Poetry
Read Poetry Classics in English
1,353 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 Thrills of a Bell Boy, Three Women and Three Sunsets and Other Poems. 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.
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Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of William Lisle Bowles, Vol. 2Explore a vivid comparison of eighteenth and nineteenth-century poetry, revealing how shifts in style, sentiment, and subject reflect the evolving spirit of their times.
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of William Lisle Bowles, Vol. 1: With Memoir, Critical Dissertation, and Explanatory Notes by George GilfillanExperience the heartfelt reflections and melancholy musings of a solitary poet whose sonnets, born from personal sorrow and inspired by nature's serene landscapes, reveal the raw e…
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of William Collins; With a MemoirExplore the tender verses of a poet whose genius blossomed amid struggle and obscurity, tracing his journey from hopeful scholar to a literary adventurer in London, capturing the d…
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of Thomas Traherne, 1636?-1674, from the original manuscriptsDiscover the radiant spiritual reflections of a 17th-century poet whose passionate fervor and noble character shine through his heartfelt meditations and verse, revealing a deeply…
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of Thomas HoodExplore the heartfelt and witty poetry shaped by a life shadowed by illness and loss, revealing the quiet humor and deep family devotion of a poet who navigates personal hardship w…
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of Thomas CampbellJourney through the vivid landscapes of hope, love, and war as a young Scottish poet rises from humble beginnings to literary fame, inspired by nature’s beauty and turbulent times.
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, Bart. M.P.Dive into a rich collection of revised and newly unveiled poems exploring timeless themes and vivid imagery, accompanied by insightful historical and mythological footnotes that de…
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 08: Bunker Hill and Other PoemsExperience the tense moments of the Battle of Bunker Hill through vivid, personal recollections as a grandmother recounts the clash of muskets and cannon fire, capturing the courag…
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 07: Songs of Many SeasonsExperience a journey through the changing seasons and the human heart in a collection of heartfelt poems, from joyful gatherings to solemn farewells, capturing moments of history,…
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03: Medical PoemsStep quietly into the intimate world of the sickroom, where the art of healing blends science with kindness, and the true challenge lies in being the patient, not the doctor.
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02: Additional Poems (1837-1848)Journey through vivid visions of Pilgrim endurance and the relentless spirit of a nation forging its destiny, as stirring poems evoke icy frontiers, fierce battles, and the dawn of…
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of Mrs. LeprohonExplore heartfelt poems that capture the dawn of Canadian literature, celebrating patriotism, hope, and the beauty of a young nation's struggles through the compassionate eyes of a…
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of Mark AkensideExplore the journey of a young poet born in humble origins, whose early verses sparkle with political zeal and imagination, as he navigates the challenges of faith, ambition, and c…
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of John Skelton, Volume 1 (of 2)Dive into the sharp wit and rich language of a 15th-century poet whose works, painstakingly collected and restored, reveal the vibrant voice of early English verse, blending praise…
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of John Dryden, Volume 2: With Life, Critical Dissertation, and Explanatory NotesExplore the complex legacy of a poet wielding immense influence in a turbulent age, as his works reflect both the spirit and the moral challenges of his time.
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of John Dryden, Volume 1: With Life, Critical Dissertation, and Explanatory NotesExplore the early life and education of a young poet navigating family ties, scholarship, and ambition in 17th-century England, setting the stage for a literary journey marked by w…
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of James BeattieExplore the early life and poetic inspirations of a young Scottish scholar who finds solace in nature, music, and classical studies while navigating humble beginnings, academic cha…
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of Henry Kirk White : With a Memoir by Sir Harris NicolasA gifted boy from humble beginnings channels his early struggles, vivid imagination, and poetic passion into a life marked by heartfelt verses and letters, offering a deeply person…
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Volume 1Dive into a world of heartfelt verse and personal reflection, where poetic aspirations intertwine with family bonds and classical influences, revealing the inner life and trials of…
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of Edmund Spenser, Volume 5Amid the ruins of a once-glorious city, a sorrowful woman mourns the fleeting nature of worldly splendor and the vanishing of noble spirits.
Level C1PoetryThe Poetical Works of David GrayImmerse yourself in a heartfelt collection of poetry that traces the life and dreams of a young poet whose ambition and melancholy shaped his pursuit of literary fame.
Level C1PoetryThe Poet at the Breakfast-TableEngage in lively Breakfast-Table conversations where poets, scientists, and philosophers explore the vastness of knowledge, human nature, and the mysteries of life with wit and pro…
Level C1PoetryThe Poems of Richard Corbet, late bishop of Oxford and of NorwichWitty and sharp, these poems emerge from the life of a 17th-century bishop who navigates religious strife, academic rivalry, and royal ceremonies with humor and boldness, revealing…
Level C1PoetryThe Poems of Philip Freneau, Poet of the American Revolution. Volume 1 (of 3)Dive into the revolutionary era through stirring poems that chronicle the fierce political debates, personal trials, and fiery spirit of a poet once scorned but now celebrated for…
Level C1PoetryThe Poems of Oliver GoldsmithExplore the vibrant life and sharp wit of a young Irish poet as he navigates harsh tutors, travels across Europe on a shoestring, and sharpens his humor through keen observations o…
Level C1PoetryThe Poems of Madison Cawein, Volume 5 (of 5): Poems of meditation and of forest and fieldImmerse yourself in meditative verses and vivid imagery of forests and fields, where nature and introspection intertwine in a lyrical celebration of beauty, mystery, and the passag…
Level C1PoetryThe Poems of Madison Cawein, Volume 3 (of 5): Nature poemsImmerse yourself in vivid verse that captures the beauty and mysteries of nature—from whispering winds to quiet woods, each poem invites you to explore the seasons, landscapes, and…
Level C1PoetryThe Poems of Madison Cawein, Volume 2 (of 5): New world idylls and poems of loveImmerse yourself in lyrical eclogues and evocative verses that weave the changing seasons with tender moments of love and longing, set against the enchanting backdrop of nature’s N…
Level C1PoetryThe Poems of Madison Cawein, Volume 1 (of 5): Lyrics and old world idyllsImmerse yourself in vivid lyric poems and idyllic scenes that weave old-world charm with meditative reflections on nature and life, capturing the serene spirit of Kentucky’s landsc…
Level C1PoetryThe Poems of Goethe, Translated in the Original MetresExplore the profound spirit of nature and human feeling through meticulously translated poems that capture the original metre and depth of thought, revealing the timeless artistry…
Level C1PoetryThe Poems of Giacomo LeopardiExplore the passionate verses of a poet whose intense love of beauty, patriotism, and deep philosophical reflections blend sorrow and aspiration in stirring odes and lyrics, reveal…
Level C1PoetryThe Poems of Felicia HemansExplore the heartfelt journey of a gifted poet from childhood to adulthood, tracing her inspirations, triumphs, and intimate reflections through a lifetime of evocative verse and l…
Level C1PoetryThe Poems of Emma Lazarus, Volume 2: Jewish poems: TranslationsExplore the poignant reflections and haunting melodies of a sensitive spirit wrestling with identity, loss, and heritage.
Level C1PoetryThe Poems of Emma Lazarus, Volume 1Explore the profound and melancholic world of a gifted poet whose early works delve into themes of loss, beauty, and myth, capturing the restless spirit of youth and the timeless a…
Level C1PoetryThe Poems and Verses of Charles DickensStep into a world where comic opera meets familiar English scenes, as a young writer teams up with a composer to bring lively songs and spirited characters to the stage.
Level C1PoetryThe Poems and Prose of Ernest Dowson, With a Memoir by Arthur SymonsDive into a haunting collection of poetry and prose that reveals the restless spirit and delicate melancholy of a poet whose life was as fleeting as his verses.
Level C1PoetryThe Poems and Prose Poems of Charles Baudelaire: with an Introductory Preface by James HunekerDive into the dark, sensual world of a poet haunted by legend and self-mystification, where beauty, death, and despair intertwine in provocative verses and haunting prose poems.
Level C1PoetryThe Poems and Fragments of CatullusDive into the intricate art of classical poetry as this collection explores the challenges and triumphs of translating ancient Latin metres into English, revealing the delicate bal…
Level C1PoetryThe Pleasures of a Single Life, Or, The Miseries of Matrimony: Occasionally writ upon the many divorces lately granted by Parliament. With The choice, or, the pleasures of a country-life. Dedicated to the beaus against the next vacation.Escape the trials of matrimony and embrace the serene joys of single life, where books, nature, and quiet contemplation offer boundless delight and wisdom without the storms of wor…
Level C1PoetryThe Placid Pug, and Other RhymesA placid pug leads a dull, uneventful life in the park, unaware of the fierce struggles beyond his world.
Level C1PoetryThe Piper and the ReedA fragile reed by the river becomes the key to a divine melody as the eternal Piper seeks the perfect harmony in a cosmic song.
Level C1PoetryThe Pilgrims of Hope and Chants for SocialistsAmid the awakening spring, a stirring wind carries the message of hope and uprising from the fields to the heart of London, where love and revolution intertwine.
Level C1PoetryThe Pied Piper of Hamelin, and Other Poems: Every Boy's LibraryIn a quaint town plagued by a rat infestation, a mysterious piper offers a magical solution with enchanting music that captivates all who hear it, setting the stage for a haunting…
Level C1PoetryThe Persian Literature, Comprising The Shah Nameh, The Rubaiyat, The Divan, and The Gulistan, Volume 2Explore a timeless garden of wisdom where poems and anecdotes reveal the customs of kings, the morals of dervishes, and reflections on love, youth, and contentment, all born from a…
Level C1PoetryThe Persian Literature, Comprising The Shah Nameh, The Rubaiyat, The Divan, and The Gulistan, Volume 1Step into the rich world of Persian poetry and legend, where tales of chivalry, romance, and ancient valor blend with a vibrant cultural history that bridges East and West.
Level C1PoetryThe Pearl: A Middle English Poem, A Modern Version in the Metre of the OriginalA grieving father mourns his lost daughter through a symbolic, lyrical journey steeped in medieval imagery and spiritual longing, blending profound emotion with intricate rhyme and…
Level C1RomanceThe Pearl Box: Containing One Hundred Beautiful Stories for Young PeopleDiscover heartfelt tales filled with moral lessons that guide young readers through kindness, faith, and the beauty of selflessness, as children navigate life's challenges with hop…
Level C1PoetryThe Peacock and Parrot, on their Tour to Discover the Author of "The Peacock At Home"Join the Peacock and Parrot on a whimsical journey to uncover the mysterious author behind the enchanting poem "The Peacock at Home," blending charming verse with delightful illust…