1. Oh You Are Coming - written by Sara Teasdale
Read 1677 times on American Poems.

Oh you are coming, coming, coming,
How will hungry Time put by the hours till then? --
But why does it anger my heart to long so
For one man out of the world of men?

Oh I would live in myself only
And build my life lightly and still as a dream... (Read full poem)

A first Mute Coming --
In the Stranger's House --
A first fair Going --
When the Bells rejoice --

A first Exchange -- of
What hath mingled -- been --
For Lot -- exhibited to
Faith -- alone --(Read full poem)

3. Love's Coming - written by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Read 991 times on American Poems.

She had looked for his coming as warriors come, 
With the clash of arms and the bugle's call; 
But he came instead with a stealthy tread, 
Which she did not hear at all. 

She had thought how his armor would blaze in the sun, 
As he rode like... (Read full poem)

When shall I hear the thrushes sing, 
And see their graceful, round throats swelling? 
When shall I watch the bluebirds bring
The straws and twiglets for their dwelling? 
When shall I hear among the trees
The little martial partridge drumming?... (Read full poem)

5. It's coming -- the postponeless Creature - written by Emily Dickinson
From Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Published in 1955. Read 1518 times on American Poems.

It's coming -- the postponeless Creature --
It gains the Block -- and now -- it gains the Door --
Chooses its latch, from all the other fastenings --
Enters -- with a "You know Me -- Sir"?

Simple Salute -- and certain Recognition --
Bold -- were it... (Read full poem)

The porchlight coming on again,
Early November, the dead leaves
Raked in piles, the wicker swing
Creaking. Across the lots
A phonograph is playing Ja-Da.

An orange moon. I see the lives
Of neighbors, mapped and marred
Like all the wars ahead, and... (Read full poem)

7. The South Wind Say So - written by Carl Sandburg
From Smoke and Steel. Published in 1922. Read 1550 times on American Poems.

IF the oriole calls like last year
when the south wind sings in the oats,
if the leaves climb and climb on a bean pole
saying over a song learnt from the south wind,
if the crickets send up the same old lessons
found when the south wind keeps on... (Read full poem)

If you were coming in the Fall,
I'd brush the Summer by
With half a smile, and half a spurn,
As Housewives do, a Fly.

If I could see you in a year,
I'd wind the months in balls --
And put them each in separate Drawers,
For fear the numbers fuse... (Read full poem)

9. Poem in praise of menstruation - written by Lucille Clifton
Read 2102 times on American Poems.

if there is a river 
more beautiful than this 
bright as the blood 
red edge of the moon if 
there is a river 
more faithful than this 
returning each month 
to the same delta if there

is a river 
braver than this 
coming and coming in a... (Read full poem)

Why did he promise me
that we would build ourselves
an ark all by ourselves
out in back of the house
on New York Avenue
in Union City New Jersey
to the singing of the streetcars
after the story
of Noah whom nobody
believed about the waters
that... (Read full poem)

11. Once By The Pacific - written by Robert Frost
From West-Running Brook. Published in 1928. Read 9088 times on American Poems.

The shattered water made a misty din.
Great waves looked over others coming in,
And thought of doing something to the shore
That water never did to land before.
The clouds were low and hairy in the skies,
Like locks blown forward in the gleam of... (Read full poem)

It will not be simple, it will not take long
It will take little time, it will take all your thought
It will take all your heart, it will take all your breath
It will be short, it will not be simple 

It will touch through your ribs, it will... (Read full poem)

13. Dream Song 112: My framework is broken, I am coming to an end - written by John Berryman
From His Toy, His Dream, His Rest. Published in 1968. Read 1658 times on American Poems.

My framework is broken, I am coming to an end,
God send it soon. When I had most to say
my tongue clung to the roof
I mean of my mouth. It is my Lady's birthday
which must be honoured, and has been. God send
it soon.

I now must speak to my... (Read full poem)

Some Rainbow -- coming from the Fair!
Some Vision of the World Cashmere --
I confidently see!
Or else a Peacock's purple Train
Feather by feather -- on the plain
Fritters itself away!

The dreamy Butterflies bestir!
Lethargic pools resume the... (Read full poem)

15. Broken-face Gargoyles - written by Carl Sandburg
From Smoke and Steel. Published in 1922. Read 2065 times on American Poems.

ALL I can give you is broken-face gargoyles.
It is too early to sing and dance at funerals,
Though I can whisper to you I am looking for an undertaker humming a lullaby and throwing his feet in a swift and mystic buck-and-wing, now you see it and... (Read full poem)

We like March.
His Shoes are Purple --
He is new and high --
Makes he Mud for Dog and Peddler.
Makes he Forests dry.
Knows the Adder Tongue his coming
And presents her Spot --
Stands the Sun so close and mighty
That our Minds are hot.

News is he of... (Read full poem)

17. Alone, I cannot be - written by Emily Dickinson
From Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Published in 1955. Read 4228 times on American Poems.

Alone, I cannot be --
For Hosts -- do visit me --
Recordless Company --
Who baffle Key --

They have no Robes, nor Names --
No Almanacs -- nor Climes --
But general Homes
Like Gnomes --

Their Coming, may be known
By Couriers within --
Their going... (Read full poem)

Morning that comes but once,
Considers coming twice --
Two Dawns upon a single Morn,
Make Life a sudden price.(Read full poem)

19. Stupid - written by Raymond Carver
From Ultramarine. Read 9184 times on American Poems.

It's what the kids nowadays call weed. And it drifts
like clouds from his lips. He hopes no one
comes along tonight, or calls to ask for help.
Help is what he's most short on tonight.
A storm thrashes outside. Heavy seas
with gale winds from the... (Read full poem)

The distance that the dead have gone
Does not at first appear --
Their coming back seems possible
For many an ardent year.

And then, that we have followed them,
We more than half suspect,
So intimate have we become
With their dear retrospect.(Read full poem)

21. The Rat - written by Edwin Arlington Robinson
Read 988 times on American Poems.

As often as he let himself be seen 
We pitied him, or scorned him, or deplored 
The inscrutable profusion of the Lord 
Who shaped as one of us a thing so mean— 
Who made him human when he might have been
A rat, and so been wholly in accord... (Read full poem)

(A Negro Sermon.)


Once, in a night as black as ink,
She drove him out when he would not drink.
Round the house there were men in wait
Asleep in rows by the Gaza gate.
But the Holy Spirit was in this man.
Like a gentle wind he crept and... (Read full poem)

23. Elysium is as far as to - written by Emily Dickinson
From Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Published in 1955. Read 3155 times on American Poems.

Elysium is as far as to
The very nearest Room
If in that Room a Friend await
Felicity or Doom --

What fortitude the Soul contains,
That it can so endure
The accent of a coming Foot --
The opening of a Door --(Read full poem)

As I sat down by Saddle Stream
  To bathe my dusty feet there,
A boy was standing on the bridge
  Any girl would meet there.

As I went over Woody Knob
  And dipped into the hollow,
A youth was coming up the hill
  Any maid would... (Read full poem)

25. The Consecrating Mother - written by Anne Sexton
Read 2584 times on American Poems.

I stand before the sea
and it rolls and rolls in its green blood
saying, "Do not give up one god
for I have a handful."
The trade winds blew
in their twelve-fingered reversal
and I simply stood on the beach
while the ocean made a cross of salt
and... (Read full poem)