1. My friend must be a Bird - written by Emily Dickinson
From Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Published in 1955. Read 10163 times on American Poems.

My friend must be a Bird --
Because it flies!
Mortal, my friend must be,
Because it dies!
Barbs has it, like a Bee!
Ah, curious friend!
Thou puzzlest me!(Read full poem)

My friend attacks my friend!
Oh Battle picturesque!
Then I turn Soldier too,
And he turns Satirist!
How martial is this place!
Had I a mighty gun
I think I'd shoot the human race
And then to glory run!(Read full poem)

3. Dream Song 130: When I saw my friend covered with blood, I thought - written by John Berryman
From His Toy, His Dream, His Rest. Published in 1968. Read 1044 times on American Poems.

When I saw my friend covered with blood, I thought
This is the end of the dream, now I'll wake up.
That was more years ago
than I care to reckon, and my friend is not 
dying but adhering to an élite group
in California O.

Why did I... (Read full poem)

RECORDERS ages hence! 
Come, I will take you down underneath this impassive exterior—I will tell you what to
    say
	of
	me; 
Publish my name and hang up my picture as that of the tenderest lover, 
The friend, the lover’s portrait, of... (Read full poem)

5. Friend, your white beard sweeps the ground - written by Stephen Crane
From The Black Riders & Other Lines. Published in 1905. Read 2891 times on American Poems.

Friend, your white beard sweeps the ground.
Why do you stand, expectant?
Do you hope to see it
In one of your withered days?
With your old eyes
Do you hope to see
The triumphal march of justice?
Do not wait, friend!
Take your white beard
And your... (Read full poem)

And do not be indiscreet or unconventional. Play it safe.

Listen here. I've never played it safe
in spite of what the critics say.
Ask my imaginary brother, that waif,
that childhood best friend who comes to play
dress-up and stick-up and jacks and... (Read full poem)

7. Death is potential to that Man - written by Emily Dickinson
From Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Published in 1955. Read 2088 times on American Poems.

Death is potential to that Man
Who dies -- and to his friend --
Beyond that -- unconspicuous
To Anyone but God --

Of these Two -- God remembers
The longest -- for the friend --
Is integral -- and therefore
Itself dissolved -- of God --(Read full poem)

Candor -- my tepid friend --
Come not to play with me --
The Myrrhs, and Mochas, of the Mind
Are its iniquity --(Read full poem)

9. Dream Song 32: And where, friend Quo, lay you hiding - written by John Berryman
From 77 Dream Songs. Published in 1964. Read 635 times on American Poems.

And where, friend Quo, lay you hiding
across malignant half my years or so?
One evil faery
it was workt night, with amoroso pleasing
menace, the panes shake
where Lie-by-the-fire is waiting for his cream.

A tiger by a torrent in rain,... (Read full poem)

Friend of my youth, let us talk of old times; 
Of the long lost golden hours. 
When "Winter" meant only Christmas chimes, 
And "Summer" wreaths of flowers. 
Life has grown old, and cold, my friend, 
And the winter now, means death. 
And... (Read full poem)

11. Dream Song 127: Again, his friend's death made the man sit still - written by John Berryman
From His Toy, His Dream, His Rest. Published in 1968. Read 1014 times on American Poems.

Again, his friend's death made the man sit still
and freeze inside—his daughter won first price—
his wife scowled over at him—
It seemed to be Hallowe'en.
His friend's death had been adjudged suicide,
which dangles a... (Read full poem)

Christmas was in the air and all was well
With him, but for a few confusing flaws
In divers of God's images. Because
A friend of his would neither buy nor sell,
Was he to answer for the axe that fell?
He pondered; and the reason for it was,
Partly,... (Read full poem)

13. How Solemn as One by One. - written by Walt Whitman
From Leaves of Grass. Published in 1900. Read 1821 times on American Poems.

HOW solemn, as one by one, 
As the ranks returning, all worn and sweaty—as the men file by where I stand; 
As the faces, the masks appear—as I glance at the faces, studying the masks; 
(As I glance upward out of this page, studying you,... (Read full poem)

Who will forgive me for the things I do?
With no special legend of God to refer to,
With my calm white pedigree, my yankee kin,
I think it would be better to be a Jew.

I forgive you for what you did not do.
I am impossibly quilty. Unlike you,
My... (Read full poem)

15. A shady friend -- for Torrid days - written by Emily Dickinson
From Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Published in 1955. Read 2537 times on American Poems.

A shady friend -- for Torrid days --
Is easier to find --
Than one of higher temperature
For Frigid -- hour of Mind --

The Vane a little to the East --
Scares Muslin souls -- away --
If Broadcloth Hearts are firmer --
Than those of Organdy --

Who... (Read full poem)

Where a faint light shines alone, 
Dwells a Demon I have known. 
Most of you had better say 
"The Dark House," and go your way. 
Do not wonder if I stay.

For I know the Demon's eyes 
And their lure that never dies. 
Banish all your fond... (Read full poem)

17. Primitive - written by Sharon Olds
Read 1422 times on American Poems.

I have heard about the civilized, 
the marriages run on talk, elegant and honest, rational. But you and I are 
savages. You come in with a bag, 
hold it out to me in silence. 
I know Moo Shu Pork when I smell it 
and understand the message: I... (Read full poem)

My most Distinguished Guest and Learned Friend,
The pallid hare that runs before the day
Having brought your earnest counsels to an end
Now have I somewhat of my own to say:
That it is folly to be sunk in love,
And madness plain to make the matter... (Read full poem)

19. Yesterday - written by W.S. Merwin
Read 4487 times on American Poems.

My friend says I was not a good son
you understand
I say yes I understand

he says I did not go
to see my parents very often you know
and I say yes I know

even when I was living in the same city he says
maybe I would go there once
a month or maybe... (Read full poem)

I have a friend who still believes in heaven.
Not a stupid person, yet with all she knows, she literally talks to God.
She thinks someone listens in heaven.
On earth she's unusually competent.
Brave too, able to face unpleasantness.

We found... (Read full poem)

21. I should not dare to leave my friend, - written by Emily Dickinson
From Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Published in 1955. Read 4760 times on American Poems.

I should not dare to leave my friend,
Because -- because if he should die
While I was gone -- and I -- too late --
Should reach the Heart that wanted me --

If I should disappoint the eyes
That hunted -- hunted so -- to see --
And could not bear to... (Read full poem)

EVERY year Emily Dickinson sent one friend
the first arbutus bud in her garden.
  
In a last will and testament Andrew Jackson
remembered a friend with the gift of George
Washington’s pocket spy-glass.
  
Napoleon too, in a last testament,... (Read full poem)

23. Sonnets 01: We Talk Of Taxes, And I Call You Friend - written by Edna St. Vincent Millay
Read 1847 times on American Poems.

We talk of taxes, and I call you friend;
Well, such you are,—but well enough we know
How thick about us root, how rankly grow
Those subtle weeds no man has need to tend,
That flourish through neglect, and soon must send
Perfume too sweet upon... (Read full poem)

Passer-by,
To love is to find your own soul
Through the soul of the beloved one.
When the beloved one withdraws itself from your soul
Then you have lost your soul.
It is written: "I have a friend,
But my sorrow has no friend."
Hence my long... (Read full poem)

25. If anybody's friend be dead - written by Emily Dickinson
From Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Published in 1955. Read 3492 times on American Poems.

If anybody's friend be dead
It's sharpest of the theme
The thinking how they walked alive --
At such and such a time --

Their costume, of a Sunday,
Some manner of the Hair --
A prank nobody knew but them
Lost, in the Sepulchre --

How warm, they... (Read full poem)