Poetry
Read Poetry Classics in English
1,416 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 Ægle and the elf, a fantasy, Zophiel and Zephyrs. 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.
- 1,416
- books
Level C1PoetryQuaint Gleanings from Ancient Poetry: A Collection of Curious Poetical Compositions of the XVIth, XVIIth, and XVIIIth CenturiesDiscover a rich tapestry of rare poems from the 16th to 18th centuries, blending heartfelt love, political satire, and historical reflections unearthed from dusty manuscripts and f…
Level C1PoetryPygmalion and the ImageAn artist’s obsession with his own creation blurs the line between craftsmanship and passion in a tale where beauty, longing, and divine intervention intertwine to breathe life int…
Level C1PoetryPurcell Ode, and Other PoemsExplore the intricate relationship between poetry and music through reflections on the challenges of setting verse to choral compositions, revealing the delicate balance between li…
Level C1PoetryPsychologiesAmidst the turmoil of ancient Rome, a weary leader grapples with the cost of war and the meaning of power, as soldiers demand battle and he seeks a nobler peace.
Level C1PoetryProvocationsExplore deeply personal and spontaneous reflections on war, loss, and nature through poignant poems that reveal the intimate provocations behind public events, capturing moments fr…
Level C1PoetryProud Signild, and Other BalladsIn a tale of betrayal and vengeance, Proud Signild is wed into a distant land where dark deeds unfold as she confronts her lord Sir Loumor and the deadly fate of her brothers.
Level C1PoetryProfiles from China: Sketches in Free Verse of People and Things Seen in the InteriorImmerse yourself in vivid free verse portraits of China’s interior, where cormorants, scholars, storytellers, and ancient wells reveal a world of beauty, mystery, and quiet power b…
Level C1PoetryPrince Ragnal, and other holiday versesJourney through evocative holiday verses that weave legends of early Christian Ireland with timeless Christmas scenes, inviting reflection on faith, tradition, and the sacred momen…
Level C1PoetryPrimavera: Poems by Four AuthorsFour young poets explore themes of youth, love, and melancholy with refined, delicate verses that blend restrained emotion and aesthetic grace, inviting readers into a world of sub…
Level C1PoetryPreludes 1921-1922In a world where love fuels courage and faith shapes destiny, a young shepherd faces a towering giant while his steadfast friend wrestles with doubt and honor on the battlefield.
Level C1HistoricalPre-Raphaelite and other PoetsExplore insightful lectures delivered to Japanese students that dissect the works of Rossetti, Swinburne, Browning, and other poets, revealing profound truths about modern poetry t…
Level C1PoetryPrayers Written At Vailima, and A Lowden Sabbath MornIn a remote Samoan home, evening prayers weave together the sacred customs of island life and intimate family devotion, revealing the deep spiritual bonds and quiet struggles of th…
Level C1HistoricalPowhatan; A Metrical Romance, in Seven CantosAn epic metrical romance unfolds the story of Powhatan, a formidable Native American chieftain who unites tribes into a powerful confederacy amid the arrival of English settlers.
Level C1PoetryPostscriptsDiscover the early, unsigned writings of a master storyteller as they unfold through witty columns, vivid characters, and keen humor from his time at the Houston Post, revealing th…
Level C1HistoricalPost-Augustan Poetry From Seneca to JuvenalExplore the overlooked world of post-Augustan Roman poetry, revealing the merits and flaws of poets navigating the decline of classical ideals under imperial rule, from dramatic wo…
Level C1PoetryPopular British Ballads, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 4 (of 4)As a fierce tide floods the coast of Lincolnshire, a haunting melody from the town bells warns of impending disaster, intertwining nature’s fury with the lives and legends of its p…
Level C1PoetryPopular British Ballads, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 3 (of 4)In a remote hermit's humble refuge, a sorrowful stranger seeks solace from heartbreak and loss, revealing a tale of love, pride, and despair amidst the quiet wilderness where stori…
Level C1PoetryPopular British Ballads, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 2 (of 4)Step into a realm where ancient ballads weave tales of love, mystery, and enchantment—from True Thomas’s fateful journey to Elfland to the haunting lament of the Bonny Hind.
Level C1PoetryPomegranates from an English Garden: A selection from the poems of Robert BrowningDive into a rich selection of intense, thought-provoking poems that challenge the reader to uncover deep human emotions and ideas hidden beneath a rugged, unconventional style.
Level C1HistoricalPoets of the South: A Series of Biographical and Critical Studies with Typical Poems, AnnotatedExplore the rich, often overlooked poetic heritage of the American South through vivid biographical and critical portraits of its leading poets.
Level C1PoetryPoetry: A Magazine of Verse, Volume 01: October-March, 1912-13Step into a world where ancient kings and their legacies are immortalized through the power of words and song, illuminating the timeless struggle to preserve glory and wisdom again…
Level C1HistoricalPoetry of the Anti-Jacobin: Comprising the Celebrated Political and Satirical Poems, of the Rt. Hons. G. Canning, John Hookham Frere, W. Pitt, the Marquis Wellesley, G. Ellis, W. Gifford, the Earl of Carlisle, and Others.Sharp political and satirical poems from the turbulent era of 1797-98 expose the fierce conflicts between Britain and revolutionary France, capturing the wit and turmoil of a natio…
Level C1PoetryPoetry for Poetry's Sake: An Inaugural Lecture Delivered on June 5, 1901Delve into a passionate exploration of poetry's intrinsic value, where the act of reading becomes a vivid journey through sounds, images, and emotions, revealing poetry as an exper…
Level C1PoetryPoetryExplore a diverse collection of poems that celebrate poetry’s power to inspire, teach, and elevate the soul through imagination, morality, and faith.
Level C1PoetryPoetical Works: Comprising Elegies, Sketches from Life, Pathetic, and Extempore PiecesA man’s reckless youth leads him into debt, despair, and the harsh realities of bankruptcy, exposing the merciless legal and personal consequences he must face.
Level C1PoetryPoetical Works of William Cullen BryantExplore the roots of a poetic soul shaped by stern Puritan heritage and New England rigor, tracing a frail child's journey through discipline, tradition, and the early influences t…
Level C1PoetryPoetical Works of Robert Bridges, Volume 5In a royal court where love and intrigue intertwine, servants and nobles navigate secrets, duels, and forbidden romances, revealing the chaos beneath gilded façades.
Level C1PoetryPoetical Works of Robert Bridges, Volume 3Step into the intrigue of ancient Rome as senators navigate political peril under Emperor Nero’s reign, balancing loyalty, ambition, and emerging conspiracies in a richly dramatic…
Level C1PoetryPoetical Works of Matthew ArnoldIn a world where ancient heroes and gods shape destiny, a hidden prince returns to reclaim his murdered father's throne, navigating betrayal and vengeance amid the shifting tides o…
Level C1PoetryPoetical Works of Edmund Waller and Sir John DenhamDive into the life of a poet caught between artistry and political intrigue, whose verses and schemes nearly led him to the gallows.
Level C1PoetryPoetical WorksExplore the turbulent life and sharp wit of a gifted poet whose satirical verse challenges the literary and political scenes of 18th-century England, revealing a complex blend of g…![Cover of Poetical Ingenuities and Eccentricities by William T. [Editor] Dobson](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da8c4csv7nos73d6qitg.webp)
Level C1PoetryPoetical Ingenuities and EccentricitiesDive into a whimsical collection where poetry meets parody, blending humor with clever homage to classic verse.
Level C1PoetryPoetic Sketches: A Collection of Miscellaneous PoetryExplore a diverse collection of poems that blend scholarly insight and heartfelt expression, offering thoughtful reflections and vivid imagery dedicated to a distinguished statesma…
Level C1PoetryPoems: With a Sketch of the Life and Experience of Annie R. SmithExplore heartfelt reflections on faith, love, and spiritual struggle through poetry that reveals the intimate battles of the soul and the hope found in divine grace and compassion.
Level C1PoetryPoems: With Introduction and NotesDelve into a vivid collection of poems exploring love, nature, inner life, and haunting narratives, where raw emotion and profound reflection emerge through unadorned, literal tran…
Level C1HistoricalPoems: Patriotic, Religious, MiscellaneousExplore heartfelt verses that intertwine devotion, Southern pride, and reflection, revealing a soul torn between faith and allegiance during a tumultuous era.
Level C1PoetryPoems: New and OldExplore a rich collection of verse that captures the spirit of the sea, heroic battles, and timeless memories through stirring poems dedicated to naval life, valor, and the endurin…
Level C1PoetryPoems, translated and originalExplore a rich tapestry of translated and original poems that evoke history, nature, and poignant human emotions, including a tragic Venetian drama inspired by true events and clas…
Level C1PoetryPoems, &c. (1790): Wherein It Is Attempted To Describe Certain Views Of Nature And Of Rustic Manners; And Also, To Point Out, In Some Instances, The Different Influence Which The Same Circumstances Produce On Different CharactersExperience a vivid winter morning in a rustic village, where the rhythms of nature and humble lives unfold through poetic scenes of labor, family, and the quiet struggles of rural…![Cover of Poems we all love by Montrose L. [Compiler] Barnet](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dafd9ola8p2c739itgo0.webp)
Level C1PoetryPoems we all loveDive into a treasury of timeless poems that inspire courage, faith, and love, offering solace and strength through life’s joys and challenges.
Level C1PoetryPoems on various subjects, religious and moralExplore profound reflections on virtue, faith, and humanity penned by a remarkable young woman who, brought from Africa to America, mastered language and poetry against all odds, o…![Cover of Poems on Golf by Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh [Editor]](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dabkulo9638s73a2r2m0.webp)
Level C1PoetryPoems on GolfStep onto the storied greens where heroic golfers wield clubs like warriors and mythical goddesses watch over fierce contests for glory and honor.
Level C1PoetryPoems of the Heart and HomeExplore heartfelt Canadian landscapes and intimate moments through a collection of poems that reveal joys, sorrows, and hopes rooted deeply in home, nature, and shared human experi…
Level C1HistoricalPoems of the Great War: Published on the Behalf of the Prince of Wales's National Relief FundPoignant and stirring poems rally a nation in the throes of war, capturing the courage, sacrifice, and resolve of England as it faces the great conflict.
Level C1RomancePoems of lovePassion ignites in stirring verses that explore love’s fierce battles and sweet dangers, where hearts face the turmoil of desire, devotion, and heartbreak.
Level C1PoetryPoems of To-Day: an AnthologyExplore a rich tapestry of modern English poetry capturing themes of history, nature, and life itself—from heroic pasts and war reflections to the beauty of the earth and the depth…
Level C1PoetryPoems of Rural Life in the Dorset DialectImmerse yourself in vivid Dorset countryside scenes, where rustic life bursts to life through heartfelt poems rich with local dialect, nature’s beauty, and the simple joys and tria…
Level C1PoetryPoems of Progress and New Thought PastelsExplore a poetic journey through love’s elusive language, human longing, and the world’s unspoken needs, as spirits wander between realms in search of connection, truth, and spirit…