Poems about fate unravel the enigmatic threads that weave through our lives, exploring the belief in predetermined destinies and the forces that shape our existence. These verses can contemplate the intricate interplay between choice and circumstance, often questioning the extent to which a predetermined path guides our lives.
In these poetic compositions, fate becomes an ethereal presence, guiding our steps and shaping our experiences. These poems delve into the mysteries of time, the dance between chance and choice, and destiny’s profound impact on our lives.
‘Waiting’ by John Burroughs is an interesting, powerful poem written by a poet born in the mid-19th century. It asserts his, or a persona’s opinion about his fate.
Fate is one of the most important topics in this unique poem. The speaker is entirely committed to allowing his fate to play out as it will. There is nothing he does, he knows, that can change it.
‘The Lockless Door’ is a short narrative poem that details an attempt to hide from inevitable change as both futile and hindersome.
Fate is another important topic explored in the poem, as the speaker's encounter with the knock proves that certain events or confrontations are inevitable. The noise itself, one long-awaited, is characterized as a manifestation of destiny, something that cannot be escaped. Another element of that unavoidable nature is the door being "lockless" which implies that there was never any real barrier to keep fate at bay in the first place. Then there is the repetition of the knock, reinforcing the idea that fate persists no matter how much one wishes to evade it.
Shakespeare’s ‘Sonnet 14’ ‘Not from the stars do I my judgment pluck,’ prophesies the end of the fair youth’s truth and beauty if they don’t procreate.
The speaker rejects traditional astrology, which centers on the idea of fate or a predetermined destiny within the larger universe revealed by the stars. Instead, they find faith in the addressee's eyes, which reveal true knowledge rather than predictions while elevating the individual above the cosmos. Moreover, mortality is considered a fact or fundamental reality rather than destiny, as the speaker finds a solution to transcend it through procreation. Procreation, too, depends on the addressee's choice, giving them control over their life, legacy, beauty, and truth while rejecting the idea that larger forces shape fate.
‘Thanks’ describes the tiny permutations that can dictate whether a person lives or dies to reflect on the true nature of luck and choice.
The poem highlights how much we all rely on fate in our lives. The obvious example in the poem is the flight of the sniper's bullet, which might have been very different. However, there are countless other instances in which fate plays enormous parts in the trajectory of the speaker's life, just as it does with us all. The illusion is that we all end up where we do solely on account of our choices.
Tennyson’s ‘The Lady of Shalott’ narrates the tale of the cursed Lady entrapped in a tower on the island of Shalott, who meets a tragic end.
Fate is intrinsic to the Lady's situation, reflecting Victorian confines. The curse symbolizes the rigid moral expectations placed on women, dictating their preordained fate, exposing Victorian society's treatment of women through the Lady's tragedy. She accepts her fate without resistance, adhering to orthodox Victorian morality as her transformation into an object of art in death preserves her innocence and the virginity she could lose while transgressing societal boundaries in her passion.
‘The River’ by Sara Teasdale narrates the poignant merging of the river in the sea from the personified river’s perspective.
The poem has an underlying idea of an inescapable fate. Readers are aware that the river would ultimately merge into the sea; however, this poem tells the back story from the river's perspective, giving the factual truth a dramatic edge. Thus, the river's naive choice and hopeful expectations are all working towards the fulfillment of a larger predetermined destiny. The readers' awareness of the river's fate accentuates the emotions of pain and sorrow as they see the river's vain cries to the valley and how the relentless sea consumes it.
‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is a lyrical ballad narrated by an old sailor about a mysterious sea journey.
Fate plays a huge role in 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', as the Mariner’s actions lead to unavoidable consequences. Killing the albatross brings disaster, and no matter what he does, he cannot escape his punishment. The poem suggests that fate is shaped by choices, and once the Mariner makes his mistake, he must face the results, showing how destiny can feel both cruel and inescapable.
Robert Frost’s ‘The Road Not Taken’ explores life’s choices, opportunities, and the ensuing lingering regret of untaken paths.
Despite the illusion of agency, the speaker's decisions are ultimately constrained by fate's unseen hand. The lack of information and the similarity between the paths suggest a predetermined outcome, rendering the speaker's choice almost inconsequential. This hints at the overarching influence of fate in shaping human destinies, where the illusion of choice masks the underlying inevitability of predetermined paths and outcomes.
Charles Baudelaire’s ‘A Carcass’ intertwines beauty and decay, startling the readers through graphic imagery.
The carcass symbolizes the inescapable fate that awaits all living things. The poem suggests that decomposition processes follow a predetermined path, a fate that every being shares. The speaker's address to the beloved, predicting her eventual decomposition, underscores the idea of this shared destiny. The poem foregrounds the fundamental inevitable fate awaiting human beings that leads to decay and into the embrace of the natural cycle.
‘My Butterfly’ by Richard Frost is a poignant reflection on life’s fleeting beauty and inevitable loss.
The poem addresses the topic of fate through the speaker’s reflection on the butterfly and its fate. Generally, the speaker’s contemplation of the butterfly’s part in the world seems predestined owing to Frost’s contemplative attitude and effective gestures towards imagery. The liberty of the butterfly’s flight and the contemplations of the speaker regarding his destiny expresses submission to the powers that control life and death.
Alfred Lord Tennyson’s ‘Oenone’ weaves heart-wrenching verses as Oenone, spurned by Paris, faces solitude, despair, and a haunting future.
The poem contemplates the theme of fate, portraying Oenone's destiny intertwined with love and despair. Fate becomes a looming force shaping her life, influencing choices, and determining outcomes. Through eloquent verses, Tennyson delves into the intricate dance between free will and predestined paths, prompting reflection on the inevitability of fate in the tapestry of human existence.
‘Ten Little Soldiers’ was included in Agatha Christie’s classic mystery novel, ‘And Then There Were None.’ It iserves as an epigraph, appearing at the beginning of the book, and is connected with all ten deaths that occur on the island. It is unclear who wrote the first version of this nursery rhyme.
Fate is a central topic in the poem, as it explores how each soldier's death seems predestined and unavoidable. The poem emphasizes that no matter what actions the soldiers take, their end is already determined. This inevitability creates a sense of helplessness, as the soldiers are powerless against the forces controlling their destiny, reinforcing the idea that fate is inescapable.
Ten little Soldier Boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine.
Nine little Soldier Boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight.
Eight little Soldier Boys travelling in Devon; One said he'd stay there and then there were seven.
Seven little Soldier Boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.
In ‘The Rowing Endeth,’ Anne Sexton reminds us that life’s challenges, though unpredictable, hold moments of unexpected joy.
The poem explores fate by dramatizing how life often unfolds unpredictably, regardless of preparation. The speaker’s carefully constructed royal flush becomes irrelevant against the dealer’s wild cards, underscoring the futility of trying to control outcomes. This portrayal reflects the universal experience of grappling with forces beyond human influence, making the topic of fate relatable and impactful.
‘Because I could not stop for death,’ Dickinson’s best-known poem, is a depiction of one speaker’s journey into the afterlife with personified “Death” leading the way.
Fate is a recurring theme in this poem as the speaker is taken on a predestined journey toward eternity. The poem suggests that death is a predetermined event, inviting readers to contemplate the role of fate in the human experience.
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