English poet, Elizabeth Barrett Browning was born in 1806 and is believed to have written her first poem at the young age of 6. Unlike many classic poets, Barrett Browning was quite well respected and her works were well received during her lifetime. Among the admirers of her work were Emily Dickinson and Edgar Allen Poe; the latter even dedicated a volume of his poems to her in 1845. Perhaps most known for her sonnets and especially the very famous piece, "How Do I Love Thee?", Barrett...

"The Eagle" was first published in 1851, shortly after Tennyson was appointed as Poet Laureate of Britain in 1850; a position he held until his death in 1892. In spite of its short length, "The Eagle" still contains a lot of meaning. It is packed with beautiful imagery and the iambic tetrameter Tennyson employs allows the words to flow off the tongue in an easy rhythm. It is simply a delightful piece to read and contemplate.

"The Eagle" was first published in 1851, shortly after Tennyson was appointed as Poet Laureate of Britain in 1850; a position he held until his death in 1892. In spite of its short length, "The Eagle" still contains a lot of meaning. It is packed with beautiful imagery and the iambic tetrameter Tennyson employs allows the words to flow off the tongue in an easy rhythm. It is simply a delightful piece to read and contemplate.

Perhaps better known for his fiction works such as Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson was also a prolific poet, publishing a handful of collections of poems. "My Shadow" was first published in 1885 in a collection titled A Child’s Garden of Verses. The poem is a wonderful snapshot of childhood wonder and innocence.

Perhaps better known for his fiction works such as Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson was also a prolific poet, publishing a handful of collections of poems. "My Shadow" was first published in 1885 in a collection titled A Child’s Garden of Verses. The poem is a wonderful snapshot of childhood wonder and innocence.

American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, wrote "The Children's Hour" about his relationship with his own three daughters, even using their names in the piece. It was first published in 1860 in the Boston-based magazine, The Atlantic Monthly. Subsequent publishings were often accompanied by a portrait of the three girls. The poem is a beautiful look at a father's love for his children, but also contains the bittersweet tones of the realization that the childhood years are fleeting.

American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, wrote "The Children's Hour" about his relationship with his own three daughters, even using their names in the piece. It was first published in 1860 in the Boston-based magazine, The Atlantic Monthly. Subsequent publishings were often accompanied by a portrait of the three girls. The poem is a beautiful look at a father's love for his children, but also contains the bittersweet tones of the realization that the childhood years are fleeting.

English writer, Charlotte Brontë, is probably best known for her novel, Jane Eyre, although she wrote a handful of other novels as well as many poems. For many years she wrote and published her works under the pseudonym, Currer Bell. The poem, Evening Solace, was first published in 1846 as part of a collection of pieces by Charlotte and her two sisters, Emily and Anne.

English writer, Charlotte Brontë, is probably best known for her novel, Jane Eyre, although she wrote a handful of other novels as well as many poems. For many years she wrote and published her works under the pseudonym, Currer Bell. The poem, Evening Solace, was first published in 1846 as part of a collection of pieces by Charlotte and her two sisters, Emily and Anne.

This poem was originally published in 1684 in Part 2 of the well-known allegorical novel that Bunyan wrote, The Pilgrim's Progress. The text was later modified and set to music in the early 1900s and sung as a hymn in churches. There are a few textual variations of the piece and it has also been known under several different titles including, "He Who Would Valiant Be" and "The Pilgrim". We have chosen to use the original text for this reading.

This poem was originally published in 1684 in Part 2 of the well-known allegorical novel that Bunyan wrote, The Pilgrim's Progress. The text was later modified and set to music in the early 1900s and sung as a hymn in churches. There are a few textual variations of the piece and it has also been known under several different titles including, "He Who Would Valiant Be" and "The Pilgrim". We have chosen to use the original text for this reading.

This beautiful, narrative poem was first published in 1849 in a volume titled "Poems", just a few years after James Thomas Fields became a partner in a Boston publishing firm. Several of Fields' works reference the sea which may have been due to the fact that his father was a sea captain, although he died when Fields was quite young. After James Thomas Fields' death in 1881 at the age of 63, two of Fields' contemporaries, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and John Greenleaf Whittier, wrote poems in...

This beautiful, narrative poem was first published in 1849 in a volume titled "Poems", just a few years after James Thomas Fields became a partner in a Boston publishing firm. Several of Fields' works reference the sea which may have been due to the fact that his father was a sea captain, although he died when Fields was quite young. After James Thomas Fields' death in 1881 at the age of 63, two of Fields' contemporaries, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and John Greenleaf Whittier, wrote poems in...

Before beginning to work full time on his literary interests, Robert Bridges worked for 8 years as a physician in several London hospitals. "London Snow" was written several years after he left the medical field and is a beautiful poem full of imagery which details how enchanting a fresh snowfall is for young and old alike. Bridges served as the Poet Laureate of England from 1913 until his death in 1930.

Before beginning to work full time on his literary interests, Robert Bridges worked for 8 years as a physician in several London hospitals. "London Snow" was written several years after he left the medical field and is a beautiful poem full of imagery which details how enchanting a fresh snowfall is for young and old alike. Bridges served as the Poet Laureate of England from 1913 until his death in 1930.

After working for many hours on a poem in 1922, Robert Frost stepped outside and was suddenly inspired to write "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening". He said later that he was able to complete the piece in just a few minutes. Published in 1923, it is a beautiful poem which depicts the wonder of watching the snow fall in winter and along with "The Road Not Taken" has become one of Frost's most well-known works.

After working for many hours on a poem in 1922, Robert Frost stepped outside and was suddenly inspired to write "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening". He said later that he was able to complete the piece in just a few minutes. Published in 1923, it is a beautiful poem which depicts the wonder of watching the snow fall in winter and along with "The Road Not Taken" has become one of Frost's most well-known works.

The personification of nature that Dickinson employs in this poem is simply beautiful. As always, she uses a few words to articulate so much and does it so well. It's so easy to visualize in one's mind's eye the scene that she is describing. And then with the last few words, Dickinson brings home the true point of the piece with the comparison of nature to humanity.

The personification of nature that Dickinson employs in this poem is simply beautiful. As always, she uses a few words to articulate so much and does it so well. It's so easy to visualize in one's mind's eye the scene that she is describing. And then with the last few words, Dickinson brings home the true point of the piece with the comparison of nature to humanity.

Written on Christmas Day in 1863 during the heat of the Civil War by American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Christmas Bells" is perhaps more well-known in the form of the Christmas carol "I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day". Organist John Baptiste Calkin set the poem to music in 1872 and it has been since performed and recorded by dozens of artists.

Written on Christmas Day in 1863 during the heat of the Civil War by American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Christmas Bells" is perhaps more well-known in the form of the Christmas carol "I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day". Organist John Baptiste Calkin set the poem to music in 1872 and it has been since performed and recorded by dozens of artists.

Emily Dickinson was a master of saying much with a few words. In these few lines she paints a beautiful word picture of the amazing canvas of the skies. Some scholars contend that this poem is a reference to the American Civil War, and while that may be the case it still stands on its own as a beautiful piece even if taken literally.

Emily Dickinson was a master of saying much with a few words. In these few lines she paints a beautiful word picture of the amazing canvas of the skies. Some scholars contend that this poem is a reference to the American Civil War, and while that may be the case it still stands on its own as a beautiful piece even if taken literally.

Contrasting the sadness and beauty of the changing of seasons, Emily Brontë also leaves the reader with a sense of anticipation of the cooler weather in this short work. The vivid imagery she uses seems to leap from the page and make the piece come alive. The fifth of six children, Emily was a quite capable poet as evidenced by this beautiful depiction of autumn, but is more known for her novel, Wuthering Heights.

Contrasting the sadness and beauty of the changing of seasons, Emily Brontë also leaves the reader with a sense of anticipation of the cooler weather in this short work. The vivid imagery she uses seems to leap from the page and make the piece come alive. The fifth of six children, Emily was a quite capable poet as evidenced by this beautiful depiction of autumn, but is more known for her novel, Wuthering Heights.