine Pulsifer.
Famous Poets:
11 poems by
John Kendrick Bangs
1862 to 1922
"He is indeed in friendless plight who hath no creditor
and does not know the joyous task of paying off the score!"
John Kendrick Bangs
1862 to 1922
"He is indeed in friendless plight who hath no creditor
and does not know the joyous task of paying off the score!"
26 poems by
Caleb Davis Bradlee
1831 - 1897
"Lord, when we shall question in our heart,
Whether thou wilt stay with us, or depart"
Caleb Davis Bradlee
1831 - 1897
"Lord, when we shall question in our heart,
Whether thou wilt stay with us, or depart"
20 poems by
Berton Braley
1882 - 1966
"Whistle, old fellow; you go on and whistle;
What do we care if you sharp or you flat?"
Berton Braley
1882 - 1966
"Whistle, old fellow; you go on and whistle;
What do we care if you sharp or you flat?"
7 poems by
Clara McAlister Brooks
1882 - 1980
"And we shall stand with the judgment-train.
Oh! what shall we wish that day?"
Clara McAlister Brooks
1882 - 1980
"And we shall stand with the judgment-train.
Oh! what shall we wish that day?"
11 poems by
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
1806 - 1861
" I think we are too ready with complaint
In this fair world of God's.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
1806 - 1861
" I think we are too ready with complaint
In this fair world of God's.
11 poems by
Alice Cary
1820 - 1871
"Stay yet a little longer in the sky,
O golden color of the evening sun!"
Alice Cary
1820 - 1871
"Stay yet a little longer in the sky,
O golden color of the evening sun!"
7 poems by
Phoebe Cary
1824 - 1871
"O years, gone down into the past;
What pleasant memories come to me."
Phoebe Cary
1824 - 1871
"O years, gone down into the past;
What pleasant memories come to me."
26 poems by
Daniel C. Colesworthy
1810 - 1893
"What is existence, but to give
Our influence to a righteous cause?"
Daniel C. Colesworthy
1810 - 1893
"What is existence, but to give
Our influence to a righteous cause?"
25 poems by
Lillian E. Curtis
mid 1800's, death unknown
"Friendship! how boundless and expansive is the term,
Leading thro' labyrinths - ah! 'tis a priceless germ."
Lillian E. Curtis
mid 1800's, death unknown
"Friendship! how boundless and expansive is the term,
Leading thro' labyrinths - ah! 'tis a priceless germ."
16 poems by
Mary Mapes Dodge
1830 - 1886
"If you've any task to do,
Let me whisper, friend, to you, Do it."
Mary Mapes Dodge
1830 - 1886
"If you've any task to do,
Let me whisper, friend, to you, Do it."
14 poems by
Paul Laurence Dunbar
1872 - 1906
"Hope is tenacious. It goes on living and working
when science has dealt it what should be its deathblow."
Paul Laurence Dunbar
1872 - 1906
"Hope is tenacious. It goes on living and working
when science has dealt it what should be its deathblow."
12 poems by
Eugene Field
1850 - 1895
"There are no days like the good old days, -
The days when we were youthful!"
Eugene Field
1850 - 1895
"There are no days like the good old days, -
The days when we were youthful!"
27 poems by
Arthur Franklin Fuller
1880 - 1953
"Dear little hand and wise little heart,
Words cannot measure the sweet you impart"
Arthur Franklin Fuller
1880 - 1953
"Dear little hand and wise little heart,
Words cannot measure the sweet you impart"
20 poems by
Strickland Gillilan
1869 - 1954
"Most every day brings some grave situation,
Not to be feared, but faced."
Strickland Gillilan
1869 - 1954
"Most every day brings some grave situation,
Not to be feared, but faced."
37 poems by
Edgar A. Guest
1881 - 1959
"The pathway of the living is our ever-present care.
Let us do our best to smooth it and to make it bright and fair."
Edgar A. Guest
1881 - 1959
"The pathway of the living is our ever-present care.
Let us do our best to smooth it and to make it bright and fair."
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5 poems by
Rudyard Kipling
1865 - 1936
"If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you"
Rudyard Kipling
1865 - 1936
"If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you"
10 poems by
Lucy Larcom
1824 - 1893
"Life offers no joy like a friend:
Fulfillment and prophecy blend"
Lucy Larcom
1824 - 1893
"Life offers no joy like a friend:
Fulfillment and prophecy blend"
7 poems by
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
1807 - 1882
"How beautiful is the rain!
After the dust and heat"
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
1807 - 1882
"How beautiful is the rain!
After the dust and heat"
11 poems by
Amy Lowell
1874 - 1925
"I ask but one thing of you, only one.
That always you will be my dream of you"
Amy Lowell
1874 - 1925
"I ask but one thing of you, only one.
That always you will be my dream of you"
20 poems by
Douglas Malloch
1877 - 1938
"Some folks run to sunsets, some folks run to noon.
Some folks like the evenin' best, with its stars an' moon."
Douglas Malloch
1877 - 1938
"Some folks run to sunsets, some folks run to noon.
Some folks like the evenin' best, with its stars an' moon."
13 poems by
Edgar Allan Poe
1809 - 1849
"The happiest day - the happiest hour
My sear'd and blighted heart hath known"
Edgar Allan Poe
1809 - 1849
"The happiest day - the happiest hour
My sear'd and blighted heart hath known"
14 poems by
Althea Randolph
1800s - death unknown
"The trees are very vain, I think! I feel this must be true.
Because they like to change their gowns as much as people do!"
Althea Randolph
1800s - death unknown
"The trees are very vain, I think! I feel this must be true.
Because they like to change their gowns as much as people do!"
15 poems by
Christina Rossetti
1830 - 1894
"We know not when, we know not where,
We know not what that world will be"
Christina Rossetti
1830 - 1894
"We know not when, we know not where,
We know not what that world will be"
12 poems by
Eloise A. Skimings
1836 - 1921
"Be a friend good and true, to those you love;
O'er their path blossoms strew, to bloom above"
Eloise A. Skimings
1836 - 1921
"Be a friend good and true, to those you love;
O'er their path blossoms strew, to bloom above"
12 poems by
Robert Louis Stevenson
1850 - 1894
"I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see"
Robert Louis Stevenson
1850 - 1894
"I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see"
20 poems by
Wilhelmina Stitch
1888 - 1936
"Mind! What are you minting? Thoughts of purest gold
To buy a share of happiness when we are growing old."
Wilhelmina Stitch
1888 - 1936
"Mind! What are you minting? Thoughts of purest gold
To buy a share of happiness when we are growing old."
22 poems by
Patience Strong
1907 - 1990
"Welcome Christmas once again! Come blizzard, snow or rime
It cannot dim the joy that fills our hearts at this glad time."
Patience Strong
1907 - 1990
"Welcome Christmas once again! Come blizzard, snow or rime
It cannot dim the joy that fills our hearts at this glad time."
15 poems by
Ellwood Haines Stokes
1815 - 1897
"What a joyful place our heaven must be.
Where the captive dwells forever free."
Ellwood Haines Stokes
1815 - 1897
"What a joyful place our heaven must be.
Where the captive dwells forever free."
6 poems by
James Henry Thomas
"We are very often treated with contempt and scorn;
But if right, we're not defeated, though much must be borne."
"We are very often treated with contempt and scorn;
But if right, we're not defeated, though much must be borne."
18 poems by
J. J. Thorne
1871 - unknown
"Knowledge is power, conscience is truth,
It was given us the way to live by"
1871 - unknown
"Knowledge is power, conscience is truth,
It was given us the way to live by"
9 poems by
Sara Teasdale
1884-1933
"Let it be forgotten, as a flower is forgotten,
Forgotten as a fire that once was singing gold."
Sara Teasdale
1884-1933
"Let it be forgotten, as a flower is forgotten,
Forgotten as a fire that once was singing gold."
21 poems by
William Arthur Ward
1921 - 1994
"A dash of encouragement is more helpful than
a dipper of pessimism."
William Arthur Ward
1921 - 1994
"A dash of encouragement is more helpful than
a dipper of pessimism."
23 poems by
Nixon Waterman
1859 - 1944
"With every tick of the clock, my dear,
The days go singing by."
Nixon Waterman
1859 - 1944
"With every tick of the clock, my dear,
The days go singing by."
8 poems by
Kate Louise Wheeler
late 1800s
"Do not dream away life’s morning,
Rise to bless as does the sun"
Kate Louise Wheeler
late 1800s
"Do not dream away life’s morning,
Rise to bless as does the sun"
23 poems by
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
1850 -1919
"We will be what we could be. Do not say,
'It might have been, had not or that, or this'"
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
1850 -1919
"We will be what we could be. Do not say,
'It might have been, had not or that, or this'"
Conclusion
Famous poets remind us that a few well chosen words can stay with us for years. When you read their poems, you may find comfort, courage, and a new way to look at life. Keep this page close, and come back anytime you need a little encouragement.
More Poems (sorted by topic) to Encourage and Inspire
"A poem may be short, but the help it gives can last a long time."