15+ Significant Hymn Poems

(15 to start, 19+ to explore)

Hymn poems are a verse genre characterized by their religious or spiritual themes and their purpose of praising or honoring a deity or expressing devotion. Traditionally, hymn poems were intended to be sung during religious ceremonies or as acts of worship.

These poems often follow a regular meter and rhyme scheme, making them easy to memorize and sing. Hymn poems evoke a sense of reverence and awe, celebrating the divine and inviting readers or listeners to connect with the sacred. They embody a collective expression of faith and often address universal love, hope, and redemption themes.

Hymn poems remain significant in religious and non-religious settings, serving as expressions of gratitude and transcendence.

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Hymn to Aphrodite

by Sappho

The ‘Hymn to Aphrodite’ by Sappho is an ancient lyric in which Sappho begs for Aphrodite’s help in managing her turbulent love life.

'Hymn to Aphrodite' is one of the earliest known hymns from Europe. Specifically, it is a kleitic hymn, in which the poet uses the song as a direct prayer. While this poem does read like a prayer, it is also dramatic, with plenty of action, perspective shifts, and even a flashback. As an early hymn, it is still highly complex and fascinating.

Beautiful-throned, immortal Aphrodite,

Daughter of Zeus, beguiler, I implore thee

Weigh me not down with weariness and anguish,

O thou most holy!

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In the Bleak Midwinter (A Christmas Carol)

by Christina Rossetti

‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ describes the birth of the Christ child on a “bleak midwinter” day and those who came to see him.

The poem is written with a regular rhyme scheme and meter, characteristic of hymns. It also focuses on a religious theme, specifically the birth of Jesus, which aligns with the nature of hymns as religious songs or poems. The structure and lyrical quality make it suitable for singing, which is typical for hymns.

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

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A Hymn to God the Father

by John Donne

‘A Hymn to God the Father’ by John Donne is the speaker’s prayer to God that he be forgiven for all his wretched sins.

Hymns are a form of religious poetry or song that express praise, worship, or devotion to God. In this poem, Donne presents his personal reflections, repentance, and plea for forgiveness in the form of a hymn. The poem exhibits elements commonly found in hymns, such as a tone of reverence, religious imagery, and a devotional message.

Wilt thou forgive that sin where I begun,

Which was my sin, though it were done before?

Wilt thou forgive that sin, through which I run,

And do run still, though still I do deplore?

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Praise for the Fountain Opened

by William Cowper

‘Praise for the Fountain Opened’ by William Cowper is a poem that explores the act of communion, the meaning to Christians and the beliefs behind it.

This poem was written in a meter that was designed to be sung as a hymn, and was meant to be set to music. The subject matter - praising God and Jesus while discussing the act of Holy Communion - fits in very well with the idea of a hymn. Hymns are generally written in praise of God, and as such, this poem fits the idea of a hymn. It could be held up as a very good example of this type of poem, especially from this period.

There is a fountain fill'd with blood,

Drawn from Emmanuel's veins;

And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,

Lose all their guilty stains.

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A Murmur in the Trees— to note

by Emily Dickinson

‘A Murmur in the Trees— to note’ by Emily Dickinson is a poem about nature’s magic. It includes mysterious images of fairy men, glowing lights in the woods, and the murmuring of trees.

The typical hymn stanza is very similar to the ballad stanza and the poem, 'A Murmur in the Trees - to note' can thus be regarded as such. Rather than a religious poem however, the poem is a kind of hymn to nature itself, celebrating the beauty and power that surrounds us everyday but that often goes unappreciated.

A Murmur in the Trees – to note –

Not loud enough – for Wind –

A Star – not far enough to seek –

Nor near enough – to find –

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Hymn on the Morning of Christ’s Nativity

by John Milton

‘Hymn on the Morning of Christ’s Nativity’ by John Milton masterfully unveils divine serenity amid earthly chaos, fusing theology with poetic brilliance.

As the title indicates, this poem is a hymn. It is focused on the beauty of Christ's nativity and uses over thirty stanzas to paint a beautiful, religious picture. The poet explores themes like humility and sacrifice in this poem.

This is the month, and this the happy morn,

Wherein the Son of Heav'n's eternal King,

Of wedded Maid, and Virgin Mother born,

Our great redemption from above did bring;

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All Things Bright and Beautiful

by Cecil Frances Alexander

‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ by Cecil Frances Alexander describes how God is responsible for creating all things, positive and negative, big and small, in the world.

'All Things Bright and Beautiful' is a hymn, a type of song or poem praising God. It is often sung in churches and religious gatherings. This poem is one of the most famous hymns, known for its celebration of God’s creation.

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

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Jerusalem: And did those feet in ancient time

by William Blake

‘Jerusalem’ is a famous, prophetic, melancholic, and classic poem, penned by maestro William Blake in 1804. It may seem like a patriotic poem, yet it’s misleading, adding to the irony is the fact that it’s an unofficial national anthem of England.

‘Jerusalem’ is a hymn because it is written like a song of hope and inspiration. The words feel like a prayer, asking for a better and more peaceful world. The poem has a strong connection to faith and is often sung in churches and national events. It encourages people to believe in change and to work toward creating a world that is kinder and fairer.

And did those feet in ancient time

Walk upon Englands mountains green:

And was the holy Lamb of God,

On Englands pleasant pastures seen!

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This is my Father’s World

by Maltbie D. Babcock

‘This is my Father’s World’ is a popular hymn in which the author praises God and his work which he sees in the natural world.

The author of this poem was a Christian minister, and fourteen years after his death, this poem was set to music, turning it into a hymn. Although this might not have been the poet's original intent, it is still a popular hymn to this day. It is possible that the poem did have it in mind that it might eventually be set to music, as a lot of religious poetry at the time was written with this intent.

This is my Father’s world,

And to my list’ning ears

All nature sings, and round me rings

The music of the spheres.

#10

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On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity

by John Milton

Milton’s early masterpiece, ‘On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity,’ celebrates Jesus’s birth and the poet’s own passage into adulthood.

As a hymn, 'On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity' conveys profound reverence and joy for the birth of Christ. Milton fosters a sense of divine celebration and peace, inviting reflection on redemption and grace.

This is the month, and this the happy morn,

Wherein the Son of Heaven’s eternal King,

Of wedded maid and Virgin Mother born,

Our great redemption from above did bring;

#11

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Cross

by Langston Hughes

‘Cross’ by Langston Hughes uses a stereotypical image of a biracial man to explore identity and the inequalites one might encounter.

The poem has a hymn-like quality, with its rhythmic flow and introspective tone, as the speaker contemplates his mixed-race identity and the regrets he feels about his parents. This form gives the poem a meditative feel, as if the speaker is expressing a solemn reflection on the inequalities and struggles in his life.

My old man’s a white old man

And my old mother’s black.

If ever I cursed my white old man

I take my curses back.

#12

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Hymn to the New Omagh Road

by John Montague

‘Hymn to the New Omagh Road’ by John Montague is a poem that uses the construction of a new road to show the influence of modernization on County Tyrone.

‘Hymn to the New Omagh Road’ functions as a hymn, but with a twist. Instead of praising, it uses a hymn-like tone to mourn the destruction of nature. The title hints at a formal, respectful tribute, but Montague uses irony here, as the poem reflects on the negative consequences of progress, turning the hymn into a lament for the lost beauty of the environment.

As the bull-dozer bites into the tree-ringed hill fort
Its grapnel jaws lift the mouse, the flower, With equal attention, and the plaited twigs And clay of the bird's nest, shaken by the traffic.
Fall from a crevice under the bridge

#13

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Worry About Money

by Kathleen Raine

‘Worry About Money’ by Kathleen Raine follows a woman in a brief moment of her life as she attempts to figure our her next steps.

This is not a classical hymn but ends with the spirituality and faith a reader might see in a more traditional hymn. The poem itself does not fit into any specific genre or form; instead, it is close to a few but not spot on. A hymn is one of these forms that the poem is close to but not directly on target.

Wearing worry about money like a hair shirt

I lie down in my bed and wrestle with my angel.

#14

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Rise and Shine

by Gabriel Okara

‘Rise and Shine’ by Gabriel Okara is a poem that gives praise to god as the poet feels his love in the world around him.

The structure of this poem and the subject matter seem to make it almost like a hymn. However, there is not really any rhythm to it that would help to attach it to a piece of music, so it might not be completely suitable.

Rise and Shine, O shine

like resplendent morning, sun;

Open our hearts, our yearning hearts

and receive the healing blessings

#15

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Hymn to Adversity

by Thomas Gray

Gray’s ‘Hymn to Adversity’ praises adversity’s role in shaping virtue, seeking its gentle guidance for personal growth and moral insight.

Daughter of Jove, relentless Power,

Thou tamer of the human breast,

Whose iron scourge and tort'ring hour

The Bad affright, afflict the Best!

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15+ Significant Hymn Poems

(15 to start, 19+ to explore)

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15+ Significant Hymn Poems

(15 to start, 19+ to explore)

by Sappho

by Christina Rossetti

by John Donne

by William Cowper

by Emily Dickinson

by John Milton

by Cecil Frances Alexander

by William Blake

by Maltbie D. Babcock

by John Milton

by Langston Hughes

by John Montague

by Kathleen Raine

by Gabriel Okara

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