15+ Thrilling Poems about Adventure

(15 to start, 30+ to explore)

Whether setting sail across uncharted seas or venturing deep into the forest’s heart, adventure poems champion navigating uncharted territories or embarking on romantic escapades while inspiring awe, thrill, and wonder. Through striking imagery and captivating narratives, these poems serve as literary vessels, taking readers to diverse times, places, and unexpected circumstances.

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Some of these poetic journeys are grounded in reality, while others embrace the inclusion of supernatural or surrealistic elements. Some poems dive into the adventurous depths of our subconscious, offering a ride into wild imaginations.

Some of these poetic odysseys heed the primal call of the wild, celebrating nature’s raw beauty. Others serve as rallying calls for seizing the day and confronting life’s myriad challenges head-on. From classic tales of perilous expeditions and journeys into the unknown to whimsical fables of dragons and gallant heroes, adventure poems take the readers into an engaging, thrilling, and joyous ride.

Ultimately, these poems encapsulate the very essence of human curiosity and the relentless yearning for discovery ingrained within us. They celebrate the inherent bravery and indomitable spirit that drive us to explore the unexplored and know the unknown.

Poem Explorer Poetry Archives

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"> 96/100

Ithaka

by C. P. Cavafy

‘Ithaka’ by the Greek poet Constantine Peter Cavafy presents his unique take on Odysseus’s journey to Ithaca, his home island.

The poem opens with a desire for the road to be long and full of adventure and discovery. Further, it depicts the diverse experiences that adventures offer, from encountering new cultures and gaining knowledge to shopping and indulging in sensual pleasures. Life experiences gained along the journey enrich travelers' minds like nothing else and thus, the speaker says, 'But don't hurry the journey at all / Better if it lasts for years.' The poem embraces adventures, suggesting that they provide invaluable lessons, wisdom, and a deeper understanding of life, as after the journey - 'Wise as you will have become, so full of experience.'

As you set out for Ithaka

hope your road is a long one,

full of adventure, full of discovery.

Laistrygonians, Cyclops,

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Nationality: English

Themes: Aging, Death, Desire, Identity, Journey, Spirituality

Emotions: Compassion, Courage, Excitement, Joyfulness

Topics: Heroism, History, Home, Life, Life Struggles, Mythology

Form: Blank Verse

Genre:

Adventure

"> 93/100

Ulysses

by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Alfred Lord Tennyson’s dramatic monologue, ‘Ulysses,’ presents the indomitable courage and adventurous zeal of old Ulysses.

The poem captures the innate human curiosity, the insatiable thirst for adventure, and the unknown. Ulysses' impassioned call to embark on one last voyage embodies the universal desire to explore and discover, presenting the human spirit's refusal to be confined by the mundane or the familiar. Instead of passively accepting death, the poem advocates adventure, even if it means dying sooner. Tennyson's depiction celebrates Ulysses' boundless curiosity and undaunted spirit, emphasizing the courage in his relentless pursuit of adventure - portraying it as a testament to the human spirit's capacity for exploration.

It little profits that an idle king,

By this still hearth, among these barren crags,

Match'd with an aged wife, I mete and dole

Unequal laws unto a savage race,

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Nationalities: Canadian, English

Themes: Beauty, Love, Nature

Topics: Art, Inspiration

Genre:

Adventure

"> 92/100

The Call of the Wild

by Robert Service

Robert Service wrote ‘The Call of the Wild’ from the middle of the wilderness to fervently invite his readers to join in the experience.

Service invites readers to immerse themselves in nature's untamed beauty with evocative imagery of various landscapes. The poem beckons readers to heed the call of the wild, to take the 'challenge, learn the lesson, pay the cost,' as the wild is 'wanting you' and 'calling you.' It evokes the thrill of adventure and asks 'let us go' to venture into the unknown and embrace the challenges and rewards it offers. It encapsulates the allure of nature's grandeur and the primal call it exerts on the human soul, inspiring a sense of curiosity and exploration.

Have you gazed on naked grandeur where there's nothing else to gaze on,

Set pieces and drop-curtain scenes galore,

Big mountains heaved to heaven, which the blinding sunsets blazon,

Black canyons where the rapids rip and roar?

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"> 90/100

Far over the misty mountains cold

by J.R.R. Tolkien

‘Far over the Misty Mountains Cold’ by J.R.R. Tolkien depicts the destruction of Thorin Oakenshield’s home and his desire to win it back.

The poem embodies the classic adventure theme by portraying a daring quest of the hero. It follows the journey of Thorin Oakenshield and his band of dwarves as they set out to reclaim their ancestral treasure, guarded by the fearsome dragon Smaug. The verses are alive with imagery, depicting perilous dungeons, caverns, and majestic yet treacherous mountains. With rhythmic language, Tolkien spins a tale of bravery, hardship, and the triumph of good over evil. It's a captivating adventure that lures readers to join the quest, making it a timeless and enjoyable tale.

Far over the misty mountains cold

To dungeons deep and caverns old

We must away ere break of day

To seek the pale enchanted gold.

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"> 88/100

Part I: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is a lyrical ballad narrated by an old sailor about a mysterious sea journey.

The poem is an adventure because it follows a sailor’s long and dangerous journey at sea. The Mariner and his crew sail into unknown waters, facing storms, ice, and supernatural events. The story is full of excitement, danger, and survival, which are key elements of an adventure. The Mariner’s experiences change him forever, showing how a journey can lead to important lessons and personal transformation.

He holds him with his glittering eye—

The Wedding-Guest stood still,

And listens like a three years' child:

The Mariner hath his will.

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"> 85/100

Kubla Khan

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Coleridge’s ‘Kubla Khan’ describes the poet’s dream of visiting the palace of a Mongol emperor who ruled the ancient Chinese Yuan Dynasty.

Coleridge's opium-induced state and hallucinations led him on a distinct psychological adventure, where he delved into the fantastical realm of Kubla Khan's Xanadu. This poetic voyage, sparked by the unconscious mind, reflects the adventurous spirit of creativity itself as the poet takes readers from the pleasant to the chaotic and eerie journey of the fictitious river Alph. Thus, through his drug-induced reverie, Coleridge embarked on an exploration of imagination and creativity, unveiling landscapes that represent or embody these processes, ultimately writing this poem and making the poetry writing process an intriguing adventure.

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan

A stately pleasure-dome decree:

Where Alph, the sacred river, ran

Through caverns measureless to man

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"> 83/100

Jabberwocky

by Lewis Carroll

A nonsense poem filled with wordplay, ‘Jabberwocky’ by Lewis Carroll tells the story of the hero’s quest to slay the Jabberwock.

The poem's adventure lies in the classic tale of a hero slaying a dragon-like creature, the Jabberwock. It adds excitement through its whimsical nature and imaginative language, as well as by many fantastical creatures like the 'Jubjub bird' and the 'frumious Bandersnatch.' Children and often adults are drawn to such adventures because they offer an escape into a world of magic and wonder, where they can unleash their creativity and embark on daring quests, fostering a sense of excitement, thrill, joy, and curiosity.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

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"> 80/100

High Flight

by John Gillespie Magee

Magee’s ‘High Flight’ tells the exhilaration and freedom of flight, capturing the fearless spirit of those who leave the earth behind to fly.

Despite being amidst war, Magee paints a vivid picture of adventure through flight, illustrating how the spirit of adventure can thrive even amid war. The poem describes the flying adventure as slipping the 'bonds of Earth' and dancing through the skies with 'laughter-silvered wings.' The imagery of soaring through 'sunlit silence' and 'wind-swept heights' evokes a sense of awe and excitement. Magee's depiction of flight as a surreal, romantic, and divine experience shows the presence of calmness amidst the thrilling adventure.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

of sun-split clouds,—and done a hundred things

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"> 78/100

Part II: The Rime of The Ancient Mariner

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

‘Part II: The Rime of The Ancient Mariner’ sees the Mariner’s regret in killing the albatross, triggering a curse of thirst and stagnation.

This poem fits into the adventure genre because it follows the mariner’s long and dangerous journey at sea. It begins with excitement and exploration, but soon things take a dark turn when the mariner kills the albatross. The story is filled with supernatural events, terrifying experiences, and lessons about fate. Like most adventure stories, the mariner faces struggles, survives against all odds, and returns with a lesson to share.

The Sun now rose upon the right:

Out of the sea came he,

Still hid in mist, and on the left

Went down into the sea.

#10

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"> 76/100

From A Railway Carriage

by Robert Louis Stevenson

‘From a Railway Carriage’ by Robert Louis Stevenson wakes up rather sudden and instantaneous images of the rustic countryside; it overcomes the reader with impressions of the brevity of life and its rich variety.

Adventure is described and elaborated by featuring a rather fascinating mode of transport, a train. Stevenson uses graphic images and a swift pace to get the sense of traveling and discovering something viewing out of the window. The various activities described in the poem and its rather rhythmic pace are effectively conveyed, thus, the idea of adventures and perambulation.

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:

#11

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"> 73/100

Part V: The Rime of The Ancient Mariner

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

In ‘Part V: The Rime of The Ancient Mariner,’ the dead crew rises, guided by spirits, in a quest for redemption. Supernatural meets divine.

The genre of adventure clearly fits this part of the poem. The mariner is sailing across the sea, facing strange forces, unnatural calm, and ghostly crew members. The movement of the ship without wind and the eerie voices in the air add tension to his journey. These events give a strong feeling of danger and mystery. Since the poem is famous and its story centers on travel and survival, this genre is especially fitting.

The other was a softer voice,

As soft as honey-dew:

Quoth he, 'The man hath penance done,

And penance more will do.'

#12

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"> 70/100

Night Mail

by W.H. Auden

W.H. Auden’s ‘Night Mail,’ written for the UK postal service, presents its significance and dedication to fulfilling society’s needs.

This is an enjoyable poem that takes readers on an exciting journey on the night postal train as it traverses diverse landscapes across England and Scotland. It takes readers through farms, streams, and boulders while descending towards Glasgow, navigating steam tugs, fields of apparatus, and dark plains resembling gigantic chessmen. The poem's rhythm makes this adventurous journey alive by emulating the train's dynamic movement and pace.

This is the night mail crossing the Border,

Bringing the cheque and the postal order,

Letters for the rich, letters for the poor,

The shop at the corner, the girl next door.

#13

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Nationality: English

Theme: Beauty

Topics: Heaven, Life, Sun, Time

Genre:

Adventure

"> 63/100

To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time

by Robert Herrick

‘To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time’ tells the speaker’s views about time’s impact on a woman’s beauty and how she should not waste it.

The poem advocates the carpe diem idea of seizing the moment rather than passively waiting for time to pass. Like carpe diem, adventure encourages a fulfilling approach to life, encouraging new experiences that are free from the constraints of passivity. By embracing adventure, individuals make the most of their time and enrich their lives with vibrant memories and meaningful experiences.

Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,

Old Time is still a-flying;

And this same flower that smiles today

Tomorrow will be dying.

#14

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"> 60/100

The Sea and the Hills

by Rudyard Kipling

‘The Sea and the Hills’ by Rudyard Kipling depicts the ocean, its heaving waves, incredible winds, and ever-present danger. It has evoked longing in men throughout time and will continue to do so, just as one longs to return home.

'The Sea and the Hills' fits into the adventure genre. The poem describes the exciting and dangerous life of sailors. Kipling captures the thrill of facing the unpredictable ocean. He shows the sailors' courage and their longing for the sea. The poem highlights the adventurous spirit of exploring the vast and powerful ocean.

Who hath desired the Sea? - the sight of salt water unbounded -

The heave and the halt and the hurl and the crash of the comber wind-hounded?

The sleek-barrelled swell before storm, grey, foamless, enormous, and growing

Stark calm on the lap of the Line or the crazy-eyed hurricane blowing -

#15

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"> 55/100

Zoom!

by Simon Armitage

‘Zoom!’ by Simon Armitage is a thoughtful poem about the vast nature of the universe. It also emphasizes the tiny role humans have to play in it.

Adventure is fitting for this poem, as it takes readers from familiar settings on earth to the far reaches of the universe. The genre creates a feeling of excitement and exploration, making each new scene feel like a step into the unknown. Through this adventurous tone, the poem encourages readers to see the world as a place of endless discovery, where ordinary life connects to something vast and mysterious.

It begins as a house, an end terrace

in this case

but it will not stop there. Soon it is

an avenue

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15+ Thrilling Poems about Adventure

(15 to start, 30+ to explore)

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15+ Thrilling Poems about Adventure

(15 to start, 30+ to explore)

by C. P. Cavafy

by Alfred Lord Tennyson

by Robert Service

by J.R.R. Tolkien

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

by Lewis Carroll

by John Gillespie Magee

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

by Robert Louis Stevenson

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

by W.H. Auden

by Robert Herrick

by Rudyard Kipling

by Simon Armitage

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