15+ Must-Read Poems about Absurdism

(15 to start, 40+ to explore)

Absurdism is a style of writing that is influenced by humanity’s isolation and a lack of logic in the universe. Absurdist fiction came to prominence in the 1950s and 60s.

Absurd works focus on the meaninglessness of the universe and humanity’s attempts to make sense of it. The best examples of the genre show the main characters’ struggle to find any meaning in life. Rather than come to some revelation about their purpose, they remain adrift, knowing that the universe is nothing but chaos.

The writers who are most often tied to absurdism are Franz Kafka, Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Samuel Beckett, Donald Barthelme, and Eugène Ionesco. These authors were influenced by the works of writers like Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe, and Friedrich Nietzsche.

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Epigram Engraved on the Collar of a Dog Which I Gave to His Royal Highness

by Alexander Pope

‘Epigram Engraved on the Collar of a Dog’ is a humorous, playful, and extremely concise poem that presents the dog’s feelings of superiority.

The absurdity of the poem's premise is the root of its humor. In reality, the dog would have no conception of the status of its owner, yet the poem suggests it shares the Prince's status and sense of authority.

I am his Highness' dog at Kew;

Pray tell me, sir, whose dog are you?

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The Cat Metamorphosed Into A Woman

by Jean de La Fontaine

‘The Cat Metamorphosed Into A Woman’ is a playful yet insightful fable that highlights how deeply-ingrained habits and nature can’t be changed, no matter how hard we try.

Absurdism emerges as the poem explores the illogical and humorous consequences of a cat transforming into a woman. The man's superficial actions, hoping to change the woman's identity, reflect an absurd view of human nature and expectations. The absurdity of the situation amplifies the theme of existential questions—what makes us who we are, and is change truly possible?

A bachelor caressed his cat,

A darling, fair, and delicate;

So deep in love, he thought her mew

The sweetest voice he ever knew.

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Tender Buttons [A Chair]

by Gertrude Stein

Gertrude Stein’s ‘A Chair’ transforms a simple object into a symbol of overlooked significance, exploring frustration, routine, and the limits of perception.

This poem’s disjointed, seemingly random nature mirrors the principles of absurdism. Stein challenges traditional narrative logic, leaving the reader with a feeling of discomfort and questioning. The focus on a simple object—like a chair—further highlights how the mundane can hold no inherent meaning, reflecting the absurdity of life itself.

A widow in a wise veil and more garments shows that

shadows are even. It addresses no more, it shadows the

stage and learning. A regular arrangement, the

severest and the most preserved is that which has the

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Tender Buttons [A Red Stamp]

by Gertrude Stein

‘A Red Stamp’ by Gertrude Stein is a poem that explores life’s routine, asking us to reflect on what truly matters.

The poem touches on absurdism by presenting seemingly pointless actions—like the lilies doing something "not necessary"—which reflect a deeper existential questioning. The repetitive nature of the poem mirrors the absurdist idea that life sometimes lacks inherent meaning. This approach makes the reader confront the futility often felt in everyday tasks, aligning with the absurdist thought that life can be irrational and without purpose.

If lilies are lily white if they exhaust noise and distance and even dust,

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Whale Day

by Billy Collins

‘Whale Day’ by Billy Collins takes readers on a journey of quiet reflection, where the everyday collides with nature’s grand mysteries.

The poem plays with absurdism by highlighting the human fascination with a whale sighting, despite the creature’s elusiveness and unpredictability. The characters in the poem point at a whale they cannot fully comprehend or control, reflecting life’s absurd moments where humans cling to fleeting, improbable experiences for meaning or entertainment, mirroring existential themes found in absurdist literature.

Today I was awakened by strong coffee

and the awareness that the earth is busy with whales

even though we can’t see any

unless we have embarked on a whale watch,

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The Telephone Call

by Fleur Adcock

Adcock’s ‘The Telephone Call’ humorously navigates the illusion of luck, emphasizing life’s experiences over material wealth.

It illustrates the ridiculousness of society through a stupid lottery scam. This is because the prize is unrealistically huge, and the ‘‘Retrospective Chances Module’’ is a concept that does not make any sense at all; Adcock can use the absurdity of this to comment on modern consumerism and the illogical nature of such scams.

They asked me 'Are you sitting down?

Right? This is Universal Lotteries,'

they said. 'You've won the top prize,

the Ultra-super Global Special.

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A Final Sonnet

by Ted Berrigan

‘A Final Sonnet’ by Ted Berrigan is a meditative poem that follows a man’s disjointed thoughts as he struggles to comprehend death.

Ted Berrigan's poem, 'A Final Sonnet,' looks at the absurdism of how people live their lives under the looming inevitability of death. The speaker suggests that seemingly important events like birthdays or weddings are ultimately meaningless. His disjointed, seemingly disconnected thoughts have an absurdist quality that reflects the content of the poem.

How strange to be gone in a minute! A man

Signs a shovel and so he digs Everything

Turns into writing a name for a day

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Crow Sickened

by Ted Hughes

‘Crow Sickened’ is a brilliant example of Hughes’ playful style, in which Crow attempts to work out the cause of his misery.

Absurdism is central to the poem as Crow's efforts to escape his suffering seem pointless. Crow's illness represents an absurd situation where his own existence is the source of his pain. His attempts to end his suffering only lead to more suffering. This endless cycle reflects the absurdity of life and the struggle to find meaning. The poem suggests that life is inherently meaningless, yet we continue to search for purpose.

His illness was something could not vomit him up.

Unwinding the world like a ball of wool

Found the last end tied round his own finger.

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Tender Buttons [Eggs]

by Gertrude Stein

‘Eggs’ by Gertrude Stein explores the complexity hidden in ordinary objects, like an everyday object holding unexpected layers of meaning.

'Eggs' embodies absurdism through its fragmented language and lack of clear meaning. Stein’s disjointed phrasing mirrors the chaos and confusion that define absurdist thought, where logic and structure are intentionally subverted. In a world where sense often seems unattainable, 'Eggs' reflects the absurd nature of human existence, where order eludes us, and randomness prevails.

Kind height, kind in the right stomach with a little

sudden mill.

Cunning shawl, cunning shawl to be steady.

In white in white handkerchiefs with little dots in a

#10

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Money Madness

by D.H. Lawrence

In ‘Money Madness,’ D.H. Lawrence shows how society’s obsession with money creates fear and unfairness. He urges us to provide food, shelter, and warmth for everyone, instead of letting money control us.

Lawrence shows the absurdity of how society views money. He thinks it's crazy how people act as if money is more important than basic human decency. This obsession seems ridiculous to him. He points out how people fear money and treat it as if it has power over them. Lawrence criticizes this strange and irrational behavior.

But it is not money we are so terrified of,

it is the collective money-madness of mankind.

For mankind says with one voice: How much is he worth?

Has he no money? Then let him eat dirt, and go cold.–

#11

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London is Full of Chickens on Electric Spits

by Peter Porter

‘London is Full of Chickens on Electric Spits’ by Peter Porter compares the way chickens are treated to conditions in Auschwitz.

There is a certain sense of absurdism to this poem. The poet creates an exaggerated and absurd scenario where there are chickens everywhere on spits. Then, the poet imagines that the chickens have feelings about what is happening and that they express their opinions about it. The poet uses this exaggerated scenario as a way to show how they feel about the way the chickens are treated.

London is full of chickens on electric spits,

Cooking in windows where the public pass.

This, say the chickens, is their Auschwitz,

And all poultry eaters are psychopaths.

#12

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Peace, Blessed Peace

by Edward Dyson

‘Peace, Blessed Peace’ by Edward Dyson brings humor and horror together, highlighting soldiers’ resilience in the face of relentless war.

The poem embodies absurdism through its darkly humorous portrayal of a soldier prioritizing a toothache over imminent death. Dyson uses Trigger Ribb’s relentless focus on his personal discomfort amidst battlefield chaos to highlight the absurdity of human existence. This irony underscores how mundane struggles can feel overwhelming even in life-or-death situations, reflecting absurdism’s exploration of irrationality and survival.

Here in the flamin' thick of thick of things,

With Death across the way, 'n' traps

What little Fritz the German flings

Explodin' in yer lunch pe'aps,

#13

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The Naming Of Cats

by T.S. Eliot

‘The Naming of Cats’ is a light verse explaining how cats have three different names: a family name, a peculiar name, and a secretive name.

'The Naming of Cats' bears an absurd subject and exploration as the poem goes on to explore its own claim that all cats have three names. It attributes an absurd reason for the occasional meditative behavior of the cat; the poem explains that the cats think about their unique third name whenever they are found to be in "profound meditation."

The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,

It isn’t just one of your holiday games;

You may think at first I’m as mad as a hatter

When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.

#14

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The Rowing Endeth

by Anne Sexton

In ‘The Rowing Endeth,’ Anne Sexton reminds us that life’s challenges, though unpredictable, hold moments of unexpected joy.

The poem navigates absurdism through its surreal portrayal of a poker game with divine intervention. It emphasizes the chaos and unpredictability of life, where logic and reason crumble under the weight of unexpected outcomes. The dealer’s impossible hand reflects the absurdity of existence, inviting readers to confront the lack of control in their lives. Through this lens, the poem highlights the tension between human striving and the randomness of fate.

I’m mooring my rowboat

at the dock of the island called God.

This dock is made in the shape of a fish

and there are many boats moored

#15

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The Last Laugh

by Wilfred Owen

In ‘The Last Laugh,’ Wilfred Owen explores the sudden death of three soldiers, who, when dying, invoked their loved ones or religion in a bid to feel closer.

The poem employs absurdism in the beggars selling their emotions to mechanical soldiers while the latter responds with cold metallic voices. Irony and personification of weapons show that Owen tries to make people seek solace in such killings that are useless and meaningless because human life becomes a mere comedy.

‘O Jesus Christ! I’m hit,’ he said; and died.

Whether he vainly cursed or prayed indeed,

The Bullets chirped—In vain, vain, vain!

Machine-guns chuckled—Tut-tut! Tut-tut!

Home » Collection » Poems about Absurdism

15+ Must-Read Poems about Absurdism

(15 to start, 40+ to explore)

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15+ Must-Read Poems about Absurdism

(15 to start, 40+ to explore)

by Alexander Pope

by Jean de La Fontaine

by Gertrude Stein

by Gertrude Stein

by Billy Collins

by Fleur Adcock

by Ted Berrigan

by Ted Hughes

by Gertrude Stein

by D.H. Lawrence

by Peter Porter

by Edward Dyson

by T.S. Eliot

by Anne Sexton

by Wilfred Owen

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