Poetry
Read Poetry Classics in English
2,580 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.
- 2,580
- books
Level C1PoetryMother Truth's Melodies. Common Sense For Children. A KindergartenDelight in charming rhymes and vivid illustrations that nurture young minds with simple truths and gentle wisdom, guiding children from infancy to growth with melodies that blend i…
Level A2PoetryMother Goose's Nursery Rhymes: A Collection of Alphabets, Rhymes, Tales, and JinglesAn old woman’s simple quest to buy a pig leads her through a series of charming encounters with animals and objects, each requiring a clever exchange.
Level C1PoetryMother Goose's MelodyDive into a charming collection of timeless nursery rhymes and playful verses, beautifully illustrated to enchant young readers and spark early learning adventures.
AdventureMother Goose's Bicycle TourJoin Mother Goose on a whimsical bicycle tour through beloved nursery rhymes and enchanting characters, where familiar tales and playful verses come alive in a charming adventure f…
Level A2PoetryMother Goose or the Old Nursery RhymesStep into a whimsical world where nursery rhymes come alive with playful verses and charming characters, from Little Jack Horner’s Christmas pie to Humpty Dumpty’s precarious perch…
Level C1PoetryMother Goose for Grown-upsTwisting familiar nursery rhymes into witty, grown-up tales, these verses reveal the mischievous, sharp-tongued antics behind beloved characters like Jack, Jill, and Little Bow Pee…
Level C2PoetryMother Goose for Grown FolksDive into a whimsical world where timeless nursery rhymes carry hidden wisdom, playful satire, and unexpected truths that resonate far beyond childhood tales.
Level B1PoetryMother Earth's Children: The Frolics of the Fruits and VegetablesDiscover the enchanting world of Mother Earth's children, where fruits and vegetables come alive as playful friends in gardens, fields, and forests, inviting young readers to explo…
Level A2PoetryMore dolliesStep into a whimsical world where dolls come to life with colorful tales, from Saint Nicholas's gifts to playful cowboys and mischievous imps, each verse bringing charming characte…
Level C2PoetryMore Songs From VagabondiaWander with the vagrant singers through bustling streets and sunlit woods, where wild melodies and restless spirits celebrate joy, love, and the endless allure of freedom.
Level C1PoetryMore Peers : VersesWitty and satirical verses chronicle the peculiar lives and misadventures of various lords, exposing the quirks and follies behind aristocratic titles with humor and sharp observat…
Level C1PoetryMore NonsenseDive into a whimsical world of playful rhymes and quirky illustrations where nonsense reigns supreme, delighting children and adults alike with absurd characters and endless mirth.
PoetryMore Misrepresentative MenWitty and sharp, these playful verses twist the tales of famous men with humor and satire, offering a clever reimagining of history and legend through mischievous poetry and lively…
Level C1PoetryMore Cricket SongsCelebrate the spirit and charm of cricket through verse that captures the game's joys, trials, and timeless appeal.
Level C1HistoricalMore BywordsIn a rugged Roman-Gallic villa, the people of Claudiodunum gather for a sacred procession invoking divine protection over their lands, while a senator and his guest watch from afar…
Level B2PoetryMore Bab BalladsDive into a whimsical world where a disguised bumboat woman joins a naval crew, revealing charming tales of love, loyalty, and unexpected adventure on the seas.
Level B2AdventureMore About Teddy B. and Teddy G., the Roosevelt Bears: Being Volume Two Depicting Their Further Travels and AdventuresTwo adventurous Teddy Bears set out from their Colorado den to explore the East, encountering thrilling escapades from balloon rides to city fairs, all while teaching children abou…
Level C1PoetryMoral EmblemsA young boy living in snowy Davos-Platz channels his precocious business spirit into printing poems and programs, navigating family struggles and the challenges of early entreprene…
Level C1PoetryMoorish Literature: Comprising Romantic Ballads, Tales of the Berbers, Stories of the Kabyles, Folk-Lore, and National TraditionsExplore the rich oral traditions of the Moors, Berbers, and Kabyles through romantic ballads, folk tales, and songs that reveal a vibrant culture shaped by history, love, and war a…
Level C1PoetryMoores Fables for the Female SexExplore a series of engaging fables that use animal characters and allegory to reveal insights and morals aimed at women, blending wit and wisdom with captivating illustrations to…
Level C1PoetryMontezuma: An Epic on the Origin and Fate of the Aztec NationDiscover the epic journey of the Aztecs, tracing their origins from ancient Shinar through sun worship and migration, as they face the brutal realities of the Spanish Conquest.
Level A2AdventureMonkey Jack and Other StoriesWhen Monkey Jack’s daring climb to rescue a cherished ball ends in injury, his friends rally to help him heal and return to the treetops.
Level C1PoetryMoments of Vision and Miscellaneous VersesExplore a poetic journey through memory, nature, and human emotion as reflections surface in moments of vision and whispered voices of the past, revealing hidden depths beneath eve…
Level C1PoetryMolly O'Rigge: Sit Ye Awhile and Tipple a Bit. The Delights of Wine. Caledonia! Native Land! The Warrior Bard. Beadle of the Parish.Dive into lively verses brimming with humor, love, and local color as Molly O'Rigge's spirited tale unfolds alongside toasts to wine, patriotic pride, and the boisterous Beadle of…
Level C1PoetryMollie Charane, and Other BalladsExplore haunting ballads and vivid tales where love, loss, and ancient valor intertwine, from Mollie Charane’s mysterious gold to heroic Danish warriors and reflections on life’s f…
Level C1PoetryModern Prose And Poetry; For Secondary SchoolsExplore a diverse collection of modern prose and poetry selected for secondary students, designed to engage their interests and develop critical reading and writing skills through…
Level C1HistoricalModern Poets and Poetry of SpainExplore the rich world of modern Spanish poetry through critical insights and English translations that reveal the minds and culture of Spain’s literary elite, bridging history and…
Level C1HistoricalModern Italian Poets; Essays and VersionsExplore the passionate intersection of poetry and politics in Italy’s struggle for national unity, as poets wield their pens like swords to inspire freedom and shape a new era duri…
Level C1PoetryMisrepresentative WomenWitty and sharp, these poems playfully satirize notable women and societal norms, blending humor and critique through clever verse and lively illustrations.
PoetryMiscellaneous PoemsExplore a vivid collection of poems that delve into the depths of human experience and the natural world, capturing moments of beauty, struggle, and reflection with keen observatio…
Level C1PoetryMirth and metreDive into a collection of witty lays and legends crafted in a comic verse style inspired by the Ingoldsby Legends, blending admiration and originality in tales of ancient heroes, m…
Level C1PoetryMirror of the MonthsExperience the unique character of each month through vivid observations blending country and city life, where nature’s subtle changes come alive in a poetic calendar that reveals…
Level C2HistoricalMirror for Magistrates, Volume 2, Part 2Explore the lives and fates of ten renowned princes through poetic histories that blend careful scholarship with vivid storytelling, offering moral lessons drawn from the triumphs…
Level C1HistoricalMirror for Magistrates, Volume 2, Part 1Explore a vivid reflection on governance where the fate of princes and magistrates reveals how ambition, justice, and corruption shape the destiny of a realm.
Level C1HistoricalMirror for Magistrates, Volume 1Amidst England's turbulent reigns, a poetic chronicle unfolds, tracing the fates of nobles and commoners alike, offering a mirror to history’s lessons.
Level C1HistoricalMinstrelsy of the Scottish border, Volume 1Journey through the turbulent Scottish borders, where fierce clans and noble houses clash in a saga of valor, betrayal, and shifting power.
Level C1PoetryMinstrelsy of the Scottish Border, Volume 3 (of 3): Consisting of Historical and Romantic Ballads, Collected in the Southern Counties of Scotland; with a Few of Modern Date, Founded Upon Local TraditionDive into a collection of ancient Scottish ballads where kings, knights, and enchanted palaces blur history and legend, revealing tales of romance, transformation, and chivalry fro…
Level C1HistoricalMinstrelsy of the Scottish Border, Volume 2 (of 3): Consisting of Historical and Romantic Ballads, Collected in the Southern Counties of Scotland; with a Few of Modern Date, Founded Upon Local TraditionAmid the turbulent backdrop of 17th-century Scotland, where fierce religious and civil wars shape the land, discover ballads that capture the clash between monarchy and church, tra…
Level C1PoetryMinor Tibetan Texts: 1. The song of the Eastern Snow-mountainExplore the intricate world of Tibetan language and culture through a meticulous study of ancient texts, focusing on the revered reformers of Lamaism and their enduring spiritual l…
Level C1PoetryMinor Poets of the Caroline Period, Vol. IIIDive into the rich world of 17th-century English poetry with carefully curated works from lesser-known Caroline poets, complete with scholarly revisions and historical insights tha…
Level C1PoetryMinor Poems of Michael DraytonExplore the heartfelt devotion and poetic craft of a Renaissance poet whose verses blend history, legend, and pastoral themes with personal passion and political nuance, revealing…
Level C1PoetryMinor PoemsExplore a diverse collection of poems capturing themes from love and laughter to mystery and heroism, each verse a window into the varied human experience and the subtle beauty of…
Level C1PoetryMilton: Minor PoemsExplore the challenges and rewards of studying the profound, musical poetry of one of literature’s gravest minds, as this guide offers insights into mastering difficult diction, sy…
Level C2PoetryMilton's ComusA noble soul faces a dark enchantment in a poetic drama exploring the clash between virtue and temptation, body and spirit.
Level C1PoetryMichael Robartes and the dancerDive into a mystical world where dreams blur with memory, as Michael Robartes unravels ancient secrets and explores the enigmatic visions that connect past lives, love, and the elu…
Level C1PoetryMichael FieldDiscover the enchanting world of Michael Field, the joint pseudonym of two women poets whose lyric and dramatic works captivated Victorian literary circles.
Level C1PoetryMerlin: A PoemStep into the mystical world of Merlin, where poetry weaves a tale of magic, destiny, and timeless enchantment.
Level C1PoetryMen, Women and GhostsExplore a collection where poetry becomes storytelling, blending rhythmic free verse with vivid scenes—from gardens and music to war and cityscapes—inviting you to hear the music b…