Poems about the universe expand the mind into cosmic realms. They contemplate the vastness of space, the celestial wonders, and the mysteries that lie beyond our comprehension.
These verses marvel at the interconnectedness of all existence, invoking a sense of wonder and humility.
Poems about the universe may explore the philosophical questions of existence, purpose, and our place in the cosmos, inspiring readers to contemplate the grandeur of the cosmos and their own place in the universe.
‘I saw no Way – The Heavens were stitched’ by Emily Dickinson depicts heaven and the afterlife. The poet thoughtfully explores how she feels about the breadth of the universe.
I saw no Way—The Heavens were stitched—
I felt the Columns close—
The Earth reversed her Hemispheres— I
touched the Universe—
Wordsworth’s ‘A Night-Piece’ describes a moment of the night sky’s beauty akin to heaven’s glory that is etched in the speaker’s mind.
———The sky is overcast
With a continuous cloud of texture close,
Heavy and wan, all whitened by the Moon,
Which through that veil is indistinctly seen
‘Stars’ by Sara Teasdale presents nature’s majesty through the sublime beauty and timelessness of stars providing spiritual truth.
And a heaven full of stars
Over my head
White and topaz
And misty red;
‘Often I Am Permitted to Return to a Meadow’ by Robert Duncan is often regarded as the poet’s best work. It analyzes the poet’s dream of a meadow while also exploring the new technique of projective verse.
as if it were a scene made-up by the mind,
that is not mine, but is a made place,
‘Poetry’ by Pablo Neruda captures the moment of the speaker’s first encounter with poetic inspiration that led to a spiritual awakening.
And it was at that age ... Poetry arrived
in search of me. I don't know, I don't know where
it came from, from winter or a river.
I don't know how or when,
‘Planetarium’ by Adrienne Rich is a free verse poem elaborating on the triumphs and troubles of female scientists using astronomy-related metaphors. The poem also describes the wonders of the universe from the female astronomer’s perspective, thereby portraying their passion for the universe.
I am an instrument in the shape
of a woman trying to translate pulsations
into images for the relief of the body
and the reconstruction of the mind.
‘Counting Sheep White Blood Cells’ by Sujata Bhatt speaks of the joy one can find in mundane, everyday activities and how careful consideration of something doesn’t have to be exhausting or boring.
It was like being ordered
to count the stars
and to classify them
by their size, their brightness -
‘The Universe as Primal Scream’ shows life’s chaos and inevitability, revealing how fleeting moments and unseen forces unknowingly shape our existence.
5pm on the nose. They open their mouths
And it rolls out: high, shrill and metallic.
First the boy, then his sister. Occasionally,
They both let loose at once, and I think
‘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.
It begins as a house, an end terrace
in this case
but it will not stop there. Soon it is
an avenue
‘Ah, Moon–and Star!’ by Emily Dickinson is an unforgettable love poem. The poet skillfully uses the universe to depict what it’s like for two lovers to be separated.
Ah, Moon — and Star!
You are very far —
But were no one
Farther than you —
Johnson’s ‘Combustion’ explores the vibrant energy in all things, revealing the interconnectedness of life at a molecular level.
If a human body has two-hundred-and-six bones and thirty trillion cells, and each cell has one hundred trillion atoms, if the spine has thirty-three vertebrae—
‘Days’ by Philip Larkin is a beautiful poem that contemplates life in the poet’s typical fashion. He asks the reader to consider “What are days for?”
What are days for?
Days are where we live.
They come, they wake us
Time and time over.
‘May-Flower’ is a beautiful short poem in which Dickinson uses her skill with imagery to depict a forest scene, a May flower, and its connection to the human soul.
Pink, small, and punctual,
Aromatic, low,
Covert in April,
Candid in May,
‘Praise Of Creation’ celebrates divine creation, and reflects on human fall and sin, ending with resilient hope in spiritual awe.
Creation fires my tongue!
Nature thy anthems raise;
And spread the universal song
Of thy Creator’s praise!
‘The Eolian Harp’ by S.T. Coleridge, has been entitled after the ‘Aeolian harp’, which creates melodious music while the wind blows across its strings. It is one of Coleridge’s early conversation poems.
And thus, my Love! as on the midway slope
Of yonder hill I stretch my limbs at noon,
Whilst through my half-closed eyelids I behold
The sunbeams dance, like diamonds, on the main,
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