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Online poetry

Discover new poets through this free online collection of brilliant, moving, funny and groundbreaking poems curated by our specialist poetry librarians.

Search the poems by type or by topic, or use your own search terms.

 

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More details for Calling Pluto

Calling Pluto

Karen Smith

Text
Tagged with topic: Death Emotions & feelings Family & relationships Human experience
More details for Translations / Aistriuchain

Translations / Aistriuchain

Gearoid Mac Lochlainn

Video
Tagged with topic: Languages Society
More details for Buddha
Poet Anthony Joseph, a bearded man wearing a flat cap, pinstripe suit jacket, and white shirt stands indoors with framed artwork behind him. A microphone is attached to his lapel.

Buddha

Anthony Joseph

Video
Tagged with topic: Human experience
More details for This Is Just To Say

This Is Just To Say

William Carlos Williams

Text
Tagged with topic: Food & drink Humour
More details for Half-caste
John Agard performing Half-caste at Southbank Centre's Poetry Parnassus festival, 2012

Half-caste

John Agard

Video
Tagged with topic: Human experience Humour Race & ethnicity Society
More details for The Wood Road

The Wood Road

Seamus Heaney

Text
Tagged with topic: Society Travel & places War & conflict
More details for Piano 4pm

Piano 4pm

Jackie Kay

Text
Tagged with topic: Arts & sciences Children & childhood Family Family & relationships Music
More details for Red Scissors Woman
Head & shoulders still image of poet Kim Hyesoon, Poetry Parnassus 2012

Red Scissors Woman

Kim Hyesoon

Video
Tagged with topic: Gender & sexuality
More details for The Night Dropped the Stars from the Sky

The Night Dropped the Stars from the Sky

Ak Welsapar

Video
Tagged with topic: Home Languages Travel & places
More details for Dog

Dog

Shazea Quraishi

Text
Tagged with topic: Animals & pets Family & relationships
More details for Sharks in Sharp Suits

Sharks in Sharp Suits

Oren Hodge

Video
Tagged with topic: Politics Society
More details for Please can I have a man

Please can I have a man

Selima Hill

Text
Tagged with topic: Family & relationships Human experience Humour Love & sex Marriage & companionship

For your visit

National Poetry Library Southbank Centre

The National Poetry Library is open six days a week.

Tuesday, 12 noon – 6pm
Wednesday – Sunday, 12 noon – 8pm
Monday, closed.

Saturday 2 May,  Saturday 9 May  – The Royal Festival Hall is closed for an event, but the library remains open  – access via the Royal Festival Hall Artists Entrance.
Sunday 3 May,  Sunday 10 May – The National Poetry Library is closed.