Poems about uncertainty embrace the ambiguity and unpredictability of life. They explore the emotions of doubt, fear, and confusion that accompany moments of indecision and change.
These verses may contemplate the fragility of human plans and the need to find courage amidst uncertainty. Poems about uncertainty often seek to find solace in embracing the unknown, acknowledging the impermanence of all things, and finding strength in the midst of life’s unpredictable journey.
Robert Frost’s ‘The Road Not Taken’ explores life’s choices, opportunities, and the ensuing lingering regret of untaken paths.
The inherent uncertainty of human life looms throughout the poem, reflecting the unpredictability of life's journey. Despite the speaker's attempt to discern the better option, the realization that both paths are equally worn underscores the fundamental uncertainty of the future. This uncertainty pervades the decision-making process, making it difficult to anticipate the outcomes of our choices. Ultimately, the poem serves as a reminder of the uncertain nature of human existence, where fate remains elusive, and decisions are made amidst the ever-present ambiguity of life's path.
‘We are Adrift’ expresses an intense uncertainty as the speaker becomes unmoored during their observations of a darkling sea.
Bhatt's imagery and figurative language are meant to accentuate the speaker's sense of uncertainty. The poet never reveals what it is they're apprehensive about, although that ambiguity only enhances the feeling. Everything, from their inability to see past the fog to the mention of those lost at sea, is meant to evoke the anxiety of navigating in the dark. Whether literal or symbolic, the poem poignantly conveys the speaker's unsettlement toward their circumstances, whatever they may be.
‘Lying in Grass’ by Hermann Hesse rallies in opposition to life’s dogged sorrows in favor of relishing its elusive moments of joy.
Throughout Hesse’s poem, the speaker wrestles with life's terrible uncertainty. In many ways, it's the source of their ongoing anxiety, rooted in the fear that a respite or rest from such "meaningless fumbling" will never be found. The speaker somewhat comes to terms with it by the end of the poem, which makes it slightly more optimistic than some of Hesse's other works.
Is this everything now, the quick delusions of flowers,
Dickinson’s ‘A narrow Fellow in the Grass’ captures snakes’ unsettling presence, reflecting fear and human vulnerability amid nature.
The uncertainty is inherent in the poem as readers navigate the lines of descriptions of an unidentified 'narrow Fellow in the grass' representing hidden danger lurking in seemingly ordinary moments. The unpredictability of snakes catalyzes the speaker's fear and nervousness. Their ability to appear and disappear without warning, sometimes resembling something entirely different, stresses the pervasive sense of uncertainty in the poem, reflecting the unsettling nature of the uncertain phenomena, which causes gripping fear even before a physical threat materializes.
‘Twist Ye, Twine Ye’ envisions life as a fateful entanglement of bittersweet dualities that can never be separated.
Uncertainty is embraced as another constant of life, an elusive force of orchestrated chaos. Scott uses the "mystic twist" to signify the unknown forces that govern human existence from birth on through adulthood. Life is shown to be a journey of discovery, where the future lies obscured, "dimly seen through twilight bending." Scott urges readers to accept this uncertainty as the promise of possibility, trusting that both joy and pain are part of life’s intricate dance.
‘The Stars Go Over the Lonely Ocean’ by Robinson Jeffers is a complex poem that suggests that the speaker’s contemporary world is falling apart and is only going to get worse before it gets better.
There is a great deal of uncertainty present in this Jeffers poem. Much of that apprehension is owed to the start of World War II, leaving the speaker feeling nothing but despair about the foreseeable future. This is best articulated in the boar's urgings to hide away in the mountains for four or five centuries.
‘Walking Across the Brooklyn Bridge, July 1990’ despairs over the normalization of violence against children while acknowledging the hopes cradled by refugee parents.
What is more uncertain than the life of a kid living in a city plagued by the deaths of children? How about the parent of a refugee, traveling from half a world away, hoping for a better life for their family? The two groups victimized in Bhatt's poem struggle against an immense and daunting uncertainty. But the speaker is also just as shaken, as evidenced by the frequent rhetorical questions, and their increasingly despairing tone.
‘The Listeners’ by Walter de la Mare describes a traveler knocking at the door of a deserted home inhabited by phantoms at night in a forest.
The poem's central action, i.e., the traveler's repeated knocking on the door, embodies uncertainty as he nervously asks, 'Is there anybody there.' The unanswered door shows the unpredictable nature of life, as the traveler's goal is to meet someone and fulfill his promise. The traveler's lack of shock, acknowledgment of the silent phantom listeners, and then leaving his message with them shows his calm acceptance of the changed circumstances, the unknown, or by extension, the mysterious unknown realms of nature beyond human comprehension.
‘The Sleeper in the Valley’ by Arthur Rimbaud is a melancholic but beautiful poem that juxtaposes a lush landscape filled with color and light alongside a corpse that only appears to be resting.
Uncertainty is developed across the poem, owed to the speaker's slow realization that the soldier is actually dead. This uncertainty begins in the second stanza, where the soldier is described as being "open-mouthed" and "pale," the foreboding diction and imagery shaking the reader's understanding that this is just a sleeping youth.
It is a green hollow where a stream gurgles,
Crazily catching silver rags of itself on the grasses;
‘Vitae Summa Brevis’ by Ernest Dowson is a short melancholic poem about the all too brief nature of life’s joys and the suddenness of its tragedies.
Uncertainty is another topic that Ernest Dowson explores in the poem. It's the underlying reason for the speaker's belief that life's happiest moments — "the days of wine and roses" — will eventually end. To make matters worse and far more dreary, the speaker also believes that when we die we take none of what made life beautiful with us.
Alice Oswald’s ‘Eel Tail’ explores nature’s elusiveness and mysteries through the enigmatic movements of eels that defy human understanding.
Nature's uncertainty is portrayed through the eels' ever-changing presence. At one moment, they appear hiding in the low tide, only to transform into elusive entities that vanish as soon as they are observed. This unpredictability underlines nature's mysteriousness and uncertainty, reminding readers that humanity can never fully understand or dominate nature's patterns, emphasizing that nature operates on its own terms, perpetually defying human control.
‘New Year’s Eve Midnight’ by Gabriel Okara reflects on passage of time, hopes, and dreams amidst fading memories, and dawn of new beginnings.
The poem addresses uncertainty through imagery of "shrouded things" dimly seen as the new year begins. The future, represented by these indistinct figures on heart-canopied paths, is unclear and mysterious. This evokes a blend of anticipation and apprehension, highlighting the unknown challenges and possibilities that accompany any new beginning and the inevitable passage of time.
“To be, or not to be,” the opening line of Hamlet’s mindful soliloquy, is one of the most thought-provoking quotes of all time. The monologue features the important theme of existential crisis.
Uncertainty is a major part of the poem, as Hamlet struggles with fear and doubt about what lies beyond life. His hesitation to end his suffering reflects the anxiety of facing the unknown, especially death. This uncertainty keeps him from taking action, showing how difficult it can be to find peace when surrounded by unanswered questions. Hamlet’s doubts reflect the powerful role of uncertainty in shaping decisions and life’s direction.
‘Outward Bound’ by Helen Hunt Jackson is a rousing sonnet that dispels one’s fears of traveling into the unknown with a reminder that we make the same bold excursions every day of our lives without ever acknowledging it.
Lastly, the poem also deals with uncertainty. There is the uncertainty of what might happen when one travels away from home, which the speaker counters by asserting that peril can be found even in the familiar. A dour thought that's softened through their attempt to convey each day's immense potential to surprise us.
‘The Building of the Ship’ by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow encapsulates the nation’s resilience and unity amid adversity, sailing onward with courage.
The poem grapples with uncertainty as the ship's construction progresses, reflecting life's unpredictable nature. Despite meticulous planning, unforeseen challenges arise, creating doubt and anxiety. This uncertainty parallels the uncertainty individuals face in their own lives, highlighting the need for adaptability and resilience in navigating the unknown. Ultimately, the poem suggests that embracing uncertainty is essential for growth and success.
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.
