15+ Significant Poems about Bravery

This poem can be read as a deep and thoughtful mediation on the reality of bravery itself. The poem asks piercing questions about what it means to be brave. Why has society lauded Odysseus in spite of his flaws and infidelities, as a brave man but never truly celebrated Penelope for her more subtle displays of bravery and strength?

In the pathway of the sun,

In the footsteps of the breeze,

Where the world and sky are one,

He shall ride the silver seas,

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"> 88/100

Horatius

by Thomas Babington Macaulay

‘Horatius’ by Thomas Babington Macaulay is a long narrative ballad about Horatius Cocles, a legendary hero from early Roman history.

Horatius Cocles' bravery is what makes him such a memorable and heroic character. He seems dauntless in his defense of the Sublician Bridge during the Etruscan attack, and his willingness to die for the cause only makes him more honorable. Cocles has long been used as a model of what a good citizen looks like due to this extreme bravery.

LARS Porsena of Clusium

By the Nine Gods he swore

That the great house of Tarquin

Should suffer wrong no more.

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Lochinvar

by Sir Walter Scott

‘Lochinvar’ is a ballad about a young and courageous knight who saves his beloved, the fair lady Ellen, from marrying another man.

Lochinvar's bravery and boundless courage are infectious. Every other character in the poem is timid and lazy compared to him. His rapid riding, incredible dance skills, and loud, quick movements just go to show that fortune favors the bold.

O young Lochinvar is come out of the west,

Through all the wide Border his steed was the best;

And save his good broadsword he weapons had none,

He rode all unarm’d, and he rode all alone.

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The Lady of Shalott

by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Tennyson’s ‘The Lady of Shalott’ narrates the tale of the cursed Lady entrapped in a tower on the island of Shalott, who meets a tragic end.

Unafraid, the Lady transgresses the tower even after 'The mirror crack'd from side to side.' She bravely frees herself while realizing 'The curse is come upon me.' Her bravery is evident as she prioritizes experiencing life and asserting her autonomy over staying imprisoned, showing her strength to face death rather than return to her sterile, shadowy existence. Her bravery lies in facing the unknown consequences to break free from her monotonous, shadowy existence and embrace her identity and destiny.

On either side the river lie

Long fields of barley and of rye,

That clothe the wold and meet the sky;

And thro' the field the road runs by

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The Man from Snowy River

by Banjo Paterson

‘The Man from Snowy River’ by Banjo Paterson is an example of a Bush Ballad. It deals with the Australian ideology of horsemanship.

The poem elicits bravery by depicting the man’s fearless pursuit of wild horses in harsh, unforgiving terrain. He faces immense physical danger and uncertainty, yet his determination to succeed never wavers. His courage inspires admiration, showing how facing fears head-on can lead to extraordinary feats. The poem highlights bravery as a key force for achieving greatness.

There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around

That the colt from Old Regret had got away,

And had joined the wild bush horses - he was worth a thousand pound,

So all the cracks had gathered to the fray.

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For Heidi With Blue Hair

by Fleur Adcock

‘For Heidi With Blue Hair’ is a six-stanza poem that uses action and dialogue to paint a literary picture where little to no physical setting is provided.

'For Heidi With Blue Hair' evokes bravery through Heidi's bold decision to defy school norms by dyeing her hair blue. Despite facing opposition and potential consequences, she asserts her individuality. The poem portrays bravery as overcoming societal pressures and embracing personal expression, highlighting Heidi's courage to challenge authority and assert her identity confidently, despite the risks involved.

When you dyed your hair blue

(or, at least ultramarine

for the clipped sides, with a crest

of jet-black spikes on top)

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Sacred Emily

by Gertrude Stein

‘Sacred Emily’ is an avant-garde poem that challenges conventional language with the iconic phrase, “Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose.”

Bravery in 'Sacred Emily' lies in Gertrude Stein's courageous departure from conventional poetic forms. The poem's avant-garde style, marked by repetition and abstraction, demands a brave exploration of language. Stein fearlessly challenges literary norms, inspiring readers to approach the poem with the courage to navigate its unconventional terrain.

Argonauts.

That is plenty.

Cunning saxon symbol.

Symbol of beauty.

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Still Here

by Langston Hughes

‘Still Here’ by Langston Hughes is a poem that is grounded in varying grammar concepts to indicate weariness through struggle and clarity after the struggle concludes.

'Still Here’ elicits the emotion of bravery through the speaker's defiance in the face of adversity. The poem portrays harsh elements and challenges that symbolize fear and hardship. Despite these, the speaker's declaration, "I don't care! I'm still here!" reflects bravery and courage. This emotional depth is conveyed through the speaker's resilience and determination to embrace life boldly despite daunting circumstances.

I been scared and battered.

My hopes the wind done scattered.

Snow has friz me,

Sun has baked me,

#10

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Sonnet

by George Henry Boker

‘Sonnet’ by George Henry Boker is a war-time sonnet. It was written in order to emphasize how brave soldiers are and what they sacrifice.

Bravery is a central emotion in the poem, as the soldier’s choice to leave his family and enter the dangers of war requires great courage. Despite his fear and emotional pain, he confronts the hardships of war head-on. This courage shows his willingness to face personal loss and uncertainty, and it emphasizes how bravery often comes with the price of personal sacrifice and emotional struggle.

Brave comrade, answer! When you joined the war,

What left you? “Wife and children, wealth and friends,

A storied home whose ancient roof-tree bends

Above such thoughts as love tells o’er and o’er.”

#11

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Gettysburg Address

by Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln honors the fallen soldiers of the civil war by calling for a persistent pursuit of their goal of upholding the nation’s ideals.

Bravery and courage are two of the speech's main emotions. Lincoln refers to the troops who fought for the nation on the battlefield as "brave men." Their bravery inspired Lincoln to address the nation in high spirits during such a turbulent time as the civil war. The soldier's unselfish attitude toward their country enhances their sense of bravery, even inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.

Fourscore and seven years ago

our fathers brought forth upon this continent

a new nation,

conceived in liberty,

#12

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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.

This poem evokes a sense of bravery as the woman confronts societal stigma and bureaucracy with defiance. Her bold assertion, "They don't give me welfare. I take it," reflects a courageous spirit challenging systemic norms. The poem captures the bravery required to navigate a challenging environment, standing as a testament to the resilience and determination of individuals facing societal judgment and economic hardship.

Her arms semaphore fat triangles,

Pudgy hands bunched on layered hips

Where bones idle under years of fatback

And lima beans.

#13

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The Present Crisis

by James Russell Lowell

‘The Present Crisis’ by James Russell Lowell is an anthem against slavery and, by extension, other racially-induced crimes. Penned in 1845 as a protest against the permission of slavery in Texas, this long poem now serves as a voice for all people of color who continue to face discrimination today.

Considering the times in which the poet lived, writing and publishing this poem in itself is an act of bravery. The poet goes further in the poem to promote their cause and criticize the government and the public. His tone throughout is authoritative, even when he pleads. It takes bravery to sound that way when one is up against actual authorities.

Slavery, the earth-born Cyclops, fellest of the giant brood,

Sons of brutish Force and Darkness, who have drenched the earth with blood,

Famished in his self-made desert, blinded by our purer day,

Gropes in yet unblasted regions for his miserable prey;—

#14

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You Will Know When You Get There

by Allen Curnow

‘You Will Know When You Get There’ by Allen Curnow embraces the inevitability of death via the figurative imagery of a descent into the sea.

One of the scenes from the poem that lingers in the mind is the image of the man walking down toward the seaside, "the earth rolling back and away / behind." His willingness to travel where nobody else would dare at so late an hour evokes a sense of the bravery and courage required to face one's death. Especially when so many people fruitlessly attempt to postpone it or ignore it.

Nobody comes up from the sea as late as this

in the day and the season, and nobody else goes down

the last steep kilometre, wet-metalled where

a shower passed shredding the light which keeps

#15

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I can wade Grief-

by Emily Dickinson

‘I can wade Grief-‘ by Emily Dickinson is a fairly simple poem about strength in the face of sorrow. The speaker describes the detrimental effect of happiness during a period of struggle.

The metaphorical comparison between the experience of grief and wading into water implies the emotion demands enormous bravery. It also emphasises how grief must be actively encountered and not skirted around if one is to overcome it.

I can wade Grief—

Whole Pools of it—

I'm used to that—

15+ Significant Poems about Bravery

(15 to start, 125+ to explore)

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15+ Significant Poems about Bravery

(15 to start, 125+ to explore)

by Christina Rossetti

by Dorothy Parker

by Thomas Babington Macaulay

by Sir Walter Scott

by Alfred Lord Tennyson

by Banjo Paterson

by Fleur Adcock

by Gertrude Stein

by Langston Hughes

by George Henry Boker

by Abraham Lincoln

by Maya Angelou

by James Russell Lowell

by Allen Curnow

by Emily Dickinson

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