15+ Timeless Poems from the 11th Century and Below
(15 to start, 25+ to explore)
Oral traditions, mythology, and religious texts exerted a profound and enduring influence on poetry until the 11th century. In the Western literary tradition, seminal works such as Homer’s ‘Iliad’ and ‘Odyssey’ established the foundational underpinnings of poetic expression. Early Old English poems drew richly from biblical narratives offering expressions of devotion and Christian values, representing prevalent concerns of their time. At the same time, the ballads provide an insight into the local traditions and popular songs.
These poems were both lyrical and dramatic and delved into thematic explorations encompassing heroism, notions of honor, solitude, and the contemplation of ordinary human conditions. In the East, ancient Chinese poetry like the Shi Jing (Book of Songs) or Li Bai’s verses achieved a delicate balance between simplicity and complexity, reflecting the spiritual, political, and social lives of people.
The poems from the ’11th century and below’ offer nuanced reflections on the spiritual, political, societal, and literary concerns of their eras.
The ‘Ars Poetica’ is a 476-line didactic epistolary poem by the Roman poet Horace. This humorous, engaging verse teaches the wannabe poet how to write good stories and develop meaningful art.
It is one of the most influential poems in human history from the classical period. The poem meditates on the art of writing poems and drama, advising the poets about how to write good poetry. It is a crucial text in classical literary theory and offers its times' moral and ethical values. It gained critical significance from the Middle Ages and Renaissance and still holds a crucial position in the literary world and theory. Due to its widespread popularity and critical acclaim, it is one of the best-known poems from the classical Rome period, exemplifying its philosophical and intellectual subject matter.
‘Caedmon’s Hymn’ was sung by a lay worker, Caedmon, from the estate of the monastery of Whitby when the voice of God came to him.
'Caedmon's Hymn' is one of the most significant surviving pieces of literature from Old English. Dating from the late 7th century (around 670), it is considered the oldest surviving literary work in the English language or also the 'first fragment' of English literature. It is also widely accepted as the 'first song of praise' in English and the first Christian religious poem. As the idea of authorship was yet to develop, 'Caedmon's Hymn' notably carries the voice of an everyday layman instead of a conscious artist authoring a work. Having an overtly religious tone, this poem reflects its time as only the Christian monks and nuns could read and write roughly before the 14th century.
Now we must praise heaven-kingdom's Guardian,
The Measurer’s might and his mind-plans,
The work of the Glory-Father, when he of wonders of every one
‘Before The Cask of Wine’ is a beautiful lyric that emphasizes enjoying one’s youthful hours to the fullest. As one can’t savor those moments in old age.
The 8th-century epoch within Chinese literary history holds significant importance. This era witnessed the emergence of renowned Tang dynasty poets such as Li Bai, Du Fu, and Wang Wei, who created some of the most significant works of Chinese poetry. The 8th-century Chinese poetry features refined linguistic expression and evocative imagery, as exemplified by Li Bai's 'Before The Cask of Wine.' Additionally, its engagement with thematics of the elements of nature and the inexorable passage of time makes it a crucial work of its time.
The spring wind comes from the east and quickly passes,
Leaving faint ripples in the wine of the golden bowl.
The flowers fall, flake after flake, myriads together.
Omar Khayyam’s ‘Rubaiyat XII,’ translated by Edward Fitzgerald, celebrates life, exploring happiness amidst transient existence.
Omar Khayyam's 'Rubaiyat' or quatrains were relevant to 11th-century Persia, reflecting the era's intellectual and philosophical currents, exploring existentialism, skepticism, and the transient nature of life. His work is rooted in the cultural and philosophical context of medieval Persia, contributing to the tradition of Persian poetry. 'Rubaiyat' gained popularity in the 19th and early 20th century when Edward Fitzgerald published his English translation of selected quatrains entitled 'Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam' in 1859. This translation resonated with the Victorian readership, who were influenced by romanticism and interested in Eastern literature and philosophy.
The ‘Hymn to Aphrodite’ by Sappho is an ancient lyric in which Sappho begs for Aphrodite’s help in managing her turbulent love life.
'Hymn to Aphrodite' or 'Ode to Aphrodite' is believed to have been written during the 6th century BCE when the major female Greek poet Sappho lived. The poem engages with the subject matter and prominent literary concerns of its time, including love. The classical Greek literature predominantly incorporates Greek mythology and the connection between the Gods and the humans. The Goddess of love, Aphrodite, is significant in Greek literature; her inclusion and interaction with a human make the poem a piece of its time.
‘The Anactoria Poem’ is a widely read love poem in which Sappho uses the story of Helen of Troy to speak on the nature of beauty.
Given Sappho's status in the ancient world and the sparcity of her work, this poem must be regarded as one of the best examples of poetry from the ancient world. Very little of Sappho's work survives to this day, but she was considered the equal of the epic poet, Homer, in the ancient world and influenced countless writers and poets in the following centuries.
Some say thronging cavalry, some say foot soldiers,
others call a fleet the most beautiful of
sights the dark earth offers, but I say it's what-
‘Lord Randall’ shows a mother and son’s conversation about what he did that day and ate for dinner, which takes a dark turn.
'Lord Randall' was a famous ballad from Scottish oral tradition that various writers wrote down later (beginning from the 17th century) due to its immense popularity. The ballads from the late Middle Ages often served as a form of entertainment and passed down lessons to the next generations. This ballad serves as a significant literary work offering an insight into the culture and subject of interest of its time and the generations that passed it down. It has received immense critical investigation and is often read to understand its complex thematics of tragedy and love.
"Oh where ha'e ye been, Lord Randall my son?
O where ha'e ye been, my handsome young man?"
"I ha'e been to the wild wood: mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down."
‘Dream of the Rood’ is a religious poem that presents a dream in which the cross talks about its journey from a tree to the crucifixion.
'The Dream of the Rood' is an intriguing poem from the late 7th century exemplifying the characteristic Christian religion subject of old English poetry. Like other significant early old English poetry, this poem contains intertextual references to Latin hymns with biblical stories at the center. With rich imagery, it excellently exemplifies the style of its time, as the Anglo-Saxon literature is replete with images. Thematically, it explores the idea of solitary existence without the support of the divine, which is found in the poems of its time.
Li Bai’s ‘Taking Leave of a Friend’ uses different literary techniques to convey the themes of transience, nature, longing, and friendship.
This poem is a good representation of 8th-century poetry in China, particularly the Tang dynasty. The poem is characterized by evocative imagery, emotional depth, and a sense of transience and impermanence. It reflects the philosophical and cultural influences of the time, such as Taoism and Confucianism. Compared to other poems of the same time period, 'Taking Leave of a Friend' is considered a masterpiece and a prime example of Li Bai's style and themes. It exemplifies the blending of nature and human emotion that is characteristic of Tang poetry.
Blue mountains lie beyond the north wall;
Round the city's eastern side flows the white water.
‘The Seafarer,’ translated by Ezra Pound, is an Anglo-Saxon poem in which the speaker discusses earthly and spiritual life on the sea.
'The Seafarer' is a significant old English poem from the 'Exeter Book' containing a few surviving old English manuscripts. The poem traces the solitary life of a seafarer during the early Middle Ages. It follows the literary tradition of its time, delving into spiritual and religious realms while recalling old legends and warriors. Notably, dating from the late 10th century, the poem bears the trials of solitary life without the help of God or any noble lord often found in that time's literature.
‘Three with the Moon and His Shadow’ by Li Bai contemplates solitude, friendship, and transcendental connections.
Li Bai's poem 'Three with the Moon and his Shadow' is relevant among 8th-century poems. It captures the spirit of Tang Dynasty poetry with its introspective and emotive style, use of vivid imagery, and exploration of personal experiences. The poem reflects the themes and sensibilities often found in the poetry of the time, showcasing Li Bai's mastery of the form and his ability to evoke a sense of beauty, nature, and human connection.
‘The Wife’s Lament’ by Anonymous is a multi-layered poem in which a speaker expresses her deep sorrow over her husband’s departure.
'The Wife's Lament' is a crucial poem from the 'Exeter book' (compiled during the 10th century) as it is one of the few surviving love poems from Old English. It has garnered much critical attention and is considered to exemplify a genre and style of poetry written during the late Middle Ages, of which most of the poetry is lost today. Known for its female voice and similarity with few other verse manuscripts, the poem is often read to understand the concerns of its time.
‘The Jewel Stairs’ Grievance’ by Li Bai captures the lovelorn yearning of a woman waiting for her lover late at night amidst scenic beauty.
Born at the beginning of the 8th century, Li Bai lived and wrote during the Tang dynasty. This period was considered a golden age of Chinese poetry and his had no small part in defining it so, becoming one of the most well known poets of the period. Some of the tenets of Tang poetry present in this poem include its small number of lines, an illustration of daily life, and its female speaker.
The jewelled steps are already quite white with dew,
It is so late that the dew soaks my gauze stockings,
‘The Wanderer’ is a long Old English poem in which the speaker details the life and struggles of a wanderer.
This poem was written sometime in the 10th century. It belongs to a period in literature where oral storytelling and written manuscripts helped preserve important thoughts about life, death, and human struggle. The poem reflects the harsh conditions and emotional burdens people carried during those times. It was preserved in the Exeter Book, a major collection of Old English poetry, which helped carry its message all the way to modern readers today.
Often the solitary one experiences mercy for himself,
the mercy of the Measurer, although he, troubled in spirit,
Su Tung-Po’s ‘On The Birth of a Son’ explores the place of intelligence in society, examining how it leads to unhappiness rather than joy.
This is an 11th-century poem that was written during the Song Dynasty. It's entertaining and relatable in a way that most readers will likely not expect. It's a great representation of how poetry during this time was often characterized by a focus on human emotions and introspection.
Families when a child is born
Hope it will turn out intelligent.
I, through intelligence
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