travel poems

Poetry About Travel: 21 Most Inspiring Travel Poems

Are you looking for beautiful poetry about travel? Then you have come to the right place! This post features some of the most inspiring travel poems out there.

Travel experiences are often shared in blog posts, videos, books, songs or quotes , but poetry about travel is a bit harder to find. Poetry is a beautiful way to capture how travel makes us feel though, and there are some amazing poems about travel and adventure out there!

I collected 21 of the most beautiful travelling poems in this post. Let me know in the comments if you think there’s a beautiful poem that’s missing from this list, as I’m updating it frequently!

Poetry About Travel: The Most Beautiful Travel Poems

1. The Farewell by Kahlil Gibran

Even though the poetry about travel in this list is in no particular order, the first poem I had to think of was The Farewell by Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931). This beautiful poem can be found in Gibran’s book The Prophet , which is one of the most translated books in history.

I only included my favourite part in this post, as the poem is quite long, but you can read the full version on the link below.

We wanderers, ever seeking the lonelier way, begin no day where we have ended another day; and no sunrise finds us where sunset left us. Even while the earth sleeps we travel. We are the seeds of the tenacious plant, and it is in our ripeness and our fullness of heart that we are given to the wind and are scattered.

Read the full version of Farewell here

2. Freedom by Olive Runner

This short but powerful travel poem by Olive Runner embraces the feeling of freedom that can be found in travelling. It’s one of the most inspiring poems about exploring the world.

Give me the long, straight road before me,  A clear, cold day with a nipping air,  Tall, bare trees to run on beside me,  A heart that is light and free from care.  Then let me go! – I care not whither  My feet may lead, for my spirit shall be  Free as the brook that flows to the river,  Free as the river that flows to the sea.

3. Song of the Open Road by Walt Whitman

The main themes in Whitman’s (1819-1892) Song of the Open Road are freedom, joy and independence. This piece of travel poetry inspires us to be free from expectations, follow our own path and enjoy life – it holds a very beautiful message if you’re asking me!

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, Healthy, free, the world before me,

The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune, Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing, Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms, Strong and content I travel the open road.

The earth, that is sufficient, I do not want the constellations any nearer, I know they are very well where they are, I know they suffice for those who belong to them.

4. A Song of Joys by Walt Whitman 

You can find the last part of A Song of Joys by Walt Whitman (1819-1892) below. In this poem, Whitman describes different types of people and what brings joy to them. The last part speaks about the joy of travelling and exploring.

You can find the entire poem on the link below if you want to read the entire piece.

O to sail in a ship,  To leave this steady unendurable land,  To leave the tiresome sameness of the streets,  the sidewalks and the houses,  To leave you, O you solid motionless land, and  entering a ship,  To sail and sail and sail! O to have my life henceforth a poem of new joys! To dance, clap hands, exult, shout, skip, leap, roll on, float on, To be a sailor of the world, bound for all ports, A ship itself, (see indeed these sails I spread to the sun and air,) A swift and swelling ship, full of rich words—full of joys.

Read the full version here

5. Travelling Again by Du Fu

Often called “the Poet-Historian”, Du Fu (712-770 AD) is considered one of the greatest Chinese poets. His poem Traveling Again was written in 761 AD, which makes it the oldest of the travelling poems on this list. Fu wrote it during his second visit to a temple in a turbulent time for his country.

Temple remember once travel place Bridge remember again cross time River mountain like waiting Flower willow become selfless Country vivid mist shine thin Sand soft sun colour late Traveller sorrow all become decrease Stay here again what this

I remember the temple, this route I’ve travelled before, I recall the bridge as I cross it again. It seems the hills and rivers have been waiting, The flowers and willows all are selfless now. The field is sleek and vivid, thin mist shines, On soft sand, the sunlight’s colour shows it’s late. All the traveller’s sorrow fades away, What better place to rest than this?

6. Hearthside by Dorothy Parker

In Hearthside by Dorothy Parker (1893-1967), someone is sitting by a fire and thinking about all the places they will never see. It’s a touching piece of travel poetry that makes you dream about visiting places you haven’t been to (yet).

Half across the world from me Lie the lands I’ll never see- I, whose longing lives and dies Where a ship has sailed away; I, that never close my eyes But to look upon Cathay.

Things I may not know nor tell Wait, where older waters swell; Ways that flowered at Sappho’s tread, Winds that sighed in Homer’s strings, Vibrant with the singing dead, Golden with the dust of wings.

Under deeper skies than mine, Quiet valleys dip and shine. Where their tender grasses heal Ancient scars of trench and tomb I shall never walk: nor kneel Where the bones of poets bloom.

If I seek a lovelier part, Where I travel goes my heart; Where I stray my thought must go; With me wanders my desire. Best to sit and watch the snow, Turn the lock, and poke the fire.

7. The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

A list full of poetry about travel wouldn’t be complete without The Road Not Taken . This deep poem by Robert Frost (1874-1963) talks about how the choices we make, no matter how small they may seem, can impact and shape our lives.

This is one of the most famous poems in the world, where the speaker chooses to take the “road less travelled by”. He/she doesn’t choose the life most people choose and thanks to this, the speaker of this poem is often celebrated for their individualism.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

8. Eldorado by Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was my favourite poet as a teenager, and he’s still one of my favourite poets today. It’s believed that Eldorado is one of his last poems, as he wrote it six months before his death.

Eldorado tells the story of a knight who travels in search of a city of gold. According to scholars, parallels can be seen between the knight’s quest in this poem and Poe’s quest to find happiness in his life.

Gaily bedight,  A gallant knight, In sunshine and in shadow, Had journeyed long,  Singing a song, In search of Eldorado.  But he grew old –  This knight so bold –  And o’er his heart a shadow  Fell, as he found  No spot of ground  That looked like Eldorado.  And, as his strength  Failed him at length,  He met a pilgrim shadow –  ‘Shadow,’ said he,  ‘Where can it be –  This land of Eldorado?’  ‘Over the Mountains  Of the Moon,  Down the Valley of the Shadow,  Ride, boldly ride,’  The shade replied,  ‘If you seek for Eldorado!’

9. Rootless by Jenny Xie

In Rootless , Jenny Xie describes what she sees on a sleeper train between Hanoi and Sapa in Vietnam. The landscapes around the speaker constantly change while he/she is the only constant.

Between Hanoi and Sapa there are clean slabs of rice fields and no two brick houses in a row.

I mean, no three— See, counting’s hard in half-sleep, and the rain pulls a sheet

over the sugar palms and their untroubled leaves. Hours ago, I crossed a motorbike with a hog strapped to its seat,

the size of a date pit from a distance. Can this solitude be rootless, unhooked from the ground?

No matter. The mind resides both inside and out. It can think itself and think itself into existence.

I sponge off the eyes, no worse for wear. My frugal mouth spends the only foreign words it owns.

At present, on this sleeper train, there’s nowhere to arrive. Me? I’m just here in my traveller’s clothes, trying on each passing town for size.

10. Travel by Robert Louis Stevenson

This travel poem by Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) talks about the dreams and ambitions of a young boy who wants to travel around the world when he grows up. It’s part of Stevenson’s collection A Child’s Garden of Verses .

I should like to rise and go Where the golden apples grow;— Where below another sky Parrot islands anchored lie, And, watched by cockatoos and goats, Lonely Crusoes building boats;— Where in sunshine reaching out Eastern cities, miles about, Are with mosque and minaret Among sandy gardens set, And the rich goods from near and far Hang for sale in the bazaar,— Where the Great Wall round China goes, And on one side the desert blows, And with bell and voice and drum Cities on the other hum;— Where are forests, hot as fire, Wide as England, tall as a spire, Full of apes and cocoa-nuts And the negro hunters’ huts;— Where the knotty crocodile Lies and blinks in the Nile, And the red flamingo flies Hunting fish before his eyes;— Where in jungles, near and far, Man-devouring tigers are, Lying close and giving ear Lest the hunt be drawing near, Or a comer-by be seen Swinging in a palanquin;— Where among the desert sands Some deserted city stands, All its children, sweep and prince, Grown to manhood ages since, Not a foot in street or house, Not a stir of child or mouse, And when kindly falls the night, In all the town no spark of light. There I’ll come when I’m a man With a camel caravan; Light a fire in the gloom Of some dusty dining-room; See the pictures on the walls, Heroes, fights and festivals; And in a corner find the toys Of the old Egyptian boys.

11. Dislocation by Simon Constam

Simon Constam wrote this beautiful travel poem during his round-the-world trip when he was 19. It’s about the difference between travelling long term and going on a holiday, which are two different things.

Long-term travel comes with its difficulties and challenges, and it’s different from vacationing.

I envy those who envy me for traveling. Sometimes I sit on a foreign street in a busy cafe, imagining you wishing you were here, feeling for the first time the thrilling flush of wanting to be elsewhere, the frisson of happiness that wishes bring. And so I sit quietly knowing that now it’s time to figure out just what it is I meant to do here.

12. Questions of travel by Elizabeth Bishop

In the poem Questions of Travel , Elizabeth Bishop (1911-1979) touches on subjects like travel, home, conflict and regret. This piece of travel poetry is one that depicts the pros and cons of travelling, and why we do it.

There are too many waterfalls here; the crowded streams hurry too rapidly down to the sea, and the pressure of so many clouds on the mountaintops makes them spill over the sides in soft slow-motion, turning to waterfalls under our very eyes. –For if those streaks, those mile-long, shiny, tearstains, aren’t waterfalls yet, in a quick age or so, as ages go here, they probably will be. But if the streams and clouds keep travelling, travelling, the mountains look like the hulls of capsized ships, slime-hung and barnacled.

Think of the long trip home. Should we have stayed at home and thought of here? Where should we be today? Is it right to be watching strangers in a play in this strangest of theatres? What childishness is it that while there’s a breath of life in our bodies, we are determined to rush to see the sun the other way around? The tiniest green hummingbird in the world? To stare at some inexplicable old stonework, inexplicable and impenetrable, at any view, instantly seen and always, always delightful? Oh, must we dream our dreams and have them, too? And have we room for one more folded sunset, still quite warm?

But surely it would have been a pity not to have seen the trees along this road, really exaggerated in their beauty, not to have seen them gesturing like noble pantomimists, robed in pink. –Not to have had to stop for gas and heard the sad, two-noted, wooden tune of disparate wooden clogs carelessly clacking over a grease-stained filling-station floor. (In another country the clogs would all be tested. Each pair there would have identical pitch.) –A pity not to have heard the other, less primitive music of the fat brown bird who sings above the broken gasoline pump in a bamboo church of Jesuit baroque: three towers, five silver crosses. –Yes, a pity not to have pondered, blurr’dly and inconclusively, on what connection can exist for centuries between the crudest wooden footwear and, careful and finicky, the whittled fantasies of wooden footwear and, careful and finicky, the whittled fantasies of wooden cages. –Never to have studied history in the weak calligraphy of songbirds’ cages. –And never to have had to listen to rain so much like politicians’ speeches: two hours of unrelenting oratory and then a sudden golden silence in which the traveller takes a notebook, writes:

“Is it lack of imagination that makes us come to imagined places, not just stay at home? Or could Pascal have been not entirely right about just sitting quietly in one’s room?

Continent, city, country, society: the choice is never wide and never free. And here, or there . . . No. Should we have stayed at home, wherever that may be?”

13. For the Traveler by John O’Donohue

In For the Traveler , John O’Donohue (1956-2008) describes how travelling can change us, and how enriching it is. This poem is about exploring, going on a journey and coming back as a different person – something I can relate to!

Every time you leave home, Another road takes you Into a world you were never in.

New strangers on other paths await. New places that have never seen you Will startle a little at your entry. Old places that know you well Will pretend nothing Changed since your last visit.

When you travel, you find yourself Alone in a different way, More attentive now To the self you bring along, Your more subtle eye watching You abroad; and how what meets you Touches that part of the heart That lies low at home:

How you unexpectedly attune To the timbre in some voice, Opening in conversation You want to take in To where your longing Has pressed hard enough Inward, on some unsaid dark, To create a crystal of insight You could not have known You needed To illuminate Your way.

When you travel, A new silence Goes with you, And if you listen, You will hear What your heart would Love to say.

A journey can become a sacred thing: Make sure, before you go, To take the time To bless your going forth, To free your heart of ballast So that the compass of your soul Might direct you toward The territories of spirit Where you will discover More of your hidden life, And the urgencies That deserve to claim you.

May you travel in an awakened way, Gathered wisely into your inner ground; That you may not waste the invitations Which wait along the way to transform you.

May you travel safely, arrive refreshed, And live your time away to its fullest; Return home more enriched, and free To balance the gift of days which call you.

14. The Return by Geneen Marie Haugen

Similarly to For the Traveler (#13 on this list), The Return speaks about coming back from a journey as a different person. The difference, however, is that this poem focuses on other people’s points of view, including people’s prejudice and expectations.

Some day, if you are lucky, you’ll return from a thunderous journey trailing snake scales, wing fragments and the musk of Earth and moon .

Eyes will examine you for signs of damage, or change and you, too, will wonder if your skin shows traces

of fur, or leaves, if thrushes have built a nest of your hair, if Andromeda burns from your eyes.

Do not be surprised by prickly questions from those who barely inhabit their own fleeting lives, who barely taste their own possibility, who barely dream.

If your hands are empty, treasureless, if your toes have not grown claws, if your obedient voice has not become a wild cry, a howl,

you will reassure them. We warned you, they might declare, there is nothing else, no point, no meaning, no mystery at all, just this frantic waiting to die.

And yet, they tremble, mute, afraid you’ve returned without sweet elixir for unspeakable thirst, without a fluent dance or holy language to teach them, without a compass bearing to a forgotten border where no one crosses without weeping for the terrible beauty of galaxies

and granite and bone. They tremble, hoping your lips hold a secret, that the song your body now sings will redeem them, yet they fear

your secret is dangerous, shattering, and once it flies from your astonished mouth, they — like you — must disintegrate before unfolding tremulous wings.

15. Travel by Edna St. Vincent Millay

In this beautiful piece of travel poetry by Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892 – 1950), the narrator longs to escape from their everyday life. They hear how the train goes by in the distance and dream about how it could take them somewhere new.

The railroad track is miles away, And the day is loud with voices speaking, Yet there isn’t a train goes by all day But I hear its whistle shrieking.

All night there isn’t a train goes by, Though the night is still for sleep and dreaming, But I see its cinders red on the sky, And hear its engine steaming.

My heart is warm with the friends I make, And better friends I’ll not be knowing, Yet there isn’t a train I wouldn’t take, No matter where it’s going.

16. Traveling by Nayyirah Waheed

Nayyirah Waheed has been described as “the most famous poet on Instagram”, as her poems are frequently shared on this platform.

Apart from her poems, not much is known about Waheed. She doesn’t reveal many details about her life and describes herself as a “quiet poet” – which is quite fascinating! Waheed’s poem Traveling is a beautiful example of her repertoire.

be insecure in peace. allow yourself lowness. know that it is only a country on the way to who you are.

17. On the World by Francis Quarles

On the World is another short and beautiful travel poem that describes the life of a traveller.

The world’s an Inn; and I her guest. I eat; I drink; I take my rest. My hostess, nature, does deny me Nothing, wherewith she can supply me; Where, having stayed a while, I pay Her lavish bills, and go my way.

18. Why Do I Travel by an unknown author

If you love traveling, you might relate to this poem which explains why the author travels. This piece is about what travel is all about, the adventure and the lessons it brings.

It is on the road that my inner voice speaks the loudest and my heart beats the strongest. It is on the road that I take extra pride in my wooly hair, full features and lineage. It is on the road that I develop extra senses and the hairs on my arms stand up and say “Sana, don’t go there”, and I listen. It’s when I safety pin my money to my underclothes and count it a million times before I go to sleep. It is on the road that I am a poet, an ambassador, a dancer, medicine woman, an angel and even a genius. It’s on the road that I am fearless and unstoppable and if necessary ball up my fist and fight back. It is on the road that I talk to my deceased parents and they speak back. It’s on the road that I reprimand myself, and set new goals, refuel, stop and begin again. It is on the road that I experience what freedom truly is. It is my travel that has transformed me making me a citizen of the world. When my humanness, compassion and affection are raised to a new level and I share unconditionally.

19. If Once You’ve Slept on an Island by Rachel Field

This beautiful poem talks about how travel changes you and how you will not be the same after sleeping on an island.

If once you have slept on an island  You’ll never be quite the same;  You may look as you looked the day before  And go by the same old name,  You may bustle about in street and shop  You may sit at home and sew,  But you’ll see blue water and wheeling gulls  Wherever your feet may go.  You may chat with the neighbors of this and that  And close to your fire keep,  But you’ll hear ship whistle and lighthouse bell  And tides beat through your sleep.  Oh! you won’t know why and you can’t say how  Such a change upon you came,  But once you have slept on an island,  You’ll never be quite the same.

20. Die Slowly by Martha Medeiros

Although this poem covers more than travel alone, it’s incredibly relatable!

He who does not travel, who does not read, who can not hear music, who does not find grace in himself, she who does not find grace in herself, dies slowly.

He who slowly destroys his own self-esteem, who does not allow himself to be helped, who spends days on end complaining about his own bad luck, about the rain that never stops, dies slowly.

21. Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss

This is another one of my favourite poems about travelling. It was written for the children’s book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go”, which was published in 1990.

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes You can steer yourself Any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

>> Read the full Dr. Seuss poem here

Poetry About Travel: Final Thoughts

And that was it, 21 of the best travel poems out there! I hope that you have found exactly what you were looking for in this list of travel poetry and that it gave you some inspiration.

I’m curious to hear what your favourite poem about travel is (mine are #1, #7 and 21)! Or did you come across other beautiful poetry about travel that’s not on this list? Let me know in the comments as I’m updating this post frequently.

Find more travel inspiration in the posts below:

• 56 Songs About Travel
• 21 Movies About Nomads
• 50 Solo Travel Quotes

Pin it for later: Did you find this post helpful? Save it on Pinterest and follow me on Instagram and Facebook for more travel tips and inspiration.

Laura Meyers

Laura Meyers is the founder of Laure Wanders. She was born in Belgium and has travelled to over 40 countries, many of them solo. She currently spends most of her time between Belgium and South Asia and loves helping other travellers plan their adventures abroad.

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10 Beautiful Travel Poems For The Adventurer In You

Travel poems breathe wanderlust into words. Here are ten beautiful travel poems for the adventurer in you.

Disclosure:   Heads up, this post contains affiliate links, which means Passport To Eden may get a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make an online purchase. Don’t feel pressured to buy anything. We still love that you’re here, reading our content (side note: we suggest getting a coffee or tea first because our blog posts tend to be long). You can read our full affiliate disclosure here to find out more.

Table of Contents

A Travel Poem For The Girl With Itchy Feet

against the shore,

restless like

for any adventure,

that blew along her way

– Atticus

A Travel Poem For The One On A Journey. Any Journey.

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,

Healthy, free, the world before me,

The long brown path before me leading me wherever I choose,

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,

Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,

Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,

Strong and content I travel the open road.

– Walt Whitman, from Song of the Open Road

A Travel Poem That Sums Up Adventure In Four Gorgeous Lines

My heart is warm with the friends I make,

And better friends I’ll not be knowing,

Yet there isn’t a train I wouldn’t take,

No matter where it’s going.

– Edna St. Vincent Millay, from Travel

A Travel Poem From Margaret Atwood Because She Never Disappoints

No, they whisper. You own nothing.

You were a visitor, time after time

climbing the hill, planting the flag, proclaiming.

We never belong to you.

You never found us.

It was always the other way around.

– Margaret Atwood, from The Moment

This Travel Poem Is Just Everything

You are not a tree. You are not bound

to the ground you walk on. You have

wings and dreams and a heart full of

wonder. So pick up your feet and go.

Spread kindness like a wildflower

wherever you go. Fall in love with the

life you live, and always leave people

better than you found them.

– Drewniverses, from Tumblr

This 19th Century Travel Poem Is Just. So. Good.

Half across the world from me

Lie the lands I’ll never see- I, whose longing lives and dies Where a ship has sailed away; I, that never close my eyes But to look upon Cathay.

Things I may not know nor tell Wait, where older waters swell; Ways that flowered at Sappho’s tread, Winds that sighed in Homer’s strings, Vibrant with the singing dead, Golden with the dust of wings.

Under deeper skies than mine, Quiet valleys dip and shine. Where their tender grasses heal Ancient scars of trench and tomb I shall never walk: nor kneel Where the bones of poets bloom.

If I seek a lovelier part, Where I travel goes my heart; Where I stray my thought must go; With me wanders my desire. Best to sit and watch the snow, Turn the lock, and poke the fire.

– Dorothy Parker, from Hearthside

If Only I Could Swallow This Modern Travel Poem

be insecure

allow yourself lowness.

know that it is

the way to who you are.

– Nayyirah Waheed, from Traveling

Then, There’s This Transcendent Travel Poem

my eyes will remember

how to love the world

under changing skies.

when the light changes,

so does the view.

– Lindsay O’Connell

And This One

Somedays, I grow tired of life,

and long, for the next great adventure.

Finally, If You’re Waiting To Pack Your Bags And Go…

Twenty years from now

You’ll be more disappointed

By the things you didn’t do

Than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

– H. Jackson Brown, from P.S. I Love You (well, sort of. It’s a quote from his mother).

Did you enjoy these travel poems? Let me know in the comments below which one of these travel poems was your favorite! Mine is definitely #5, but I love them all!

FOR THOSE WHO LOVE POETRY

PENGUIN CLASSICS

Complete Poems

Dorothy Parker’s poem is our favorite on this list. If you loved it as much as we did, here’s a complete collection of her works

APPLEWOOD BOOKS

Song Of The Open Road

a hardcover edition of Walt Whitman’s poem about journeying, adventure, and finding yourself

ATRIA BOOKS

The Dark Between Stars

for those who devoured Milk & Honey and Pillow Thoughts and want to read Atticus’ contribution to the Insta-popular poetry format

Editor-In-Chief

Anshula grew up with a love of stories and places. Thirty-five states and 100 bookstores later, she's made her hobbit home in Middle Tennessee. Her Tookish side still takes over and leaves her chasing window seats, literary destinations, adventure books, sunrise coffee, and indie bookshops. She's appeared as a travel source on HuffPost, Reader's Digest, and MSN.

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I love Atticus.

How beautiful, Anshula! These are so inspiring.

Dee ~ Vanilla Papers

I love these, thanks. Time to share to my friends on FB!

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The best poems on travel

Discover some of the best poems about travel including verses from thomas hardy, walt whitman and edgar allan poe..

Here, we have gathered some of the greatest poems written about the allure of travel, and the wonders that can be discovered when we venture beyond our own doorsteps. 

Discover our edit of the best poetry books.

From  The Silverado Squatters 

There are no foreign lands. It is the traveller only who is foreign. 

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894)

A Prayer for Travellers 

May the road rise up to meet you. 

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

The rains fall soft upon your fields. 

And until we meet again, 

May God hold you in the palm of His hand. 

On the World 

The world’s an inn; and I her guest. 

I eat; I drink; I take my rest. 

My hostess, nature, does deny me 

Nothing, wherewith she can supply me; 

Where, having stayed a while, I pay 

Her lavish bills, and go my way. 

Francis Quarles (1592–1644)

If Once You Have Slept on an Island 

If once you have slept on an island 

You’ll never be quite the same; 

You may look as you looked the day before 

And go by the same old name, 

You may bustle about in street and shop; 

You may sit at home and sew, 

But you’ll see blue water and wheeling gulls 

Wherever your feet may go. 

You may chat with the neighbors of this and that 

And close to your fire keep, 

But you’ll hear ship whistle and lighthouse bell 

And tides beat through your sleep. 

Oh, you won’t know why, and you can’t say how 

Such change upon you came, 

But – once you have slept on an island

You’ll never be quite the same! 

Rachel Field (1894–1942)

Gaily bedight, 

A gallant knight,

In sunshine and in shadow,

Had journeyed long, 

Singing a song,

In search of Eldorado. 

But he grew old – 

This knight so bold – 

And o’er his heart a shadow 

Fell, as he found 

No spot of ground 

That looked like Eldorado. 

And, as his strength 

Failed him at length, 

He met a pilgrim shadow – 

‘Shadow,’ said he, 

‘Where can it be – 

This land of Eldorado?’ 

‘Over the Mountains 

Of the Moon,

 Down the Valley of the Shadow, 

Ride, boldly ride,’ 

The shade replied, 

‘If you seek for Eldorado!’ 

Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) 

I met a traveller from an antique land 

Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone 

Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand, 

Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, 

And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command 

Tell that its sculptor well those passions read 

Which yet survive (stamped on these lifeless things) 

The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed: 

And on the pedestal these words appear: 

‘My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings: 

Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!’ 

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay 

Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare 

The lone and level sands stretch far away.

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822)

A Strip of Blue 

I do not own an inch of land,     

But all I see is mine, – 

The orchard and the mowing fields, 

The lawns and gardens fine. 

The winds my tax-collectors are, 

They bring me tithes divine, – 

Wild scents and subtle essences, 

A tribute rare and free; 

And, more magnificent than all, 

My window keeps for me 

A glimpse of blue immensity, – 

A little strip of sea. 

Richer am I than he who owns 

Great fleets and argosies; 

I have a share in every ship 

Won by the inland breeze, 

To loiter on yon airy road 

Above the apple-trees, 

I freight them with my untold dreams; 

Each bears my own picked crew; 

And nobler cargoes wait for them 

Than ever India knew, – 

My ships that sail into the East 

Across that outlet blue. 

Sometimes they seem like living shapes, – 

The people of the sky, – 

Guests in white raiment coming down 

From heaven, which is close by; 

I call them by familiar names, 

As one by one draws nigh,

So white, so light, so spirit-like, 

From violet mists they bloom! 

The aching wastes of the unknown 

Are half reclaimed from gloom, 

Since on life’s hospitable sea 

All souls find sailing-room. 

The ocean grows a weariness 

With nothing else in sight; 

Its east and west, its north and south, 

Spread out from morn till night; 

We miss the warm, caressing shore, 

Its brooding shade and light. 

Lucy Larcom (1824–1893)

O to sail in a ship, 

To leave this steady unendurable land, 

To leave the tiresome sameness of the streets, 

the sidewalks and the houses, 

To leave you, O you solid motionless land, and 

entering a ship, 

To sail and sail and sail! 

Walt Whitman (1819–1892)

Midnight on the Great Western 

In the third-class sat the journeying boy, 

And the roof-lamp’s oily flame 

Played down on his listless form and face, 

Bewrapt past knowing to what he was going, 

Or whence he came. 

In the band of his hat the journeying boy 

Had a ticket stuck; and a string 

Around his neck bore the key of his box, 

That twinkled gleams of the lamp’s sad beams 

Like a living thing. 

What past can be yours, O journeying boy,

Towards a world unknown, 

Who calmly, as if incurious quite

 On all at stake, can undertake 

This plunge alone?

Knows your soul a sphere, O journeying boy, 

Our rude realms far above, 

Whence with spacious vision you mark and mete 

This region of sin that you find you in

 But are not of? 

Thomas Hardy (1840–1928)

Give me the long, straight road before me, 

A clear, cold day with a nipping air, 

Tall, bare trees to run on beside me, 

A heart that is light and free from care. 

Then let me go! – I care not whither 

My feet may lead, for my spirit shall be 

Free as the brook that flows to the river, 

Free as the river that flows to the sea. 

Olive Runner

Poems for Travellers

By gaby morgan.

Poems for Travellers is part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library, with an introduction from the esteemed travel writer Paul Theroux. From Walt Whitman to Christina Rossetti, this collection contains some of the finest poems ever written about travel.

You may also like

Clive james: writer, poet and broadcaster 1939-2019, our edit of the greatest american poets, twelve autumn poems.

Poems About Travel

Table of contents.

• Travel by Robert Louis Stevenson
• The Ship is Ready by Hannah Flagg Gould
• Two Worlds by Emily Dickinson
• The Wayside Inn by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• Quest by Winifred Webb
• Homeward, Ho! by Ada A. Mosher
• Autumn Fields by Elizabeth Madox Roberts

A rolling stone gathers no moss. – Ancient Proverb “

I should like to rise and go Where the golden apples grow;— Where below another sky Parrot islands anchored lie, And, watched by cockatoos and goats, Lonely Crusoes building boats;— Where in sunshine reaching out Eastern cities, miles about, Are with mosque and minaret Among sandy gardens set, And the rich goods from near and far Hang for sale in the bazaar;— Where the Great Wall round China goes, And on one side the desert blows, And with bell and voice and drum, Cities on the other hum;— Where are forests, hot as fire, Wide as England, tall as a spire, Full of apes and cocoa-nuts And the negro hunters' huts;— Where the knotty crocodile Lies and blinks in the Nile, And the red flamingo flies Hunting fish before his eyes;— Where in jungles, near and far, Man-devouring tigers are, Lying close and giving ear Lest the hunt be drawing near, Or a comer-by be seen Swinging in a palanquin;— Where among the desert sands Some deserted city stands, All its children, sweep and prince, Grown to manhood ages since, Not a foot in street or house, Not a stir of child or mouse, And when kindly falls the night, In all the town no spark of light. There I'll come when I'm a man With a camel caravan; Light a fire in the gloom Of some dusty dining-room; See the pictures on the walls, Heroes, fights, and festivals; And in a corner find the toys Of the old Egyptian boys.

The Ship is Ready

Fare thee well! the ship is ready, And the breeze is fresh and steady. Hands are fast the anchor weighing; High in the air the streamer's playing. Spread the sails—the waves are swelling Proudly round thy buoyant dwelling, Fare thee well! and when at sea, Think of those, who sigh for thee. When from land and home receding, And from hearts, that ache to bleeding, Think of those behind, who love thee, While the sun is bright above thee! Then, as down to ocean glancing, With the waves his rays are dancing, Think how long the night will be To the eyes, that weep for thee. When the lonely night-watch keeping, All below thee still and sleeping— As the needle points the quarter O'er the wide and trackless water, Let thy vigils ever find thee Mindful of the friends behind thee! Let thy bosom's magnet be Turned to those, who wake for thee! When, with slow and gentle motion, Heaves the bosom of the ocean— While in peace thy bark is riding, And the silver moon is gliding O'er the sky with tranquil splendor, Where the shining hosts attend her; Let the brightest visions be Country, home and friends, to thee! When the tempest hovers o'er thee, Danger, wreck and death before thee, While the sword of fire is gleaming, Wild the winds, the torrent streaming, Then, a pious suppliant bending, Let thy thoughts to heaven ascending Reach the mercy-seat, to be Met by prayers that rise for thee!

It makes no difference abroad, The seasons fit the same, The mornings blossom into noons, And split their pods of flame. Wild-flowers kindle in the woods, The brooks brag all the day; No blackbird bates his jargoning For passing Calvary. Auto-da-fe and judgment Are nothing to the bee; His separation from his rose To him seems misery.

The Wayside Inn

From "Prelude" One Autumn night, in Sudbury town, Across the meadows bare and brown, The windows of the wayside inn Gleamed red with fire-light through the leaves Of woodbine, hanging from the eaves Their crimson curtains rent and thin. As ancient is this hostelry As any in the land may be, Built in the old Colonial day, When men lived in a grander way, With ampler hospitality; A kind of old Hobgoblin Hall, Now somewhat fallen to decay, With weather-stains upon the wall, And stairways worn, and crazy doors, And creaking and uneven floors, And chimneys huge, and tiled and tall. A region of repose it seems, A place of slumber and of dreams, Remote among the wooded hills! For there no noisy railway speeds, Its torch-race scattering smoke and gleeds; But noon and night, the panting teams Stop under the great oaks, that throw Tangles of light and shade below, On roofs and doors and window-sills. Across the road the barns display Their lines of stalls, their mows of hay, Through the wide doors the breezes blow, The wattled cocks strut to and fro, And, half effaced by rain and shine, The Red Horse prances on the sign.

The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls

The tide rises, the tide falls, The twilight darkens, the curlew calls; Along the sea-sands damp and brown The traveler hastens toward the town, And the tide rises, the tide falls. Darkness settles on roofs and walls, But the sea, the sea in the darkness calls; The little waves, with their soft, white hands, Efface the footprints in the sands, And the tide rises, the tide falls. The morning breaks; the steeds in their stalls Stamp and neigh, as the hostler calls; The day returns, but nevermore Returns the traveler to the shore, And the tide rises, the tide falls.

Ho all you eager travelers! Have you some place to go Where you forget the many things You wish you did not know? Forget your own insistent past And feel just fit and free? If you have found it, won't you tell Its happy name to me?

Homeward, Ho!

Onward we speed like a swift-speeding arrow Winged from a bow! Cleaving the winding land line long and narrow 'Twixt clouds of snow. Straight thro' the mountain's heart swiftly we burrow, Laughing, the hills Hail as we distance them down the long furrow. How the race thrills! Clouds, spent with following fast, give up their chasing; Worsted the wind— Baying on heels, panting hard in the racing, Now—left behind! Flash on! As lightnings are hurled above us So be thy flight! Swift to the soft clime where loved ones who love us Wait us to-night! Give chase to distance! Dear hearts!—to be with them Is worth the chase! Never a music to rival in rhythm Thy muffled bass! "Nearer and nearer!" Ah, melody-makers, Match with your arts Music of speed over sea or land breakers To home-hungry hearts! Match, if ye can, the glad sway of its meter. Sadly prosaic Your motif, I ween, to the pulse of its fleeter Rough old trochaic! Homeward, my famished heart, homeward we're going, Homeward—ahoy! Long since my sad eyes have dimmed with thy flowing, Glad tears of joy. Homeward! Their loving arras wait to caress me— Slack not thy speed— Bearing me faithful and fast! Oh, I bless thee, Brave iron steed!

Autumn Fields

He said his legs were stiff and sore For he had gone some twenty-eight miles, And he'd walked through by watergaps And fences and gates and stiles. He said he'd been by Logan's woods, And up by Walton's branch and Simms, And there were sticktights on his clothes And little dusts of seeds and stems. And then he sat down on the steps, And he said the miles were on his feet. For some of that land was tangled brush, And some was plowed for wheat. The rabbits were thick where he had been, And he said he'd found some ripe papaws. He'd rested under a white oak tree, And for his dinner he ate red haws. Then I sat by him on the step To see the things that he had seen. And I could smell the shocks and clods, And the land where he had been.

Related Poems

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Ten Poems about Travel

Poetry about all kinds of travel—from grand adventures to family vacations—by Elizabeth Bishop, Rita Dove, and more.

Poetry and wanderlust often go hand in hand. As Joseph Brodsky writes in his poem “Pilgrims”: “all that’s left is / the Road and the Dreaming.” Whether you’re dreaming of new vistas or hitting the road yourself, here are ten favorite travel poems from JSTOR’s digital library, available for free download:

“Questions of Travel,” Elizabeth Bishop

“Her Island,” Rita Dove

“Crossing Boston Harbor,” Richard Blanco

“At the Bambi Motel,” Elizabeth Spires

“The Chemical Blonde,” Alice Goodman

“From California Sorrow,” Mary Kinzie

“The Ocean Liner,” Harriet Monroe

“In the Wilderness Motel,” David Bottoms

“Bournemouth,” Vona Groarke

“Pilgrims,” by Joseph Brodsky

JSTOR is a digital library for scholars, researchers, and students. JSTOR Daily readers can access the original research behind our articles for free on JSTOR.

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• Famous Poems About Travel: Exploring the World Through Poetry

Traveling is a transformative experience that allows us to explore new places, cultures, and perspectives. It's no wonder that poets have often been inspired by their journeys, capturing the essence of their adventures through beautiful words and vivid imagery. In this article, we will delve into some of the most famous poems about travel, showcasing the power of poetry in capturing the essence of wanderlust and the beauty of the world.

"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" by William Wordsworth

"the road not taken" by robert frost, "ode to the west wind" by percy bysshe shelley, "a red, red rose" by robert burns.

One of the most beloved travel poems ever written, "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" by William Wordsworth, takes us on a journey through the beauty of nature. The poem recounts the experience of stumbling upon a field of daffodils while walking through the Lake District in England. Wordsworth's exquisite descriptions and vivid imagination transport us to that very moment, allowing us to feel the joy and awe he felt.

I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" is a timeless poem that explores the concept of choices and the paths we take in life. Although not explicitly about travel, the poem resonates deeply with those who have embarked on a journey, both literally and metaphorically. Frost's contemplation of two diverging paths and the uncertainty and excitement that comes with making choices captures the essence of travel and its ability to shape our lives.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black.

Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ode to the West Wind" is a powerful poem that not only speaks to the beauty of travel but also the transformative power of nature. Shelley compares the wind's ability to carry leaves and clouds to the way ideas and words can be carried across the world. This poem serves as a reminder of the vastness of the world and the potential for change that lies within it.

O wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn's being, Thou, from whose unseen presence the leaves dead Are driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing, Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red, Pestilence-stricken multitudes: O thou, Who chariotest to their dark wintry bed The winged seeds, where they lie cold and low, Each like a corpse within its grave, until Thine azure sister of the Spring shall blow Her clarion o'er the dreaming earth, and fill (Driving sweet buds like flocks to feed in air) With living hues and odours plain and hill: Wild Spirit, which art moving everywhere; Destroyer and preserver; hear, oh, hear!

"A Red, Red Rose" by Robert Burns is a heartfelt poem that captures the essence of love and longing through the metaphor of a rose. While not explicitly about travel, the poem's universal themes and evocative language make it a favorite among travelers and lovers alike. Burns' vivid imagery and passionate words transport us to a place of romance and wanderlust.

O my Luve's like a red, red rose That's newly sprung in June; O my Luve's like the melodie That's sweetly played in tune. As fair art thou, my bonnie lass, So deep in luve am I; And I will luve thee still, my dear, Till a' the seas gang dry.

Poetry has the remarkable ability to transport us to different places and evoke a range of emotions. These famous poems about travel serve as a testament to the profound impact that journeys can have on our lives. Whether it's through capturing the beauty of nature, reflecting on the choices we make, or expressing the power of love, these poems allow us to explore the world through the eyes of the poets who wrote them. So, take a moment to immerse yourself in these literary voyages and let your imagination wander to the farthest corners of the globe.

• Mary Oliver: Capturing the Essence of Winter Through Poetry
• Poems Celebrating Black Fatherhood: A Testimony of Love and Strength

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Literary Travel , Travel Inspiration

10 travel poems that will inspire you to go.

FMTC Affiliate Disclosure: Blond Wayfarer contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This disclosure pertains to all affiliate links.

We all need beautiful travel poems.

Why? To inspire us to travel, embrace our inner bravery, and explore the world.

Take myself for instance. I love poetry. I also love travel. So it’s natural I’d write an entire post on poems that will inspire you to travel! But before I get too gushy, I have a confession to make:

It’s ironic that I love poetry so much.

When I attended college and decided to major in English, I enrolled in a poetry course for beginners, but dropped out once I learned the professor had rules against leaving the lecture to use the bathroom. (Ew).

I’ve also taken classes where poetry wasn’t open for student interpretation. Nope.

If you disagreed with the professor’s perspective, you were Dead Wrong and ought to feel sorry for bastardizing literature. So usually I’d zone out and think about my next meal, likely Wendys or a Fat Sandwich. Ahhh, memories.

Now, though, poetry inspires me. I know I probably sound like a huge nerd, but whatever, it’s the truth. I have a long list of favorite poems including travel-related ones. And what better place to share my love of travel poetry than on my blog?

Tuck in, readers! You’re in for a fun ride!

Now I hope these poems will inspire you to travel too!

Even if you hate poetry (I see you), still give these texts a fair chance. I know when I let these words flow through my mind I feel an urge to throw caution to the winds, step onto a plane, and enjoy the unknown.

Travel Poem 1: “I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud” – William Wordsworth

I’m a solo female traveler.  Sure, I’ll join friends and family on trips, but I’ve visited a lot of new places alone. Just me and my backpack. I don’t mind solo travel.

If anything, exploring the world on your own terms is very, very, very liberating. You meet new people, choose your own activities, wake up whenever you want, the whole nine yards.

Besides I looooooove when no one else is around to tell me what to do. I’m an independent boss like that.

In the travel poem “I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud,” the speaker reflects on a beautiful daffodil field and all alone, he remembers their vibrant colors.

As a solo female traveler, I have a lot of memories that only I share. And yeah, I definitely reflect on those incredible times on miserable rainy NJ commutes.

Romanticism is a movement filled with travel poems of all shapes and sizes. Trust me, this isn’t the only travel poem of the era either.

Furthermore, Wordsworth wrote some of his finest poetry in the Lake District of England. I haven’t had the chance to visit (yet), but the pictures are spectacular, depicting green rolling hills and scenic lakes. No wonder he was so inspired.

Travel Poem 2. “Ulysses” – Alfred, Lord Tennyson

This travel poem is told from the perspective of Ulysses, the great ancient Greek hero of  Odyssey  fame. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the character when I read The Odyssey  (cheater!), but I felt some sympathy for him in this poem.

In Tennyson’s work, we’ve presented with an aging and utterly bored king. Even though he’s reached old age, Ulysses decides to leave his kingdom and make new discoveries.

He simply can’t stand sitting on the throne for the rest of his life. Ulysses vows to “never yield” or give up on his journey, meaning it’s likely that he won’t return home ever again.

As you already know, I angsted a lot about turning 30. Probably too much. I worry sometimes that I’m too “old” to daydream about future trips – international and domestic – and I should just focus on, uh, more “normal” goals. Like buying a house, finding a husband, and having kids. Yawn.

But, you know what, if an adventurous life is good enough for Ulysses, then it’s good enough for me.

Ulysses is a fine piece of travel poetry even if it’s a little depressing. The lines allude Ulysses will never return to this kingdom again.

Travel Poem 3. “Song of Myself” – Walt Whitman

“Song of Myself” is a celebration of oneself. The theme absolutely shows in the title. And, as someone who practices self-love , I appreciate a travel poem that cheers on the self.

We’re often told to act humble. Not brag. To let others enjoy the spotlight. To give to charity. To remember family and friends.

Okay, I understand the importance of giving. I’ve been told I’m quite generous with my time and money, and I believe this is a positive trait of mine.

So while you don’t want to turn into an arrogant sack of awfulness, too much humbleness leads to weaker self-esteem which then leads to undermining one’s own special accomplishments.

So drop the excessive humbleness. Drop it now!

Travel requires confidence. Many people decide to travel for personal reasons such as healing a broken heart, re-discovering themselves, uncovering their family’s history, restarting their lives, etc. etc, but regardless, you need confidence to break outside your comfort zone.

“Song of Myself” is motivational and definitely can be considered a travel poem. Why? Well. This poem makes you feel as if you can do anything even travel the world.

Travel Poem 4. “The Road Not Taken” – Robert Frost

Okay, I’m entering into “cliche territory” now, but I had to include Frost’s famous travel poem on this list. It just felt incomplete without it.

In Frost’s poem, the speaker comes across two diverging paths in the woods. S/he decides to take the path not trodden by millions of others. The lesser traveled path is scarier, but the speaker treks onwards and claims the decision made a meaningful difference.

As you can see, the poem is a gigantic metaphor for making unconventional choices to benefit your life.

Solo travel especially is seen as an unusual choice  but my trips have definitely molded me into the person who I am now, a stronger and more assured person. I don’t shudder at the idea of driving to new places, for example. I used to worry about getting lost all the time, but now I shrug, use my Waze app, and not worry too much.

Embark on the road not taken! You’d be surprised at what you discover on your journey.

Travel Poem 5. “Uphill” – Christina Rossetti

Eeeee, Christina Rossetti is one of my favorite Victorian poets! I’ll always hold a special place in my heart for “The Goblin Market.”

Meanwhile “Uphill” embodies all that is amazing and difficult about traveling.

The journey uphill takes the speaker the entire day, morning through night. Travel requires sleepless nights (argh, damn you, international flights), uncomfortable bus rides, and canceled train departures. I can’t count the number of times my transportation plans fell flat on its face.

Ultimately, the speaker is nervous about making it to the top of the hill. Understandable.

However, the inn at the top of the hill promises company and warm beds for all travelers. No one is ever turned away.

So, even if it’s physically and emotionally exhausting, travel also heals you beyond your wildest dreams. And the goodness of people? Wow. It still blows my mind. Both my lunch in Nazare and canceled Stockholm train prove kindness exists everywhere.

Travel Poem 6. “In a Station of the Metro” – Ezra Pound

This is one example of short travel poems. Actually, Pound’s “In a Station of the Metro”  is very, very, very short. My students were shocked it even counted as a poem!

This poem gives the reader an image of nameless faces at a metro station. As travelers, we all spend time using public transportation, such as buses or trains, and watch the people around us.

Come on. Who doesn’t do this? I’m at the point where I automatically connect a subway station to traveling in a brand new city, haha.

Travel Poem 7. “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” – W. B. Yeats

W. B. Yeats might have had a bit of a creepy personal life, but his travel poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” deeply speaks to me.

For instance, I love huge international cities, but it’s not exactly a secret that I’m not a fan of hustle and bustle. Which is why I wonder if New Jersey is a true “fit” for my lifestyle but that’s a whole other post.

Unlike my hurried daily life, travel forces me to slow down and soak up every single experience, however small and discreet.

In Yeats’s poem, the speaker mentally returns to a beautiful lake as he stares at a road on a regular ol’ day. This poem reminds us that our journeys aren’t finished when they come to an end.

The memories of dancing on a beach in Croatia or snorkeling in Iceland or paragliding in Slovenia last forever , even in the middle of a crazy day on the job. Embrace them.

Yeats certainly knew how to write a true traveling poem.

Travel Poem 8. “The Unexplorer” – Edna St. Vincent Millay

Okay, this travel poem is totally “tongue-in-cheek,” which is exactly why I love it so very much!

The speaker is a young girl who wishes to see the end of a lovely road outside her house. Her mother tells her that the road leads to the milkman’s door, and this boooooring revelation stops the girl from traveling at all. Sad, huh?

Now I’m a traveler and proudly identify as such, but I also love staying in my apartment and watching hours of television. Sometimes I can’t even be bothered to stroll five minutes down the street to buy a carton of milk.

Millay’s poem helps me feel less guilty if I have those lazy or disappointed moments at home or abroad. Score!

Travel Poem 9. “Hearthside” – Dorothy Parker

A vivid poem that describes a speaker poking at the flames, while thinking about all the beautiful places s/he will not see.

This is one of many poems that will inspire you to travel, because do you truly want to only imagine places and never see them?

Sure, “now” is never the best time to travel, but if you wait for the perfect opportunity, while twiddling your thumbs in the safety of your room, perhaps your time will never, ever come. Better to impulsively book that low cost flight to Milan than wait and regret it.

Travel Poem 10. “Travel” – Robert Louis Stevenson

We’re all familiar with Robert Louis Stevenson, especially us literary nerds with a particular fondness for the Victorian Era. I mean, I read  The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde  when I was only sixteen and loved the creepy tale.

And now you’re telling me he wrote travel poems, too? How amazing is that?

Robert Louis Stevenson’s travel poem, simply called “Travel,” is packed with imagery of the Middle East, China, and Africa, making me want to push my comfort zone aside and branch out with my own adventures.

Why Should We Read Travel Poems?

A lot of people have a hard time grasping why poetry is valuable. And, okay, I understand their reluctance. Although I am a proud literary traveler, poetry isn’t always easy to fully comprehend especially a poem heavy in devices such as irony and allusion.

But poetry is written specifically to convey emotion. We are unable to see and touch emotion.

Read travel poem to feel the words, to dig deep and think about your upcoming journeys. Use the time for peaceful reflection, even. We don’t get enough quiet moments in our busy world.

So curl up with a pile of travel poems and read. Read til your heart is content. Much love to you.

Tell me your favorite poems – especially poems that will inspire you to travel. And remember to subscribe everywhere! Haha. I’m off to read some touching travel poems now. Be still my heart.

Rachel Elizabeth

At 22, I took my first overseas trip to Bermuda. Took a break to follow the "American Dream." Had my self-esteem broken. Embarked on my first solo trip to Scotland at 26. The travel bug dug its way under my skin. I now book multiple trips a year.

2 thoughts on “ 10 Travel Poems that will Inspire You to Go ”

Thanks for the poems, I hope to travel someday and encounter all the beautiful cornerstones of the earth.

Great post! So many poems to read and unpack!

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Home » Budget Travel » 25 Inspiring Poems about Adventure

25 Inspiring Poems about Adventure

Travel has always had the power to stir the soul and inspire works of great artistry. The feeling of freedom exploring offers us has inspired humans to create moving artworks, from paintings and songs to epic poems.

Great poets like Whitman and Tennyson have penned profound poems about adventure that have stood the test of time.

We’ve gathered this list of some of the best-known adventure poems, and some lesser-known but no less impactful poems to ignite your wanderlust. They capture the feeling of being out in the world immersing in new places.

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1. The Road Not Taken –  Robert Frost

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“I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”

Robert Frost, regarded by many as one of America’s greatest poets, wrote this adventure poem which has no doubt inspired more travels than we could ever know. It’s a call to courage, to face the unknown, and to break from the crowd and follow your own path wherever it may lead. 

2. Song of the Open Road –  Walt Whitman

“Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,  Healthy, free, the world before me,  The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.  Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,  Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,  Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,  Strong and content I travel the open road.”

3. Freedom –  Olive Runner

“Give me the long, straight road before me, A clear, cold day with a nipping air, Tall, bare trees to run on beside me, A heart that is light and free from care. Then let me go!-I care not whither My feet may lead, for my spirit shall be Free as the brook that flows to the river, Free as the river that flows to the sea.”

Oliver Runner’s poem about adventure captures so much of what drives every traveler. The sense of untethered wandering, free to go where the road may lead. As long as we’re treading new ground and experiencing new places, we’re at our happiest. 

4. For the Traveller –  John O’Donohue

“When you travel, you find yourself Alone in a different way, More attentive now To the self you bring along, Your more subtle eye watching You abroad; and how what meets you Touches that part of the heart That lies low at home: 

How you unexpectedly attune To the timbre in some voice, Opening in conversation You want to take in To where your longing Has pressed hard enough Inward, on some unsaid dark, To create a crystal of insight You could not have known.”

When it comes to poems about adventure, this one by John O’Donohue does well to explain the changes that occur within us when we travel. We may see new horizons every day, and we may meet new people around each corner, but the thing that changes the most is the heart and mind of the traveler. 

5. If Once You’ve Slept on an Island –  Rachel Field

“If once you have slept on an island  You’ll never be quite the same;  You may look as you looked the day before  And go by the same old name,  You may bustle about in street and shop  You may sit at home and sew,  But you’ll see blue water and wheeling gulls  Wherever your feet may go.  You may chat with the neighbors of this and that  And close to your fire keep,  But you’ll hear ship whistle and lighthouse bell  And tides beat through your sleep.  Oh! you won’t know why and you can’t say how  Such a change upon you came,  But once you have slept on an island,  You’ll never be quite the same.”

6. Travel –  Robert Louis Stevenson

“I should like to rise and go Where the golden apples grow;— Where below another sky Parrot islands anchored lie, And, watched by cockatoos and goats, Lonely Crusoes building boats;— Where in sunshine reaching out Eastern cities, miles about, Are with mosque and minaret Among sandy gardens set, And the rich goods from near and far Hang for sale in the bazaar,— Where the Great Wall round China goes, And on one side the desert blows, And with bell and voice and drum Cities on the other hum;—”

7. Die Slowly –  Martha Medeiros

“He who does not travel, who does not read, who can not hear music, who does not find grace in himself, she who does not find grace in herself, dies slowly.

He who slowly destroys his own self-esteem, who does not allow himself to be helped, who spends days on end complaining about his own bad luck, about the rain that never stops, dies slowly.”

The title of this adventure poem may seem dark, and not much about adventure at all, but it’s really about living. Living so fully and so well that death seems to take its time arriving. We know that we all die one day, but we can make so much of our time, that once is enough. 

Reducing our days on earth into an endless stream of items on a to-do list, fulfilling responsibilities, and going through the motions is not a way to get the most out of it. 

8. Oh the Places You’ll Go –  Dr. Seuss

“You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So… get on your way!” 

This is the greatest poem about adventure that inspires both adults and children. At its heart, this poem is a call to adventure, encouraging readers to head off into the world with bravery, courage, and curiosity for the things that await to be seen and discovered. 

9. Questions of Travel –  Elizabeth Bishop

“Think of the long trip home. Should we have stayed at home and thought of here? Where should we be today?”

“But surely it would have been a pity not to have seen the trees along this road, really exaggerated in their beauty, not to have seen them gesturing like noble pantomimists, robed in pink.”

10. Over the Hills and Far Away –  William Ernest Henley

“Where forlorn sunsets flare and fade  On desolate sea and lonely sand,  Out of the silence and the shade  What is the voice of strange command  Calling you still, as friend calls friend  With love that cannot brook delay,  To rise and follow the ways that wend  Over the hills and far away? “

11. O to Sail –  Walt Whitman

“O to sail in a ship,  To leave this steady unendurable land,  To leave this tiresome sameness of streets,  the sidewalks and the houses,  To leave you, O you solid motionless land, and entering the ship,  To sail and sail and sail!”

12. Travel –  Edna St Vincent Millay

“The railroad track is miles away, And the day is loud with voices speaking, Yet there isn’t a train goes by all day But I hear its whistle shrieking.

All night there isn’t a train goes by, Though the night is still for sleep and dreaming, But I see its cinders red on the sky, And hear its engine steaming.

My heart is warm with the friends I make, And better friends I’ll not be knowing; Yet there isn’t a train I wouldn’t take, No matter where it’s going.”

To the person with an adventurous heart, travel will call in many ways. The restlessness may wax and wane but it never leaves us entirely. The deep desire to explore will always be back to call us, to motion us onwards on our next journey. We can try to distract ourselves and live on regardless but the call will come again. It always does. 

13. The Land of Beyond –  Robert W Service

“Have ever you heard of the Land of Beyond,  That dreams at the gates of the day?  Alluring it lies at the skirts of the skies,  And ever so far away;  Alluring it calls: O ye the yoke galls,  And ye of the trails overfond,  With saddle and pack, by paddle and track,  Let’s go to the Land of Beyond!” 

14. Prayer for Travellers –  Anon

“May the road rise up to meet you.  May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; The rains fall soft upon your fields.  And until we meet again,  May God hold you in the palm of His hand.”  

15. Ulysses –  Alfred Tennyson

“For always roaming with a hungry heart  Much have I seen and known; cities of men  And manners, climates, councils, governments,  Myself not least, but honour’d of them all;  And drunk delight of battle with my peers,  Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy.  I am a part of all that I have met;  Yet all experience is an arch wherethro’  Gleams that untravell’d world whose margin fades  For ever and forever when I move.”

This epic adventure poem written by Tennyson tells of a life lived in pursuit of adventure. It’s told from the point of view of Ulysses, who is now old and unfulfilled by a sedentary life. Though his body has aged he still longs for adventure. The main theme is that as long as there are horizons to chase and strength in our bodies, we can always choose to set out and explore. We should use every day we’re given to its fullest, taking every morsel of adventure we can. 

16. I Want a Life Measured –  Tyler Knott Gregson

“I want a life measured in first steps on foreign soils and deep breaths in brand new seas I want a life measured in Welcome Signs, each stamped with a different name, borders marked with metal and paint. Show me the streets that don’t know the music of my meandering feet, and I will play their song upon them. Perfume me please in the smells of far away, I will never wash my hair if it promises to stay. I want a life measured in the places I haven’t gone, short sleeps on long flights, strange voices teaching me new words to describe the dawn.”

Tyler Knott Gregson’s poem enlists all the senses in describing the gifts that travel brings. We should measure our lives by the places we’ve been, and the experiences we’ve had in faraway places. The wanderer in us all can relate to this feeling of needing to fill our days with newness and unexplored places. 

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17. Why Do I Travel – Unknown

“It is on the road that my inner voice speaks the loudest and my heart beats the strongest. It is on the road that I take extra pride in my wooly hair, full features and lineage. It is on the road that I develop extra senses and the hairs on my arms stand up and say “Sana, don’t go there”, and I listen. It’s when I safety pin my money to my underclothes and count it a million times before I go to sleep, It is on the road that I am a poet, an ambassador, a dancer, medicine woman, an angel and even a genius. It’s on the road that I am fearless and unstoppable and if necessary ball up my fist and fight back. It is on the road that I talk to my deceased parents and they speak back. It’s on the road that I reprimand myself, and set new goals, refuel, stop and begin again. It is on the road that I experience what freedom truly is. It is my travel that has transformed me making me a citizen of the world. When my humanness, compassion and affection are raised to a new level and I share unconditionally.”

While the author of this piece is unknown, it’s clear that this poem about adventure comes from the heart of an explorer. When we travel we change in ways we could never anticipate. We grow and we learn and we change, and we’re never the same again. With each adventure we take, we gain something and are forever transformed. 

18. A Call to Adventure –  John Mark Green

“Set fire to all your maps,  Forget how it’s always been.  We’re explorers of the heart,  Learning to dream again.  The adventure of a lifetime,  With love along as our guide.  Exotic places beyond imagination –  Ones we’ve longed for deep inside.” 

19. Returning –  Erin Hanson

“Perhaps we only leave So we can once again arrive, To get a bird’s eye view Of what it means to be alive. For there is beauty in returning, Oh how wonderful, how strange, To see that everything’s different But know it is only you who changed.”

By leaving, we gain a new perspective on the world. This change within us makes it impossible to go back to who we were before we left, and when we return we can’t see things the same way anymore. Coming back is not the same as having never left. 

20. Wanderlust –  Richard Avedon

“You must not think because my glance is quick To shift from this to that, from here to there, Because I am most usually where The way is strangest and the wonders thick, Because when wind is wildest and the bay Swoops madly upward and the gulls are few And I am doing as I want to do, Leaving the town to go my aimless way; You must not think because I am the kind Who always shunned security and such As bother the responsible of mind That I shall never total up to much; I know my drifting will not prove a loss, For mine is a rolling stone that has gathered moss.”

21. The Enchanted Traveler –  Bliss Carmen

“We travelled empty-handed With hearts all fear above, For we ate the bread of friendship, We drank the wine of love. Through many a wondrous autumn, Through many a magic spring, We hailed the scarlet banners, We heard the blue-bird sing. We looked on life and nature With the eager eyes of youth, And all we asked or cared for Was beauty, joy, and truth. We found no other wisdom, We learned no other way, Than the gladness of the morning, The glory of the day. So all our earthly treasure Shall go with us, my dears, Aboard the Shadow Liner, Across the sea of years.”

This is a simple and beautiful adventure poem about the joys of being free to wander. Our lives should be a series of adventures, through the seasons of our lives, and our treasure is the places we’ve been to and the people we’ve shared the journey with. 

22. The Farewell –  Khalil Gibran

“We wanderers, ever seeking the lonelier way, begin no day where we have ended another day; and no sunrise finds us where sunset left us.  Even while the earth sleeps we travel.  We are the seeds of the tenacious plant, and it is in our ripeness and our fullness of heart that we are given to the wind and are scattered.” 

23. What if this Road –  Sheenagh Pugh

“What if this road, that has held no surprises these many years, decided not to go home after all; what if it could turn left or right with no more ado than a kite-tail? What if its tarry skin were like a long, supple bolt of cloth, that is shaken and rolled out, and takes a new shape from the contours beneath? And if it chose to lay itself down in a new way, around a blind corner, across hills you must climb without knowing what’s on the other side, who would not hanker to be going, at all risks? Who wants to know a story’s end, or where a road will go?”

24. The Return –  Geneen Marie Haugen

“Some day, if you are lucky, you’ll return from a thunderous journey trailing snake scales, wing fragments and the musk of Earth and moon. Eyes will examine you for signs of damage, or change and you, too, will wonder if your skin shows traces of fur, or leaves, if thrushes have built a nest of your hair, if Andromeda burns from your eyes.”

Geneen Marie Haugen talks about the lasting effect that travel has on us. When we return home to those who never left, we seem worlds apart. Do they envy us? Do they fear us for what we may know that they do not? We return changed and we can only hope that change inspires others to chase their adventures too.

25. On the World –  Francis Quarles

“The world’s an Inn; and I her guest.  I eat; I drink; I take my rest.  My hostess, nature, does deny me  Nothing, wherewith she can supply me;  Where, having stayed a while, I pay  Her lavish bills, and go my way. “

Final thoughts

There are so many more excellent poems about adventure out there to get your wanderlust juices flowing. These are just the tip of the iceberg for incredible adventure inspiration.

We hope these verses have ignited, or at least fanned the flames of exploration within you. Who knows, you might set off on an epic journey and be inspired to create your very own poem.

Rose Wilson

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Travel poems that capture the joy of exploration and inspire journeys

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Like the blast of a ship’s whistle or the click-click-clack of train wheels, travel can be insistent. The second you leave home it starts demanding that you tell its story. It tugs at your elbow. It turns into a daily pest.

What you’re doing should be recorded! Snap photos! Post those views on Facebook! Jot things down!

Although there are lots of ways to tell the story of a trip, travelers tend to pour their experiences into prose. Think articles. Think diary entries. Think blogs. With everyone these days on the hunt for information — for tips and lists and facts — the poetry of travel has often been neglected.

To address that, the Travel section in September asked readers to submit their favorite poems about being away from home along with a few lines about how poetry has helped to open up destinations, deliver a smile or a smirk, or capture the sensations of life on the road.

I combed through the more than 70 responses — some from as far away as India, Sweden, Spain and Scotland — and found myself in the middle of a forest of old favorite lines and many more new ones I had never explored. Below is a sampling of submissions. Thanks to all who contributed.

Perhaps because its images are so exotic, three readers submitted John Masefield’s “Cargoes” as an example of how words and their sounds can create a longing for far-off places — even if you don’t catch their meaning right away. “Quinquireme of Nineveh from distant Ophir” begins this short poem by Masefield, who was England’s poet laureate during the mid-20th century:

Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine,

With a cargo of ivory,

And apes and peacocks,

Sandalwood, cedarwood, and sweet white wine.

“This pick may seem very old-fashioned,” said Elisa Petrini of New York, “but as a child growing up in Detroit in the early 1960s, I read this poem over and over and dreamed of seeing the world. I still know it by heart.”

Patricia Ingram of Glasgow, Scotland, agreed: “‘Cargoes’ captured my imagination at an early age, maybe 10 or 11 at primary school. Some of the words were exotic, and I know now that it was also the rhythm of the verses that I liked and the touches of alliteration in each one. Thoughts of ships on the ocean and new horizons seemed worlds away from my life in the city.”

Lynne Osborne of South Pasadena has her eye on going places by plane rather than by ship. She recommended “Takeoff” by Timothy Steele, a poet and professor of English at Cal State Los Angeles. “Our jet storms down the runway, tilts up, lifts,” wrote Steele. “We’re airborne, and each second we see more.”

Soon, like passengers pushed into the sky, we get to these lines:

How little weight

The world has as it swiftly drops away!

How quietly the mind climbs to this height

As now, the seat-belt sign turned off, a flight

Attendant rises to negotiate

The steep aisle to a curtained service bay.

For Osborne, Steele’s poem hits home because he “talks about an aspect of travel that is shared by so many of us.” Air travel, for Osborne, is “a transcendent experience, but we as travelers often focus on the minutiae of it — the seats that strangle us, the neighbor who snores, the flight attendant who rises to negotiate the steep aisle to the curtained service bay.’”

Among the readers who couldn’t resist Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic “Travel,” from “A Child’s Garden of Verses,” is Janet Cornwell of Manhattan Beach, who said its language is “rich with wanderlust.” The poem includes these far-flung images:

Eastern cities, miles about,

Are with mosque and minaret

Among sandy gardens set,

And the rich goods from near and far

Hang for sale in the bazaar;—

Where the Great Wall round China goes,

And on one side the desert blows,

And with bell and voice and drum

Cities on the other hum;—

Where are forests hot as fire,

Wide as England, tall as a spire….

Stevenson’s poem “had me at the opening lines,” wrote food critic Mimi Sheraton of New York: “I should like to rise and go / Where the golden apples grow.” Said Sheraton: “I assume I first read it, or had it read to me, when I was about 5 growing up in Brooklyn. The result is my life as a food and travel writer, rising and going in search of golden apples for six decades and still counting.”

Gillian Kendall of Holmes Beach, Fla., didn’t need to deliberate for long before sending Gerald Stern’s “Kissing Stieglitz Good-Bye” because, she noted, “I’ve been carrying [it] around the world with me since it appeared in, I think, the New Yorker in about 1980.” “Every city in America is approached / through a work of art, usually a bridge /…” begins the poem. “Pittsburgh has a tunnel — / you don’t know it — that takes you through the rivers / and under the burning hills.”

… Some have little parks —

San Francisco has a park. Albuquerque

is beautiful from a distance; it is purple

at five in the evening. New York is Egyptian,

especially from the little rise on the hill…

“When I first read this poem, as an undergraduate at Rutgers University,” Kendall said, “I had never heard of Stieglitz … but I’d lived in New Jersey for several years and I was awfully familiar with the tunnels and bridges that connected the unglamorous state with the glittering city beyond.... This poem combines beauty and sadness and travel, all of which I was just beginning to understand as a teenager.”

Several readers chose poems not because they describe particular destinations or ways to get around, but, as Carissa Green of Grand Forks, N.D., put it, “for the tension … between the experience of traveling and the longing for home.” Green loves Elizabeth Bishop’s poem “Questions of Travel” so much that, like Kendall, she remembers that “there was even a time in my life when I’d copy the poem out longhand on loose-leaf paper and then tuck it into my suitcase when I went on a trip as kind of a talisman of words for the emotions and stress of a journey.”

In the poem, Bishop might have been thinking about Green’s “tension” when she asked: “Should we have stayed at home and thought of here? / Where should we be today?...”

What childishness is it that while there’s a breath of life

in our bodies, we are determined to rush

to see the sun the other way around?

The tiniest green hummingbird in the world?...

Oh, must we dream our dreams

and have them, too?

Picking up on a similar idea, Tim Lynch of Collingswood, N.J., talked about “the two extremities of travel: the leaving and the coming back” while focusing on his favorite travel poem, “The Peninsula,” by Irish poet and Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney. “When you have nothing more to say, just drive” Heaney wrote,

“For a day all round the peninsula…”

And drive back home, still with nothing to say

Except that now you will uncode all landscapes

By this: things founded clean on their own shapes,

Water and ground in their extremity.

Linda Alexander of San Pedro also thinks of home when she thinks of travel. She chose the poem “Vagabond’s House” by Don Blanding, explaining that it “speaks of the house its subject will build and fill with cherished items from travels.” “When I have a house … as I sometime may,” wrote Blanding, who, in the 1920s and ‘30s, was sometimes thought of as Hawaii’s unofficial poet laureate, “I’ll suit my fancy in every way. / I’ll fill it with things that have caught my eye / In drifting from Iceland to Molokai…”

A paperweight of meteorite

That seared and scorched the sky one night,

A moro kris … my paper knife …

Once slit the throat of a Rajah’s wife.

The beams of my house will be fragrant wood

That once in a teeming jungle stood…

“My father enjoyed reading [this] aloud to me as a young girl with his beautiful sonorous voice,” Alexander said. “The poem has inspired me to travel and explore and I have shared it with my four grandsons whom I hope to also inspire.”

There are those who always daydream of future trips, whether they’re in the middle of a current adventure or in an armchair surrounded by memorabilia — a bit like the speaker in Blanding’s “Vagabond’s House.”

Sarah Burns of Seattle wrote that one of her many favorite poems about travel is “May 2” by David Lehman “because it motivates me to immediately begin planning my next trip.” “Let’s go to Paris in November,” Lehman wrote:

it’s raining and we read

the Tribune at La Rotonde

our hotel room has a big

bathtub I knew you’d like

At the end of the poem, the speaker seems to jump into his own dream of being in Paris, crashing words together in anticipation, expressing a need to get moving like no piece of prose could:

“And we can be a couple

of unknown Americans what

are we waiting for let’s go.”

Does that sum it up for those who are always imagining new trips? Or for those who are endlessly planning? “The last line,” said Burns, “[is] just perfect.”

Readers’ favorite poems of travel:

“Song of the Open Road ” by Walt Whitman is in various collections such as “Selected Poems by Walt Whitman” (Dover Thrift Editions, 1991). Full text at bit.ly/1yQxCA2 .

“Ulysses ” by Lord Tennyson is included in “Alfred Tennyson: The Major Works” (Oxford World’s Classics, 2009). Full text at bit.ly/1HhuuTE and other websites.

“The Road Not Taken” is included in “The Road Not Taken: A Selection of Robert Frost’s Poems” (Owl/Holt Paperbacks, 2002). Full text at bit.ly/1hOnHUn .

“Cargoes ” by John Masefield is from the collection “Salt-Water Poems and Ballads” (Nabu Press, 2010). Full text at bit.ly/1uNgDiN .

“Takeoff ” by Timothy Steele is from “The Color Wheel” (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1994). Full text at bit.ly/1t2S9xK and other websites.

“Travel” by Robert Louis Stevenson is included in “A Child’s Garden of Verses: A Classic Illustrated Edition” by Robert Louis Stevenson (Chronicle Books, 1989). Full text at bit.ly/1p1xVb4 and other websites.

“Kissing Stieglitz Good-Bye ” by Gerald Stern is from his “Early Collected Poems: 1965-1992” (W. W. Norton, 2010). Full text at bit.ly/1ubZtqa and other websites.

“Questions of Travel ” by Elizabeth Bishop is included in several collections, including “The Complete Poems: 1927-1979” by Elizabeth Bishop (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1983). Full text at bit.ly/1F17g0j .

“The Peninsula ” by Seamus Heaney is included in several book collections, including Heaney’s “Poems 1965-1975: Death of a Naturalist / Door Into the Dark / Wintering Out / North” (Noonday Press, 1988). Full text at bit.ly/1uxS08v .

“Vagabond’s House ” by Don Blanding is from his collection “Vagabond’s House” (Applewood Books, 2002). Full text at bit.ly/1qtXMtf .

“May 2 ” by David Lehman is from the collection “The Daily Mirror: A Journal in Poetry” (Scribner, 2000). Full text at bit.ly/1uxTQ9i .

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The Best Poems about Travel and Transport

Poetry can often be moving, but what about poetry that is about movement? What about poems that reflect on various types of motion, transport, and travel? Below are some of the very best poems about transport, travel, movement, and related themes – everything from walking, to driving, to travelling on the Tube.

Thomas Traherne, ‘ Walking ’. In terms of having the longest wait for a posthumous poetic reputation to begin, the seventeenth-century poet Thomas Traherne (c. 1637-74) may take first prize. Over a century before Romanticism, Traherne describes how walking amongst nature can provide us with an appreciation of the beauty all around us:

To walk abroad is, not with eyes, But thoughts, the fields to see and prize; Else may the silent feet, Like logs of wood, Move up and down, and see no good Nor joy nor glory meet.

Robert Louis Stevenson, ‘ From a Railway Carriage ’. This poem was published in Stevenson’s 1885 volume of poetry for children, A Child’s Garden of Verses . ‘From a Railway Carriage’ is a masterly piece of versification, using its sprightly rhythm to evoke the movement of a train:

Faster than fairies, faster than witches, Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches; And charging along like troops in a battle, All through the meadows the horses and cattle: All of the sights of the hill and the plain Fly as thick as driving rain; And ever again, in the wink of an eye, Painted stations whistle by.

Amy Levy, ‘ Ballade of an Omnibus ’. Levy (1861-89) achieved a lot in the short life, including writing a novel, Reuben Sachs , about the Jewish community in Victorian London. She was also a poet who embraced the new freedoms that the omnibus – the forerunner to our modern buses – allowed to independent women travellers:

Some men to carriages aspire; On some the costly hansoms wait; Some seek a fly, on job or hire; Some mount the trotting steed, elate. I envy not the rich and great, A wandering minstrel, poor and free, I am contented with my fate – An omnibus suffices me.

Guillaume Apollinaire, ‘ The Little Car ’. Apollinaire (1880-1918), a French avant-garde poet, was one of the first to incorporate the recent invention of the motorcar into his poetry. In this poem he recalls a car journey he made in August 1914 – the month of the outbreak of the First World War. The poem was written two years ago and is haunted by war: that fateful car journey saw Apollinaire and his friends heading off to fight.

Hope Mirrlees, Paris: A Poem . Bearing the influence of Apollinaire’s poetry such as ‘Zone’ (about the bustle of the city and the aeroplanes overhead), Paris: A Poem (1919) was actually written by a British female poet, born to Scottish parents in Kent in 1887. Helen Hope Mirrlees lived in the French capital during the early twentieth century, and this 445-line poem is remarkably bold and innovative , blending as it does street signs and advertisements in the Paris Metro with allusions to Aristophanes, Shakespeare, and French painting, as we follow the female narrator through the streets of the city over the course of a whole day, from dawn till dusk and through to the dawning of a new day. It was out of print for much of the twentieth century, until the publication of Mirrlees’ Collected Poems in 2011. Follow the link above to access a pdf of the first edition, via the Hope Mirrlees website.

Richard Aldington, ‘ In the Tube ’. The imagist poet Richard Aldington (1892-1962) had mixed views about modern London: on the one hand, his work displays a distaste for the commercialisation and industrialisation of the city, while on the other hand, it provided him with the subject-matter he needed to write much of his finest poetry. Here, Aldington captures the jerking and rocking of the Tube train on the London Underground as he travels under London with his fellow passengers, all of whom seem to harbour the same, sinister question behind their eyes. See the link above and scroll down to find Aldington’s transport poem among his 1916 volume Images Old and New .

W. H. Auden, ‘ Night Mail ’. Has any English poet better caught the rhythms of a railway train as it powers along the tracks? Thanks to the classic film which featured it – and for which it was specially written – ‘Night Mail’ remains one of Auden’s best-known poems and one of the greatest poems about the movement of a train ever written. The film in which it features, about the night train carrying mail from London to Scotland, remains a classic of British documentary filmmaking; you can watch the excerpt from the film featuring Auden’s poem here .

Heathcote Williams, Autogeddon . Heathcote Williams wrote this long poem about the car and apocalypse – a very Ballardian combination of topics – in the late 1980s, before expanding it in 1991 for book publication. The poem attacks the modern fixation with the motorcar, its destructiveness and danger, and the way it – like the TV – rapidly changes our psychological outlook and attitude. See the link above to read the opening of Williams’s longer poem.

Mark Vinz, ‘ Driving Through ’. The American poet Mark Vinz (b. 1942) here uses the car journey through a nondescript town as a metaphor for deeper emotions relating to nostalgia and unfulfilled potential. Never has the expression ‘you’re only driving through’ been quite so poignant.

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6 thoughts on “The Best Poems about Travel and Transport”

I had to learn “Faster than fairies, faster than witches” at primary school in about 1984 – you’d think that making kids learn poetry to repeat went out in the 1930s, but apparently not!

• Pingback: The Best Poems about Transport and Movement

At least in Aldington’s later collections, ‘In the Tube’ is given an explicit date (1915) to put it in historical context. The crowd’s ‘sinister question’, ‘What right have you to live?’, could otherwise seem like general paranoia; but against the background of war, the poem’s speaker is obviously being judged for not having joined up.

Thinking of the Heathcote Williams poem reminded me of the final song from Pink Floyd’s ‘The Final Cut’ which similarly twins the Armageddon and cars together (though very differently). Which also led me to think that I’ve been meaning to ask for some time (or maybe I’ve asked before and forgotten?) – how about doing a series on song lyrics as poetry? Long overdue I think!

I like that link (and now want to listen to The Final Cut again … maybe that’s what I’ll do tonight!). And you’ve read my mind: only yesterday I was thinking about starting a series of posts analysing classic song lyrics. Branch out and change it up a little. Suggestions welcome!

Great to hear! Well, there’s so many to choose from… Pink Floyd for Roger Water’s era; Lennon & McCartney of course; Dob Dylan, Paul Simon; Sting; Kate Bush; David Bowie? More recents might well include Lana Del Rey?

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7 Poems That Will Inspire You To Travel

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These stanzas and poems are sure to inspire the traveler in you, li bai (chinese: 李白, 701-762).

Parting at a Wine-shop in Nan-king 

A wind, bringing willow-cotton, sweetens the shop,

And a girl from Wu, pouring wine, urges me to share it.

With my comrades of the city who are here to see me off;

And as each of them drains his cup, I say to him in parting,

Oh, go and ask this river running to the east

If it can travel farther than a friend’s love!

Du Fu (Chinese: 杜甫, 712-770)

Traveling Again

I remember the temple, this route I’ve travelled before,

I recall the bridge as I cross it again.

It seems the hills and rivers have been waiting,

The flowers and willows all are selfless now.

The field is sleek, and vivid, thin mist shines,

On soft sand, the sunlight’s colour shows it’s late.

All the traveler’s sorrow fades away,

What better place to rest than this?

Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

Song of Myself (46, lines 1210-1214)

Not I, not any one else can travel that road for you,

You must travel it for yourself.

It is not far, it is within reach,

Perhaps you have been on it since you were born and did not know,

Perhaps it is everywhere on water and on land.

Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)

Does the road wind up-hill all the way?

   Yes, to the very end.

Will the day’s journey take the whole long day?

   From morn to night, my friend.

But is there for the night a resting-place?

   A roof for when the slow dark hours begin.

May not the darkness hide it from my face?

   You cannot miss that inn.

Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?

   Those who have gone before.

Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?

   They will not keep you standing at that door.

Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?

   Of labour you shall find the sum.

Will there be beds for me and all who seek?

   Yea, beds for all who come.

Robert Frost (1874-1963)

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear,

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Khalil Gibran (1883-1931)

The Farewell (from The Prophet)

We wanderers, ever seeking the lonelier way,

begin no day where we have ended

another day; and no sunrise finds us where

sunset left us.

Even while the earth sleeps we travel.

We are the seeds of the tenacious plant,

and it is in our ripeness and our fullness of

heart that we are given to the wind and are

Dorothy Parker (1893-1967)

Half across the world from me

Lie the lands I’ll never see- I, whose longing lives and dies Where a ship has sailed away; I, that never close my eyes But to look upon Cathay.

Things I may not know nor tell Wait, where older waters swell; Ways that flowered at Sappho’s tread, Winds that sighed in Homer’s strings, Vibrant with the singing dead, Golden with the dust of wings.

Under deeper skies than mine, Quiet valleys dip and shine. Where their tender grasses heal Ancient scars of trench and tomb I shall never walk: nor kneel Where the bones of poets bloom.

If I seek a lovelier part, Where I travel goes my heart; Where I stray my thought must go; With me wanders my desire. Best to sit and watch the snow, Turn the lock, and poke the fire.

Jerry Alonzo Leon

Contributor.

Jerry's favorite country to travel to is Spain. When he's on the road, he keeps it real simple with a pen and a pad. His travel style is spontaneous, easygoing, and always in search of a great adventure.

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20 Famous Poems Everyone Needs to Read at Least Once

Give these famous poems a read.

W hat jumps into your mind when you think of the most famous poems ever written? Shakespearean love poems ? Something longer that you might find in a poetry book ? Maybe something by Poe or Dickinson? Or perhaps you're just taking your first steps into the world of poetry, so none of these ring a bell. That's OK. The beauty of poetry is its universal appeal—the most famous poems ever written are just as enjoyable to newcomers as they are to aficionados.

Still, I understand how intimidating it can be to try to navigate an ocean of poetry that you've only dipped your toes into, especially considering its breadth and diversity: There are more authors, publications, movements and subgenres than anybody can read in a lifetime. So where should you start for the best poems about life and all its ups and downs? Make your way through this list, and you'll find yourself 20 poems richer.

These aren't just any poems either—they're some of the most famous and influential lines ever written in the history of the literary form. With these relatively short poems , you'll understand why poets are peerless when it comes to putting our deepest emotions into words.

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1. "Sonnet 18" by William Shakespeare

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer's lease hath all too short a date;

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;

And every fair from fair sometime declines,

By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;

But thy eternal summer shall not fade,

Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st;

Nor shall death brag thou wander'st in his shade,

When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st:

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

So long lives this, and this gives life to thee

Naturally, our list had to start with the Bard. While it is tough to pick a favorite work of William Shakespeare, "Sonnet 18" is definitely a top contender. Not only is it one of the most famous poems ever written, but it's also one of his most beautiful and iconic love poems. Want to express deep affection? Forget those silly roses-are-red poems and start with one of the English language's literary giants.

2. "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" by Emily Dickinson

Because I could not stop for Death—

He kindly stopped for me—

The Carriage held but just Ourselves—

And Immortality.

We slowly drove—He knew no haste

And I had put away

My labor and my leisure too,

For His Civility—

We passed the School, where Children strove

At Recess—in the Ring—

We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain—

We passed the Setting Sun—

Or rather—He passed Us—

The Dews drew quivering and Chill—

For only Gossamer, my Gown—

My Tippet—only Tulle—

We paused before a House that seemed

A Swelling of the Ground—

The Roof was scarcely visible—

The Cornice—in the Ground—

Since then—'tis Centuries—and yet

Feels shorter than the Day

I first surmised the Horses' Heads

Were toward Eternity—

Published posthumously in 1890, "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" is arguably one of the poet's most celebrated and most famous poems. In it, the speaker takes a carriage ride with personified death, who appears not as a menacing reaper but a "kindly" driver taking her to eternity. Like many funeral poems that give comfort to the grieving, Emily Dickinson's piece—and the final stanza, in particular—suggests the dead might live on in the afterlife.

3. "She Walks in Beauty" by Lord Byron

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that's best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes;

Thus mellowed to that tender light

Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,

Had half impaired the nameless grace

Which waves in every raven tress,

Or softly lightens o'er her face;

Where thoughts serenely sweet express,

How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,

So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,

The smiles that win, the tints that glow,

But tell of days in goodness spent,

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent!

An icon of his time, Lord Byron (aka George Gordon) is one of the best-known English poets of the early 19th-century Romantic Movement. He's just as famous for his countless affairs with men and women as he is for his famous poems. It's no surprise, then, that the poet not only inspired the Byronic hero character in fiction but also wrote some of the most romantic lines in poetry. If you're hunting for the perfect love poem for a woman , look no further than Byron's most famous lines. "She Walks in Beauty" praises a woman's inner and outer beauty, complementing physical attributes as well as inner innocence and purity.

4. "O Captain! My Captain!" by Walt Whitman

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,

The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won,

The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,

While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;

But O heart! heart! heart!

O the bleeding drops of red,

Where on the deck my Captain lies,

Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;

Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills,

For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding,

For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;

Here Captain! dear father!

This arm beneath your head!

It is some dream that on the deck,

You've fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,

My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,

The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,

From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;

Exult O shores, and ring O bells!

But I with mournful tread,

Walk the deck my Captain lies,

This poem will be instantly recognizable to fans of the 1989 film Dead Poets Society —in fact, "O Captain! my Captain!" is one of the most memorable quotes from the movie . But even without its mention in the film, Walt Whitman's poem deserves a spot on the list of the most famous poems ever written. Penned in 1865 as a tribute to Abraham Lincoln, who was assassinated that year, "O Captain! My Captain!" is an ode to bravery and untimely death. And it continues to inspire readers centuries later.

5. "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

On the surface, Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" is a beautiful account of the poet's walk in the woods. But dig deeper, and you'll find a lesson wrapped up in Frost's metaphor of a split in the road. This inspirational poem offers a valuable lesson on the importance of singularity and distinct personality. Instead of following the path countless others have taken, forge ahead on the road fewer have trod. It will, as the poet writes, make "all the difference" in life.

6. "Dreams" by Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

For when dreams go

Life is a barren field

Frozen with snow.

Langston Hughes , a significant voice in American poetry, one of the most well-recognized Black poets of the 20th century and the leader of the Harlem Renaissance, writes about the importance of dreams and urges his readers to hold on to theirs. Without our dreams, Hughes says in this short yet powerful poem, our lives lose meaning and we are like birds that cannot fly.

7. "Happy Thought" by Robert Louis Stevenson

The world is so full of a number of things

I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings.

Feeling down about the state of the word? Give "Happy Thought" a read. Robert Louis Stevenson, author of the classic novel Treasure Island , needs only two lines to teach a valuable lesson about gratitude and life's little joys.

8. "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door—

Only this and nothing more."

Edgar Allan Poe's famously dark tone is on full display in this iconic poem about a man's struggle with grief as he descends into madness, captured with intricate symbolism and Poe's Gothic horror themes. The opening above sets the stage for an 18-stanza poem full of despair and longing—and Poe's characteristic eerie undertones. Want to read the full poem? Check out The Raven and Other Poems . It's not the kind of comforting book that will help you grieve ; it's a haunting meditation on love and loss.

9. "How Do I Love Thee?" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace.

I love thee to the level of every day's

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

It's no surprise that many of the most famous poems ever written tackle the joy and heartbreak that comes with love, and if you want a love poem for men , Elizabeth Barrett Browning's work is a fantastic choice. "How Do I Love Thee" describes a love so pure and so strong that it remains unwavering in the face of time and stretches beyond the grave.

10. "I'm Nobody! Who Are You?" by Emily Dickinson

I'm nobody! Who are you?

Are you nobody, too?

Then there's a pair of us—don't tell!

They'd banish us, you know.

How dreary to be somebody!

How public, like a frog

To tell your name the livelong day

To an admiring bog!

As one of America's most well-regarded poets, Emily Dickinson has more than a few famous poems to her name. In this one, she explores themes of anonymity and humility, noting how much better it is to avoid the constant need for recognition, a draining effort she dubs "dreary." These valuable quotes about life are even more significant in a modern world focused on fame, where everyone can be someone with the right social media accounts.

11. "The Wasteland" by T.S. Eliot

April is the cruellest month, breeding

Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing

Memory and desire, stirring

Dull roots with spring rain.

Winter kept us warm, covering

Earth in forgetful snow, feeding

A little life with dried tubers.

Summer surprised us, coming over the Starnbergersee

With a shower of rain; we stopped in the colonnade,

And went on in sunlight, into the Hofgarten,

And drank coffee, and talked for an hour.

Bin gar keine Russin, stamm' aus Litauen, echt deutsch.

And when we were children, staying at the archduke's,

My cousin's, he took me out on a sled,

And I was frightened. He said, Marie,

Marie, hold on tight. And down we went.

In the mountains, there you feel free.

I read, much of the night, and go south in the winter.

One of the most famous poems ever written and arguably the most significant 20th-century work of poetry, "The Wasteland" is T.S. Eliot's 1922 masterpiece. It's one of the longer poems on our list—the above is simply the opening snippet; you can read the full 434-line poem in one of Eliot's poetry collections —and a bleak exploration of modern life. It's a powerful work that changes locations, speakers and time to draw upon the dread of living in the era of World War I.

12. "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand;

Long time the manxome foe he sought—

So rested he by the Tumtum tree

And stood awhile in thought.

If you only know Lewis Carroll through Alice's Adventures in Wonderland , you're missing out on some wonderfully whimsical words. True, Alice in Wonderland quotes are full of seemingly nonsense phrases. But in this funny poem , which appears in Through the Looking-Glass , Carroll outdid himself. It includes many made-up words that were later explained in the novel—and even one, chortle , that later made it into the American lexicon.

13. "I Have a Rendezvous with Death" by Alan Seeger

I have a rendezvous with Death

At some disputed barricade,

When Spring comes back with rustling shade

And apple-blossoms fill the air—

When Spring brings back blue days and fair.

It may be he shall take my hand

And lead me into his dark land

And close my eyes and quench my breath—

It may be I shall pass him still.

On some scarred slope of battered hill,

When Spring comes round again this year

And the first meadow-flowers appear.

God knows 'twere better to be deep

Pillowed in silk and scented down,

Where Love throbs out in blissful sleep,

Pulse nigh to pulse, and breath to breath,

Where hushed awakenings are dear ...

But I've a rendezvous with Death

At midnight in some flaming town,

When Spring trips north again this year,

And I to my pledged word am true,

I shall not fail that rendezvous.

Alan Seeger died an untimely death during World War I but not before gifting the world with this beautiful poem. Published in 1917, "I Have a Rendezvous with Death" explores themes of mortality and ultimately leads to the poet's acceptance of death as the final destination: poetic, yet tragic. The death of a loved one is one of the hardest human experiences, but exploring grief through art and poetry can be transformative.

14. "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

Robert Frost manages to do in nine lines what sagas cannot do in volumes: This simple and symbolic poem highlights the pitfalls of extremity. Fire here is linked to desire, while ice is linked to hatred, and both emotions, according to Frost, can lead to destruction if left untamed. Looking for more must-read poems but perhaps for the younger crowd? There are plenty of poems perfectly suited for kids .

15. "No Man Is an Island" by John Donne

No man is an island,

Entire of itself;

Every man is a piece of the continent,

A part of the main.

If a clod be washed away by the sea,

Europe is the less,

As well as if a promontory were:

As well as if a manor of thy friend's

Or of thine own were.

Any man's death diminishes me,

Because I am involved in mankind.

And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;

It tolls for thee.

John Donne, known as the founder of the Metaphysical Poets, is a 16th-century writer who presents an interesting contrast in his work: Although his background is religious, his poetry is often filled with eroticism, cynicism and themes usually not attributed to the divine. "No Man Is an Island" is an exploration of the power of unity and the downfalls of solitude. Donne's poem is a timeless call for governments and individuals to focus on community.

16. "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" by William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

A prime example of the Romantic Movement, this poem is a celebration of nature . In it, William Wordsworth uses symbolism—clouds, stars, waves and the like—to explore themes of solitude and self-exploration.

17. "A Poison Tree" by William Blake

I was angry with my friend;

I told my wrath, my wrath did end.

I was angry with my foe:

I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I waterd it in fears,

Night & morning with my tears:

And I sunned it with smiles,

And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night.

Till it bore an apple bright.

And my foe beheld it shine,

And he knew that it was mine.

And into my garden stole,

When the night had veild the pole;

In the morning glad I see;

My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

Our list of the most famous poems ever written would not be complete without the work of William Blake, one of the most iconic poets of the English language. "A Poison Tree" explores the destruction of unchecked anger. When we don't deal with our negative emotions but instead nurture them, they can grow out of control. The solution, the poem implies, is to resolve issues before they do harm.

18. "Don Juan" by Lord Byron

When Bishop Berkeley said "there was no matter,"

And proved it—'twas no matter what he said:

They say his system 'tis in vain to batter,

Too subtle for the airiest human head;

And yet who can believe it! I would shatter

Gladly all matters down to stone or lead,

Or adamant, to find the World a spirit,

And wear my head, denying that I wear it.

Anybody slightly familiar with English poetry will instantly recognize the name Lord Byron—and for good reason. As one of the leaders of the Romantic Movement, Byron (George Gordon) wrote many poems that have since been engraved in history. One of his most well-known works, "Don Juan" is a poem of epic proportions filled with adventure and sensuality. At 16,000 lines (divided into 17 cantos), it's also one of the longest poems on this list, though it's worth reading the full story . If you're a fan of sweeping fiction or romance novels , this epic poem is for you.

19. "For the Fallen" by Laurence Binyon

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,

England mourns for her dead across the sea.

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,

Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,

There is music in the midst of desolation

And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

Originally published in The Times in 1914, "For the Fallen" is Laurence Binyon's tribute to the English soldiers fighting for their country during World War I. The lines "They shall grow not old" and "We will remember them" continue to be some of the most famous lines of poetry ever written. The above excerpt is a testament to the poem's power, but it's worth reading the poem in its entirety .

20. "Song of Myself" by Walt Whitman

I celebrate myself, and sing myself,

And what I assume you shall assume,

For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.

I loafe and invite my soul,

I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.

My tongue, every atom of my blood, form'd from this soil, this air,

Born here of parents born here from parents the same, and their parents the same,

I, now thirty-seven years old in perfect health begin,

Hoping to cease not till death.

When I think of the most famous lines of poetry ever written, "I contain multitudes" is one of the first to come to mind. Walt Whitman's celebration of his singularity and uniqueness, which has inspired readers and artists alike—even Bob Dylan—imposes itself as an iconic statement in the history of poetry. The opening stanzas above are just a taste of Whitman's genius. Check out his book Leaves of Grass to read the full poem, which is broken into 52 sections. This is self-love at its most inspired.

The post 20 Famous Poems Everyone Needs to Read at Least Once appeared first on Reader's Digest .

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More by this poet

Love is not all (sonnet xxx), sonnet iii: “mindful of you the sodden earth in spring”.

Mindful of you the sodden earth in spring,     And all the flowers that in the springtime grow,     And dusty roads, and thistles, and the slow Rising of the round moon, all throats that sing The summer through, and each departing wing,     And all the nests that the bared branches show,     And all winds that in any weather blow,

Just a rainy day or two In a windy tower, That was all I had of you— Saving half an hour.

Marred by greeting passing groups In a cinder walk, Near some naked blackberry hoops Dim with purple chalk.

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