Poetry
Read Poetry Classics in English
2,602 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.
- 2,602
- books
Level C1PoetryThe Council of DogsIn a whimsical gathering, dogs of various breeds debate and jockey for position, revealing their distinct personalities and quirks through lively verse and charming illustrations.
Level C2PoetryThe Cornflower, and Other PoemsExplore heartfelt moments and vivid scenes of everyday life through a rich collection of poems that capture love, nature, and human experience with warmth and insight.
Level B2PoetryThe Coo-ee Reciter: Humorous, Pathetic, Dramatic, Dialect, Recitations & ReadingsA young couple's playful battle over carrying their restless baby unfolds amid a sunlit journey, revealing tender tensions and affectionate banter that explore the challenges and h…
Level C1MysteryThe Convict's Farewell: with Advice to Criminals, before and after TrialA convict's heartfelt farewell reveals the tragic descent from a peaceful life to chains and exile, warning against the vices that lead to ruin.
Level C2PoetryThe Conuercyon of swerers: (The Conversion of Swearers)In a vivid poetic plea, the voice of Christ laments the cruelty of swearing and urges kings and commoners alike to abandon sinful oaths, embracing mercy and spiritual renewal to es…
Level C1PoetryThe Congo, and Other PoemsExplore a vibrant collection of poems that revive the ancient art of lyric singing, blending vaudeville’s spontaneity with heartfelt American spirit to reconnect poetry with its au…
Level C1PoetryThe Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence.: With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan CunninghamImmerse yourself in the heartfelt songs and rustic verses of a Scottish bard who celebrates the joys, loves, and landscapes of his homeland with unpretentious passion and a proud,…
Level C1PoetryThe Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume IIExplore the passionate and scholarly collection of Latin and Greek poetry, including rare and unprinted works, accompanied by insightful essays, translations, and facsimiles that i…
Level C2PoetryThe Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume IDive into a rich collection of sacred and secular poems, including rare unpublished works and original illustrations, meticulously gathered and annotated from early editions and ma…
Level C1PoetryThe Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley — Volume 10Meet Mr.
Level B2PoetryThe Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley — Volume 1Step into the heartfelt world of a shy Indiana boy whose childhood and home life shape a lifetime of poetic reflections.
Level C1PoetryThe Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Vol 2 (of 2)Step into the turbulent world of revolutionary France and the shadowy courts of Philip II’s Spain, where passion and power collide in dramatic poems that explore tyranny, guilt, an…
Level C1PoetryThe Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Vol 1 and 2Dive into the evolving genius of a poet whose works span inspired drafts and perfected verses, revealing his relentless pursuit of poetic harmony and the complex interplay between…
Level C1PoetryThe Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Vol 1 (of 2)Dive into a rich collection of poems and drafts revealing the evolving artistry and deep reflections of one of poetry’s most meticulous creators, showcasing original texts alongsid…
Level C1PoetryThe Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley — CompleteExplore the visionary poetry that transcends time, capturing lofty ideals and profound reflections through evocative rhythms and vivid imagery, presented here with rare unpublished…
Level C1PoetryThe Complete Poetical Works of Oliver GoldsmithExperience the wit and wisdom of a young scholar's tumultuous journey through education, hardship, and poetic creation, revealing the early life and spirit behind timeless verse.
Level C1PoetryThe Complete Poetical Works of James Russell LowellExplore a rich tapestry of poetic voices, from heartfelt sonnets and stirring odes to satirical ballads and poignant memorials, capturing themes of love, freedom, nature, and socia…
Level C2PoetryThe Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth LongfellowImmerse yourself in vivid landscapes and timeless reflections where nature’s whispers and ancient legends inspire dreams and profound truths about life, youth, and the soul’s endur…
Level C1FantasyThe Complete Poetical Works of Edgar Allan Poe: Including Essays on PoetryDive into the hauntingly beautiful world of Edgar Allan Poe's poetry, enriched with rare, unpublished verses and insightful biographical notes that reveal the tortured genius behin…
Level C1PoetryThe Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert BrowningExplore the vivid life and mind behind a vast collection of poems and dramatic works, tracing the poet’s journey from his London roots through a rich literary heritage.
Level C1PoetryThe Complete Poems of Sir Thomas Moore: Collected by Himself with Explanatory NotesFollow the early life and literary rise of a young Irish poet navigating political turmoil, social ambition, and artistic pursuits, as he transforms from a student into a celebrate…
Level C2PoetryThe Complete Poems of Sir John Davies. Volume 2 of 2.Dive into a rich collection of epigrams and poems, meticulously edited to preserve original texts and orthography, revealing the wit and literary craft of a bygone era through care…
Level C1PoetryThe Complete Poems of Sir John Davies. Volume 1 of 2.Dive into the eloquent and profound poetry of a distinguished Elizabethan statesman and thinker, whose works blend philosophical insight with lyrical grace.
Level C1PoetryThe Complete Poems of Paul Laurence DunbarExplore the rich emotions and vivid experiences of African American life through poetry that blends humor, sympathy, and truthfulness, capturing a unique cultural voice with lyrica…
Level C1PoetryThe Coming of the Princess, and Other PoemsDiscover a collection of heartfelt poems that capture the spirit of a young nation through nature, hope, and the quiet beauty of everyday moments, all voiced with simplicity, grace…
Level C1PoetryThe Comic Poems of Thomas HoodDiscover a collection of witty and sharply insightful poems born from a keen mind that finds humor even amid hardship.
PoetryThe Comic Adventures of Old Mother Hubbard, and Her Dog: In which is shewn the wonderful powers that good old lady possessed in the education of her favourite animalFollow the whimsical journey of Old Mother Hubbard and her clever dog as they embark on amusing adventures filled with unexpected lessons and delightful surprises.
Level C1PoetryThe Comet, and Other VersesExplore a poetic journey through nature, history, and human progress, where a comet’s fiery path witnesses the rise and fall of empires and inspires timeless truths of love and lea…
Level C2HistoricalThe Columbiad: A PoemEmbark on a poetic journey through the recent, monumental events of history, where the epic unfolds between Columbus and Hesper in a confined yet profound space, blending patriotic…
Level C1HistoricalThe Collected Writings of Dougal Graham, "Skellat" Bellman of Glasgow, Vol. 1 of 2Explore the rare and vivid chap-books of Dougal Graham, Glasgow's bellman, capturing the customs, manners, and folk-lore of his time through carefully preserved writings and insigh…
Level C1PoetryThe Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats, Vol. 8 (of 8): Discoveries. Edmund Spenser. Poetry and Tradition; and Other Essays. BibliographyA theatrical troupe arrives in a decaying Irish town to perform a play steeped in heroic legend, but the faded grandeur and muted passion of the audience reveal deeper tensions bet…
Level C1PoetryThe Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats, Vol. 7 (of 8): The Secret Rose. Rosa Alchemica. The Tables of the Law. The Adoration of the Magi. John Sherman and DhoyaA restless gleeman wanders through a harsh landscape where spiritual battles unfold beneath Ireland’s ancient crosses.
Level C1PoetryThe Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats, Vol. 6 (of 8): Ideas of Good and EvilExplore the quest to create a truly Irish popular poetry that captures the essence of the land, its legends, and its people, blending tradition with fresh, vibrant expression beyon…
Level C1PoetryThe Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats, Vol. 5 (of 8): The Celtic Twilight and Stories of Red HanrahanStep into a world where Irish folklore breathes through tales of faeries, banshees, and ancient visions, told by a charming old storyteller who blurs the line between belief and im…
Level C1PoetryThe Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats, Vol. 3 (of 8): The Countess Cathleen. The Land of Heart's Desire. The Unicorn from the StarsIn a mystical Ireland, a noble countess faces haunting choices, while dreams and visions blur the line between reality and the supernatural—unfolding in poetic plays that weave fai…
Level B2PoetryThe Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats, Vol. 2 (of 8): The King's Threshold. On Baile's Strand. Deirdre. Shadowy WatersStep into a world where kings, warriors, and witches collide as the mighty Cuchulain faces an oath that could bind his wild spirit, while shadows of betrayal and destiny loom from…
Level C2PoetryThe Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats, Vol. 1 (of 8): Poems Lyrical and NarrativeImmerse yourself in haunting Irish folklore where ancient gods, faery hills, and mystical visions intertwine, revealing a secret language of symbols and dreams that blur the line b…
Level C1PoetryThe Collected Poems of Rupert BrookeVivid and sensuous, these poems trace a young poet’s passionate embrace of life’s fleeting moments, from delicate joys to the sting of disillusionment, capturing the vibrant pulse…
Level C1PoetryThe Coast of BohemiaSet sail for a mystical land beyond all maps, where poets, heroes, and dreamers find eternal peace and inspiration amidst radiant skies and timeless beauty.
Level C2PoetryThe City of Dreadful NightIn a city shrouded in eternal night and despair, weary souls wander through silent streets, burdened by hopelessness and the certainty of death.
PoetryThe Circus ProcessionStep into a vibrant parade where colorful characters and lively rhythms bring the magic of the circus to life through evocative verse.
PoetryThe Christmas childCelebrate the magic of the season with charming verses that capture the wonder, joy, and traditions of Christmas through the eyes of children, weaving heartfelt stories and timeles…
Level C1PoetryThe Christian YearImmerse in a heartfelt collection of poems that trace the Christian calendar, illuminating faith’s rituals with devotion and spiritual reflection.
Level C1PoetryThe Chinese Nightingale, and Other PoemsIn a quiet San Francisco night, a humble laundryman named Chang is visited by the enchanting spirit of a Chinese princess and her mythical nightingale, weaving ancient dreams and m…
Level B2PoetryThe Children's Own LongfellowJourney through stirring tales and vivid scenes where heroic sailors brave fierce storms, steadfast blacksmiths forge their destinies, and timeless legends unfold, all brought to l…
Level C1PoetryThe Children's Garland from the Best PoetsDiscover a carefully curated collection of poems chosen to delight and inspire children while offering layers of meaning for all ages, featuring timeless verses that have truly ple…
Level B1PoetryThe Child's Story-Book. Second Series—No. 4Gentle tales and poems explore kindness, nature, and simple joys through children’s eyes—a compassionate boy questions cruelty, a girl cherishes robins, and a little rabbit brings…
Level C1HistoricalThe Cavalier Songs and Ballads of England from 1642 to 1684Explore the fiery loyalty and spirited wit of Cavalier ballads that fueled royalist hearts during England’s tumultuous 17th-century conflicts, revealing the passions and politics s…