6 Significant List Poems

List poems are versatile and creative forms of verse that present a series of items, ideas, or observations. These poems often form a list, separating each item by a comma, semicolon, or line break.

List poems can be playful and whimsical, capturing everyday objects or experiences, or they may delve into more profound themes and emotions.

They allow poets to experiment with language, imagery, and rhythm, as the items in the list can be arranged in various ways to create unique effects. List poems are celebrated for their concise and evocative style, allowing readers to engage with many ideas in a structured yet imaginative manner.

They invite readers to contemplate the diverse facets of life, sparking curiosity and introspection.

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Loving Someone You Can't Have

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Country Lover

by Maya Angelou

‘Country Lover’ by Maya Angelou is a blues-inspired poem that uses the rhythm of music to depict a country dance scene.

Angelou also uses the form of a list poem here. Each line adds a new detail, like clothing, a drink, or an action. These details feel like parts of a checklist or things being noticed one by one. This kind of form builds a full picture without needing long sentences or big explanations. It helps the reader feel like they are standing in the same room, taking everything in the same way the speaker is.

Funky blues

Keen toed shoes

High water pants

Saddy night dance

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Green Grow the Rushes, O

by Anonymous

‘Green Grow the Rushes, O’ is a traditional English folk song blending Christian and astronomical references in a counting rhyme that is both educational and mysterious.

'Green Grow the Rushes, O' uses the list poem form by presenting a sequence of numbers, each paired with a reference to a religious or astronomical idea. The poem’s list-like structure is straightforward, making it easier for children to follow and memorize. By building from twelve down to one, the form reinforces key concepts through repetition, helping listeners remember important Christian teachings and cosmic ideas.

I'll sing you twelve, O

Green grow the rushes, O

What are your twelve, O?

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A Was an Apple Pie

by Anonymous

‘A Was an Apple Pie’ is a simple and fun-to-read poem. In it, the speaker lists the alphabet, using personification to depict each letter of the alphabet.

The poem also follows the structure of a List Poem, as it systematically goes through the alphabet, giving each letter an action tied to the apple pie. This straightforward listing helps with memorization, especially for young children, by associating each letter with a specific, easy-to-recall action. The list form serves both an educational and entertaining purpose, making it easy to follow and learn.

A was an apple pie

B bit it,

C cut it,

D dealt it,

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Mrs Faust

by Carol Ann Duffy

The legend of Faust is retold from the perspective of his wife, who helplessly watches as her husband descends into sin and greed after making a deal with a demon for power.

While the entirety of the poem 'Mrs Faust' is not a list, Carol Ann Duffy uses listing numerous times throughout to explore the life shared by Dr and Mrs Faust. Duffy utilises this literary device to communicate the speaker's dismissiveness about the circumstances of her life.

I grew to love lifestyle,

not the life.

He grew to love the kudos,

not the wife.

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"> 24/100

Solitude

by Lord Byron

‘Solitude’ describes how a person can feel content and supported in nature, yet isolated and alone when surrounded by other people.

This poem features lists or listings of features. While it is not a great example of this poetic form, Byron does tap into the way that list poems can emphasize a particular experience, place, or emotion.

To sit on rocks, to muse o'er flood and fell,

To slowly trace the forest's shady scene,

Where things that own not man's dominion dwell,

And mortal foot hath ne'er or rarely been;

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Bleezer’s Ice Cream

by Jack Prelutsky

Have you ever gone to an ice cream store selling twenty-eight different flavors of literally everything? You’ll be doing yourself a favor by visiting BLEEZER’S ICE CREAM STORE.

I am Ebenezer Bleezer,

I run BLEEZER’S ICE CREAM STORE,

there are flavors in my freezer

you have never seen before,

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6 Significant List Poems

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6 Significant List Poems

Country Lover

by Maya Angelou

Green Grow the Rushes, O

by Anonymous

A Was an Apple Pie

by Anonymous

Mrs Faust

by Carol Ann Duffy

Solitude

by Lord Byron

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