15 Significant Poems about Surviving

(Poems 1-15)

Poems about surviving are powerful expressions of resilience and strength in the face of adversity. These verses capture the indomitable human spirit, navigating through challenges, and emerging stronger on the other side.

They portray the courage to confront life’s trials head-on, acknowledging the scars of past struggles while embracing the triumphs of survival. Poems about surviving may recount personal stories of overcoming hardship, symbolizing the universal human experience of resilience.

Through their evocative words, these poems offer hope, inspiration, and a reminder that even in the darkest moments.

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"> 82/100

Momma Welfare Roll

by Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou’s ‘Momma Welfare Roll’ vividly portrays resilience and defiance amid societal judgment, navigating poverty with unwavering agency.

'Momma Welfare Roll' masterfully explores survival through the woman's resilience. Vivid imagery, societal judgment, and bureaucratic challenges portray a survival narrative. The cyclic repetition of hardships emphasizes enduring struggles. The poem captures the complexities of survival in the face of adversity, reflecting the woman's determination to navigate poverty, societal bias, and bureaucratic hurdles.

Her arms semaphore fat triangles,

Pudgy hands bunched on layered hips

Where bones idle under years of fatback

And lima beans.

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The Almond Trees

by Derek Walcott

‘The Almond Trees’ By Derek Walcott is a confessional poem about identity, history, and cultural identity.

This poem shows horrific images of events that people had to endure from slavery. The speaker details the abuse the culture went through and how they survived the brutal violence put upon them. The poem is about surviving, as the main characters are the sunbathers, the surviving descendants of those who lived through hard times.

There's nothing here

this early;

cold sand

cold churning ocean, the Atlantic,

no visible history,

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Thrushes

by Ted Hughes

‘Thrushes’ by Ted Hughes depicts predatory birds with precision likened to steel, embodying primal instinct and efficiency in their actions.

The poem addresses the topic of surviving through its vivid portrayal of the instinctual drive for survival in the natural world. The poem captures the relentless pursuit of prey by the thrushes, highlighting the harsh realities of survival and the challenges faced in the ecosystem. It underscores the resilience and adaptability required to navigate and thrive in the face of adversity.

Terrifying are the attent sleek thrushes on the lawn,
More coiled steel than living - a poised
Dark deadly eye, those delicate legs
Triggered to stirrings beyond sense - with a start, a bounce,

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Storm Fear

by Robert Frost

‘Storm Fear’ by Robert Frost is a memorable poem. In it, the speaker describes hiding inside his home, trying to protect his family from a storm.

The theme of survival is central to the poem, with the family’s focus on making it through the storm. The speaker expresses doubts about their ability to survive, reflecting the desperation that comes when circumstances seem out of control. The cold creeping in and the dying fire symbolize the struggle to endure life’s difficulties and the determination needed to keep going through dark times.

When the wind works against us in the dark,

And pelts the snow

The lower chamber window on the east,

And whispers with a sort of stifled bark,

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Two Lines from the Brothers Grimm

by Gregory Orr

‘Two Lines from the Brothers Grimm’ by Gregory Orr is a short and impactful poem. In it, the speaker describes approaching dangers and the need to escape them with his sibling.

The poem focuses on the characters’ struggle to survive in a hostile environment. Their attempt to escape the approaching danger reflects their instinct to survive, despite the overwhelming odds against them. The drive to survive is a central topic, showing the lengths people will go to protect themselves and their loved ones.

They have taken our parents away.
Downstairs in the half dark, two strangers
move about, lighting the stove.

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Half Hanged Mary

by Margaret Atwood

‘Half Hanged Mary’ by Atwood narrates her ancestor Mary Webster’s survival from a witch trial hanging, highlighting her resilience.

Despite everything, Mary refuses to give up. She should have died, but somehow, she manages to survive the night. The poem shows how strong the human spirit can be, even in the worst conditions. Mary does not just survive physically, but she also refuses to let those who tried to kill her completely destroy her. However, survival comes at a cost, as she is never the same again.

Rumour was loose in the air

hunting for some neck to land on.

I was milking the cow,

the barn door open to the sunset

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The North Wind Doth Blow

by Anonymous

‘The North Wind Doth Blow,’ also sometimes known as ‘The Robin,’ is a short English nursery rhyme that may date as far back as 16th century England.

Survival is a key part of the poem, as the robin must find a way to stay warm during the winter storm. The bird’s simple act of hiding its head under its wing shows the basic need to survive. The poem reminds readers that survival is a daily struggle for animals, especially during difficult times like winter, when finding shelter is critical.

The North wind doth blow and we shall have snow,

And what will poor robin do then, poor thing?

He’ll sit in a barn and keep himself warm

and hide his head under his wing, poor thing.

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Rathlin

by Derek Mahon

Derek Mahon’s ‘Rathlin’ shows how the island’s quiet beauty contrasts with its tragic past, reminding us that history never truly fades.

Despite the passage of time and the hardships it has faced, Rathlin remains. The poem explores how the island, much like its people, has endured. The wind still moves through the fields, the cliffs still stand against the waves, and the island refuses to disappear. This resilience turns the poem into more than just a reflection on history—it’s a quiet tribute to nature’s strength and in those who call it home.

“A long time since the last scream cut short -

Then an unnatural silence; and then

A natural silence, slowly broken

By the shearwater, by the sporadic

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Snowfall in the Afternoon

by Robert Bly

‘Snowfall in the Afternoon’ by Robert Bly is an interesting and multilayered poem. It uses natural imagery to describe a particular view of the world.

Despite the storm and darkness, there is a sense of survival in the poem. The barn full of corn symbolizes abundance and resilience. The blind sailors, though lost, are still moving forward, showing persistence. Surviving tough times is a theme in the poem. It suggests that even in difficult situations, there is strength and endurance.

The grass is half-covered with snow.

It was the sort of snowfall that starts in late afternoon

And now the little houses of the grass are growing dark.

#10

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Meeting the British

by Paul Muldoon

‘Meeting the British’ is written in the context of Pontiac’s War of 1763 that took place in the aftermath of the French and Indian war during 1754-1763. This piece appears in the 1987 poetry collection by Paul Muldoon by the same name.

The poem underscores the concept of survival as it describes the resilience of Native Americans in the face of the smallpox epidemic spread by colonizers. Despite the severe loss and suffering, the community's strength and determination to endure and persevere is evident. This theme highlights the enduring spirit and struggle for survival amid adversity.

We met the British in the dead of winter.

The sky was lavender

and the snow lavender-blue.

I could hear, far below,

#11

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The White Rose

by Louise Glück

‘The White Rose’ inquisitively follows the encounters of a white rose in an environment where it does not belong.

One can feel the sadness in the persona's voice when it asks if this is the earth, the much talked-about earth. It must have wondered what all the fuss was about. The poem handles this topic decently. Towards the end of the piece, survival takes precedence.

And in the cold morning

over the dark surface of the earth

echoes of my voice drift,

whiteness steadily absorbed into darkness

#12

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Pleasures

by Denise Levertov

Denise Levertov’s ‘Pleasures’ celebrates the beauty hidden within everyday objects, inviting readers to discover the extraordinary in the ordinary.

The poem 'Pleasures' indirectly addresses the topic of survival by highlighting the resilience and persistence of hidden beauty. The descriptions of treasures that lie within the ordinary suggest that even in challenging times, there is potential for survival and growth. The poem serves as a reminder that amidst struggles, there are hidden joys waiting to be discovered, encouraging readers to persevere and find solace in the small, often overlooked moments of beauty that can sustain us.

I like to find

what's not found

at once, but lies

within something of another nature,

#13

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Wind

by Ted Hughes

This poem explores nature’s overwhelming force and its impact on human lives, capturing a tense struggle between man and the environment.

In 'Wind,' surviving is about enduring the storm's relentless power. The family stays inside, huddled by the fire, unable to focus on anything but the chaos outside. The shaking house and trembling windows emphasize the struggle to hold on against nature's overwhelming force. Surviving here is about persistence, waiting out the storm rather than conquering it.

This house has been far out at sea all night, The woods crashing through darkness, the booming hills, Winds stampeding the fields under the window Floundering black astride and blinding wet

#14

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Amethyst Beads

by Eavan Boland

‘Amethyst Beads’ by Eavan Boland alludes to Greek mythology and the suffering of a child, Persephone, after she was separated from her mother, Demeter.

A child crying out in her sleep

Wait for me. Don’t leave me here.

Who will never remember this.

Who will never remember this.

#15

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My Grandmother’s Laughter

by Oriana Ivy

‘My Grandmother’s Laughter’ by Oriana Ivy utilizes the simple element of a blanket to showcase the trauma of the holocaust.

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15 Significant Poems about Surviving

(Poems 1-15)

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15 Significant Poems about Surviving

(Poems 1-15)

by Maya Angelou

by Derek Walcott

by Ted Hughes

by Robert Frost

by Gregory Orr

by Margaret Atwood

by Anonymous

by Derek Mahon

by Robert Bly

by Paul Muldoon

by Louise Glück

by Denise Levertov

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