15+ Significant Poems about Satisfaction

(15 to start, 100+ to explore)

Poems that convey satisfaction often celebrate contentment, fulfillment, and a sense of completion. Whether in love, work, or personal growth, these poems express a joyous acceptance of the moment and an appreciation for life’s simple pleasures.

A fine example of this sentiment is found in Walt Whitman’s ‘Song of Myself,’ where the speaker revels in the self and the connection with the world around them. The language used in poems about satisfaction is often warm and affirming, with imagery that reflects harmony and balance.

Poems about Satisfaction Visual Representation

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Days

by Ralph Waldo Emerson

‘Days’ by Ralph Waldo Emerson is a short allegorical poem reflecting on the passage of time and the expectations of humans that come and go with it. It is celebrated as one of the best transcendental poems of the 19th century.

Satisfaction ranks high because it accurately represents the narrator's emotions. In 'Days,' the speaker does not even think to prepare a request until the 'day' arrives. They only snatch up something because they feel obliged to. It is more or less the same as contentment.

Daughters of Time, the hypocritic Days,

Muffled and dumb like barefoot dervishes,

And marching single in an endless file,

Bring diadems and fagots in their hands.

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A Dead Rose

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

‘A Dead Rose’ mourns the short-lived nature of beauty, with vivid imagery and poignant emotions.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poem 'A Dead Rose' evokes the emotion of satisfaction through the speaker's recognition and acceptance of the rose's transformed state. Despite its withered appearance, the speaker's heart still finds the rose sweet and complete. This acknowledgment of the rose's beauty, even in decay, creates a sense of contentment and fulfillment. The poem suggests that true satisfaction can be found in appreciating and cherishing beauty, regardless of its imperfections or transience.

O Rose! who dares to name thee?

No longer roseate now, nor soft, nor sweet;

But pale, and hard, and dry, as stubble-wheat,—-

Kept seven years in a drawer—-thy titles shame thee.

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Calypso

by Olga Broumas

In Olga Broumas’s ‘Calypso,’ the speaker conjures up a dreamy world, imagining sensual women to fulfill her sexual desires.

Sexual satisfaction is portrayed through sensual imagery and evocative language in the poem. The description of the vagina folding mandala-like, in full bloom, suggests the peak of sexual pleasure. The speaker's intimate interactions with her companions, depicted by letting 'the bitch twitch in my lap' and patiently steeping tea till 'the pot was black,' evoke a sense of arousal and eventual satisfaction, capturing the speaker's intense physical sensations and the achieved gratification.

I’ve gathered the women like talismans, one

by one. They first came for tarot card

gossip, mystified

by my hands, by offers

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Stormcock in Elder

by Ruth Pitter

‘Stormcock in Elder’ by Ruth Pitter describes the nature of a mistle thrush which sings in close proximity to the speaker.

The bird’s melodious tune fills the speaker’s heart with a sense of satisfaction. She feels no matter what her present situation is, it too shall improve.

By the small door where the old roof Hangs but five feet above the ground, I groped along the shelf for bread But found celestial food instead:

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The Rose

by Richard Lovelace

‘The Rose’ by Richard Lovelace explores beauty, love, and their brief nature through the symbolism of a rose.

The poem wrests the emotion of satisfaction through praising love and the beauty of the beloved. Therefore, despite all the difficulties the poem rejoices in the victory of love and leaves readers with a sense of satisfaction. As one gets what he or she wants and attains the aesthetic aim, they are fully sated and have something to accomplish.

Sweet serene sky-like flower,

Haste to adorn her bower;

From thy long cloudy bed

Shoot forth thy damask head!

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Love in Moonlight

by Louise Glück

‘Love in Moonlight’ explores human vulnerability, nature’s beauty, and cosmic connections amidst moonlit scenes, evoking profound emotions and wonder.

This poem induces the emotion of satisfaction through its portrayal of intimacy and connection amidst the enchanting beauty of the moonlit landscape. Louise Glück suggests that satisfaction is found in moments of vulnerability and shared emotion, as individuals bare their souls and find solace in each other's presence. The poem's evocative imagery and introspective tone evoke a sense of contentment and fulfillment, inviting readers to embrace the transformative power of love and nature.

Sometimes a man or woman forces his despair on another person, which is called baring the heart, alternatively, baring the soul– meaning for this moment they acquired souls–

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To be of use

by Marge Piercy

Celebrating the beauty of diligence, Marge Piercy’s ‘To be of use’ draws powerful metaphors between humans and enduring animals.

Satisfaction is one of the central emotions in ‘To Be of Use’. The poem celebrates the feeling that comes from completing necessary, purposeful work. “The thing worth doing well done” is described as having a “shape that satisfies,” illustrating the deep sense of fulfillment from contributing something meaningful to the world. This satisfaction is not just in the work itself but in the lasting impact it leaves, evoking a powerful sense of accomplishment and worth.

The people I love the best

jump into work head first

without dallying in the shallows

and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.

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The Willing Mistress

by Aphra Behn

‘The Willing Mistress’ by Aphra Behn is an erotic poem wherein the speaker recounts her intimate moments with her lover in a grove.

The speaker's tone, while recounting the moments of physical intimacy with Amyntas, exudes happiness as if the memories still evoke a flutter of giddiness and pleasure. The emphasis on her willingness and how Amyntas' 'Amorous Tricks' and kisses seduce her indicates pleasure and fulfillment of carnal desires, leading to satisfaction. Her joyous description of the intimate moments and assertion of willingness imply a sense of satisfaction and completion.

Amyntas led me to a Grove,

Where all the Trees did shade us;

The Sun it self, though it had Strove,

It could not have betray’d us:

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Archaic Torso of Apollo

by Rainer Maria Rilke

‘Archaic Torso of Apollo’ by Rainer Maria Rilke details the remaining beauty and power of a damage sculpture missing its head and legs.

The poem ends with the powerful command, "You must change your life." This line suggests that the speaker has been transformed by their encounter with the sculpture and that they are now committed to living a life of greater meaning and purpose. This theme of transformation and personal growth is central to much of Rilke's work.

We cannot know his legendary head

with eyes like ripening fruit. And yet his torso

is still suffused with brilliance from inside,

like a lamp, in which his gaze, now turned to low,

#10

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Imitation of Spenser

by John Keats

In ‘Imitation of Spenser’, Keats paints a lush, romantic landscape in Spenserian style, describing a serene morning, vibrant nature, and an idyllic lake setting.

The poem elicits an emotion of satisfaction through its calm and beautiful descriptions of nature. The rhythmic flow of the Spenserian stanza adds to the poem's satisfying effect, and this renders a feeling of completeness and fulfillment. Besides, the poem's focus on peace and tranquility renders a sense of satisfaction.

Now Morning from her orient chamber came,

And her first footsteps touch'd a verdant hill;

Crowning its lawny crest with amber flame,

#11

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Nuns Fret Not at Their Convent’s Narrow Room

by William Wordsworth

‘Nuns Fret Not at Their Convent’s Narrow Room’ by William Wordsworth is a thoughtful poem that expresses the poet’s appreciation for his chosen path.

Satisfaction is a central emotion in the poem, as Wordsworth discusses how individuals, including himself, find contentment within their chosen roles and constraints. He emphasizes that the sonnet form, though limited, brings him a sense of accomplishment and peace, showing that satisfaction comes from making the most of one's situation.

Nuns fret not at their convent’s narrow room;

And hermits are contented with their cells;

And students with their pensive citadels;

Maids at the wheel, the weaver at his loom,

#12

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The Flight of Two Geese

by Pat Ross

‘The Flight of Two Geese’ marvels at nature’s splendor and contemplates the divine design believed responsible for it.

Another emotion present is this sense of satisfaction felt by the speaker because of the geese. While they're definitely in awe of the birds, the result of this amazement is a comforting sense of appreciation for life and creation. However ineffable or curious, the moment brings them an immense satisfaction that is both hopeful and life-affirming.

The winter air had settled in, today was cold Two geese slung low, below the clouds Then, spotted us and climbed up above us And sounded their presence and it echoed

#13

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Morning Swim

by Maxine Kumin

‘Morning Swim’ by Maxine Kumin is a thoughtful lyric poem that’s written in couplets. The poem engages with themes of God and Nature.

The satisfaction derived from a solitary swim and the connection to nature is clearly portrayed. This feeling is encapsulated in the physical and spiritual satisfaction the speaker finds in the water. The poem conveys this emotion effectively, enhancing the overall serene mood.

Into my empty head there come

a cotton beach, a dock wherefrom

I set out, oily and nude

through mist, in chilly solitude.

#14

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Sonnet 129

by William Shakespeare

In ‘Sonnet 129,’ William Shakespeare describes the nature of lust and its effect on an individual’s mind and spirit.

This piece is about the act that only satisfies the physical craving, not the emotional or spiritual one. Shakespeare describes how “lust” drives one mad to satisfy its insatiable hunger.

The expense of spirit in a waste of shame

Is lust in action: and till action, lust

Is perjured, murderous, bloody, full of blame,

Savage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust,

#15

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Theories of Time and Space

by Natasha Trethewey

‘Theories of Time and Space’ by Natasha Trethewey navigates a journey of displacement and memory, urging readers to embrace change.

The emotion of satisfaction is induced through the speaker's reflections on memory and displacement. The act of traveling along Mississippi Highway 49 and experiencing new landscapes may evoke a sense of fulfillment and contentment, as readers embrace the beauty and richness of life's journey. Additionally, the shifting landscapes and fragmented imagery symbolize the satisfaction that comes with embracing change and growth, finding meaning and purpose amidst uncertainty.

You can get there from here, though

there’s no going home.

Everywhere you go will be somewhere

you’ve never been. Try this:

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15+ Significant Poems about Satisfaction

(15 to start, 100+ to explore)

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15+ Significant Poems about Satisfaction

(15 to start, 100+ to explore)

by Ralph Waldo Emerson

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

by Olga Broumas

by Ruth Pitter

by Richard Lovelace

by Louise Glück

by Marge Piercy

by Aphra Behn

by Rainer Maria Rilke

by John Keats

by William Wordsworth

by Pat Ross

by Maxine Kumin

by William Shakespeare

by Natasha Trethewey

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