Poetry
Read Poetry Classics in English
6 poetry books at CEFR A2 to C2 — learn English by reading the stories worth reading. Select any word for an instant translation, listen to the narration read the page aloud, and save the vocabulary you meet. Pick your level and start with a free sample.
What are the best poetry classics to read in English as a learner?
The best poetry classics for English learners are the well-known titles you can read in the original — start with Sonnets from the Portuguese, A Child's Garden of Verses and Erotica Romana. Each one is labelled with a CEFR level, any word you do not know is one selection away from a translation, and the narration reads the page aloud while it highlights the words.
- 6
- books
| Title | Chapters | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Sonnets from the Portuguese | 44 | C2 |
| A Child's Garden of Verses | 65 | A2–B2 |
| Erotica Romana | 24 | C2 |
| The Complete Works of William Shakespeare | 44 | C2 |
| The Lady of the Lake | 6 | C2 |
| The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse | 493 | C2 |
Level C2RomanceSonnets from the PortugueseA weary singer finds her solitary world transformed by a princely heart whose music and presence awaken deep love and longing, defying distance, fate, and even death itself.
Level A2–B2PoetryA Child's Garden of VersesStevenson's beloved collection of short, musical poems about childhood — swings, shadows, ships, and bedtime.
Level C2PoetryErotica RomanaThe classic romance novel by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Level C2ClassicsThe Complete Works of William ShakespeareThe classic poetry novel by William Shakespeare.
Level C2PoetryThe Lady of the LakeThe classic romance novel by Walter Scott.
Level C2PoetryThe Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verseThe classic fantasy novel by Valmiki.