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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 The Adulterous Citizen

The Adulterous Citizen

Tishani Doshi

Video
Tagged with topic: Family & relationships Marriage & companionship
More details for Afterlife

Afterlife

Sarah Westcott

Audio
Tagged with topic: Animals & pets Arts & sciences Death Human experience Mythology & Folklore Nature Oceans Rivers Seas
More details for The Women in My Family

The Women in My Family

Patricia Jabbeh Wesley

Video
Tagged with topic: Society
More details for Elegy

Elegy

Bewketu Seyoum

Video
Tagged with topic: Languages Society
More details for Poem With No Rhyme or Rain
Overhead view of four dried plant stalks with seed heads lying on white paper, above which is written poem with no rhyme or rain.

Poem With No Rhyme or Rain

Josephine Corcoran

Image
Tagged with topic: Art Arts & sciences Nature Plants & trees Weather & seasons
More details for Centrepiece

Centrepiece

Erica Hesketh

Text
Tagged with topic: Art Arts & sciences Children & childhood Emotions & feelings Food & drink Holidays & Festivals Human experience Music Society
More details for Library Lovers

Library Lovers

Joe Duggan

Audio
Tagged with topic: Emotions & feelings Family & relationships
More details for November 1997

November 1997

Momtaza Mehri

Audio
Tagged with topic: Emotions & feelings Family & relationships Marriage & companionship
More details for Tallose berge
A modernist graphic design poster for futura 3 and max bense tallose berge, featuring minimalist black text and geometric word patterns on a white background

Tallose berge

Max Bense

Image
Tagged with topic:
More details for Map of India
The poem MAP OF INDIA by Moniza Alvi is printed over an orange silhouette and white contour lines of the map of India on a brown background.

Map of India

Moniza Alvi

Image
Tagged with topic: Race & ethnicity Society Travel & places
More details for The Day is All Over Me

The Day is All Over Me

Raymond Antrobus

Audio
Tagged with topic: Emotions & feelings Family & relationships Human experience Sleep
More details for The Ugly Daughter

The Ugly Daughter

Warsan Shire

Video
Tagged with topic: Children & childhood Emotions & feelings Family & relationships Gender & sexuality Society War & conflict

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.