Poems about the soul delve into the profound essence of human identity and consciousness. These verses explore the intangible and spiritual aspects of being, expressing emotions, thoughts, and inner experiences.
Poets can capture the depths of human emotions, such as love, joy, sorrow, and introspection. These poems can also contemplate the nature of the soul, pondering questions of existence, purpose, and the eternal that is so important throughout poetry.
Through these heartfelt expressions, poems about the soul seek to connect with readers on a deeper level in a way everyone can relate to.
‘A Noiseless Patient Spider’ by Walt Whitman is a beautiful discussion of the human soul that uses a spider as a metaphor.
This piece focuses in heavily on the human soul, using a spider to represent it. It asks readers to connect the human soul to the way the spider behaves.
A noiseless patient spider,
I mark’d where on a little promontory it stood isolated,
Mark’d how to explore the vacant vast surrounding,
It launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself,
‘Love in Moonlight’ explores human vulnerability, nature’s beauty, and cosmic connections amidst moonlit scenes, evoking profound emotions and wonder.
'Love in Moonlight' addresses the topic of the soul by portraying it as filled with the transformative fire of moonlight. Louise Glück suggests that moments of vulnerability and connection allow individuals to bare their souls, sharing their deepest emotions. The poem implies that the soul is intimately connected to the natural world, resonating with the cosmic forces of the universe under the enchanting glow of the moon.
Sometimes a man or woman forces his despairon another person, which is calledbaring the heart, alternatively, baring the soul–meaning for this moment they acquired souls–
Rumi’s ‘The Guest House’ is a didactic poem that asks us to view emotions as separate, fleeting entities, coming and going like visitors.
This poem deeply resonates with the concept of the soul. The metaphorical guest house symbolizes the human body, while the guests represent the various emotions and experiences that visit us throughout life. In this context, the soul can be seen as the host, welcoming and accommodating these guests. The poem encourages the nurturing and acceptance of all experiences, suggesting a deeper connection to the soul's journey of growth and enlightenment. Its profound message aligns closely with spiritual beliefs regarding the soul's journey and its interaction with worldly experiences.
‘An Agony. As Now.’ is an ambiguous poem portraying a speaker who shares a mutual hatred for his body. The soul elaborates on the reason for his hatred; he is totally disconnected from his flesh who is rather incapable of feeling but pretends to feel anyhow.
'An Agony. As Now.' is centered on the human soul, so much that the speaker himself is a soul. The poem emphasizes the consequences of a disconnect between the body and soul: pain. It also mentions various reasons for this disconnect, the speaker's environment being a major factor. In many ways, it shows how the dreariness of one's surroundings can cause one's body to become numb. This often results in one simply rehearsing daily routines aimlessly, like the people in the poem.
Dickinson’s ‘The Soul selects her own Society’ depicts a Soul that isolates herself and selectively chooses one companion.
The Soul symbolizes the essence of human identity, representing the deepest, most intrinsic aspect of one's being. The Soul's deliberate choice to select her own society reflects an inherent desire for solitude and authenticity. This symbolizes the innate longing for genuine connections and the autonomy to live on one's own terms. Moreover, the Soul's way of living underscores the importance of individuality, self-awareness, and listening to one's inner voice for true fulfillment.
‘Come, said My Soul’ by Walt Whitman expresses a poetic desire to intimately entwine one’s identity, body and soul, with their art.
A topic this poem by Walt Whitman explores is the soul. It is this abstract and personified spirit that addresses the speaker throughout the poem, urging them to write something that will outlast them. But it will also be so synonymous with their identity that when it is read or appreciated, it will have the effect of breathing existence back into them.
Come, said my Soul
Such verses for my Body let us write, (for we are one,)
Dai’s ‘Small Towns and The River’ juxtaposes the impermanent nature of human existence with the perpetual flow of the river.
The soul is mentioned directly in the line “The river has a soul” and is felt throughout the poem. The river seems to carry more than water. It holds memory, feeling, and a quiet awareness of life and death. The soul is also present in how the poet talks about people leaving the world and becoming part of something greater. This sense of the soul helps bring peace to the sadness in the poem, giving it lasting meaning.
‘Leisure’ is one of the best-known poems written by the Welsh poet W. H. Davies. In this poem, Davies highlights how modernity alienated us from simplicity.
The poet seems to be suggesting in this piece that humankind is doing wrong by their souls in this piece. It is important to live simply and in a way that keeps you connected to the earth, the poet implies.
‘Holy Sonnet XIII’ by John Donne is a religious poem that discusses the poet’s mortality and change of opinion when it comes to beauty and the state of his soul.
The soul's eternal essence and its residence within the heart are highlighted. Donne's dialogue with his soul enhances its significance in his spiritual quest for redemption.
What if this present were the world's last night ?
‘Sonnet 146,’ also known as ‘Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth,’ addresses the state of the speaker’s soul. He admonishes it for allowing him to worry about earthly pleasures.
The soul is at the heart of the poem, with the speaker addressing it directly, pleading for a shift in focus from outward distractions to inner growth. He sees the soul as the core of his being, where true peace can be found, unlike the body, which is temporary. This emphasis on the soul reflects a desire for lasting purpose and fulfillment that material things cannot provide.
‘A Psalm of Life’ by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow describes life’s purpose and struggles and the best way to confront them daily.
In contrast to the body, which returns to dust after death, the poem emphasizes that the soul is lasting and active. The speaker argues that the soul should not remain idle or asleep, as it is the part of us meant for deeper purpose and direction. He believes the soul must lead us to live meaningfully, act with heart, and make an impact. This belief shapes much of the poem’s moral and spiritual outlook.
‘Spirits of the Dead’ by Edgar Allan Poe is a beautiful poem that describes life and death. Specifically, the poet dwells on what it means to move from one world to the next.
The poem portrays the soul as eternal, continuing its journey after physical death. Poe suggests that the soul remains active and connected with the living, emphasizing its lasting nature. This perspective offers hope and reassurance, inviting readers to reflect on the spiritual aspects of life and the soul's ongoing influence.
‘Unholy Sonnet 13’ appears in the modern American poet Mark Jarman’s award-winning poetry collection Questions for Ecclesiastes (1997). This sonnet is about a matured speaker’s belief in God and the miraculous beauty of nature.
The idea of the soul emerges through the speaker’s realization of a deeper connection with nature and existence. The poem suggests that the soul is awakened through experiences of beauty and introspection, and it is in these moments that the speaker feels a divine presence, linking the soul’s growth to spiritual awareness.
One of Cummings’ seminal pieces, this poem is also one of the greatest love poems ever written, with its beautiful refrain. It isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel – this is simply a person telling another person how much they care and it’s done in a timelessly beautiful way.
The poem is filled with the sense that love is not limited to what can be seen or touched but belongs to the soul. The speaker treats this bond as something spiritual, existing on a level that cannot be broken by time or distance. This idea of the soul brings a quiet depth to the poem, suggesting that their connection is eternal and unchanging, rooted in something far greater than the physical world.
‘A Lady’ contrasts youth’s fleeting sparkle with the profound beauty of age, likening an elderly woman’s essence to timeless art.
Amy Lowell includes the word “soul” in the poem and gives it a quiet, almost sacred presence. The speaker treats the woman’s soul like something fragrant and full, shaped by time. It is not discussed in depth, but the way it’s mentioned suggests something lasting and deeply personal. The image of sealed spice-jars holding scent captures how the soul holds pieces of a person’s life. It is gently done, but still leaves an impression.
Our Poem Guides, PDFs, Study Tools, and Articles are created by a team of qualified poetry experts to provide an unparalleled in-depth look into poetry.
