15+ Must-Read Folklore Poems

(15 to start, 18+ to explore)

Folklore poetry draws its inspiration from the legends, myths, and traditional beliefs of a specific culture or community. Often passed down through generations, these poems reflect the values, history, and collective wisdom of the people.

They can include elements such as oral history, fables, fairy tales, proverbs, and more. Folklore poetry is a vital link to the past, preserving cultural heritage while often also commenting on the present. This genre is as diverse as the cultures that inspire it.

Poem Explorer Poetry Archives

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"> 88/100

Sumer is icumen in

by W. de Wycombe

‘Sumer is icumen in’ is a song written in the Wessex dialect of Middle English. The brilliance of the composition lies in the use of a refrain that resonates with the consecutive cooing of the Cuckoo.

Summer has arrived,

Loudly sing, cuckoo!

The seed is growing

And the meadow is blooming,

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"> 87/100

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' puts Roman folklore into the consciousness of English folklore. This narrative poem, which borders on Epic, is focused only on telling a good story, and rarely uses poetic devices and figurative language. As such, this poem begs to be listened to, not read, which is in keeping with most folk tales.

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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"> 82/100

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.

The poem draws inspiration from Arthurian legends and fairy tale myths. The ballad form is closely associated with the folk tradition; the poem's lyrical quality echoes the oral tradition of folk ballads. Its content, having supernatural and mythological elements, resonates with the folklore genre. Moreover, the rural setting, with reapers harvesting, further roots the poem in a folk context. The poem exudes a primal, rural atmosphere, evoking a sense of the supernatural rooted in traditional folklore. Contemporary folklore works of Thomas Keightley also influence it.

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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Fathers and Daughters

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"> 80/100

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.

Following the conventions of the ballad, 'Lochinvar' is a folk song or poem. Like most ballads, it reads like a narrative song that tells the story of a historical event.

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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"> 75/100

Tam O’Shanter

by Robert Burns

One of the classics of Scottish literature, ‘Tam O’Shanter’ is a poem whose influence has spread beyond the borders of Scotland. A tale of drunken misadventure mixed with faux gothic and comedy horror, this poem somehow manages to transcend the mix of styles and tell a tale that has stood the test of time.

The poem deals with folklore that was prevalent in the area where Burns lived at the time. The church was said to be haunted, and many superstitions were attached to it. This kind of folklore was common throughout Europe and the New World at the time and it is a great historical insight into that time.

When chapmen billies leave the street,

And drouthy neibors, neibors meet,

As market days are wearing late,

An' folk begin to tak the gate;

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"> 70/100

The Powwow at the End of the World

by Sherman Alexie

‘The Powwow at the End of the World’ by Sherman Alexie is a stunning poem that reveals the apocalyptic price of an indigenous person’s forgiveness.

Sherman Alexie brilliantly weaves the folklore of his tribe with a vision of modern apocalypse in a poem that is wields as much shock and awe as it does spiritual catharsis. Relying on the symbolism of cultural tenets like the salmon and powwow to empower a vision of reclamation.

I am told by many of you that I must forgive and so I shall

after an Indian woman puts her shoulder to the Grand Coulee Dam

and topples it. I am told by many of you that I must forgive

and so I shall after the floodwaters burst each successive dam

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Emotions: Grief, Love for Him, Sadness

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Ravens

Birds, Life, Light, Mythology

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Ballad

Couplets

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Folklore

"> 69/100

The Three Ravens (English Folk Ballad)

by Thomas Ravenscroft

‘The Three Ravens’ is an Old English folk ballad in the songbook ‘Melismata’ compiled by Thomas Ravenscroft in 1611.

There were three rauens sat on a tree,

downe a downe, hay downe, hay downe,

There were three rauens sat on a tree,

with a downe,

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"> 66/100

The Lammas Hireling

by Ian Duhig

A farmer’s eerie encounter with a warlock-hireling during Lammas harvest unfolds in Ian Duhig’s award-winning ‘The Lammas Hireling’.

The genre of this poem fits closely with folklore. The story is shaped by old beliefs, rural superstition, and strange happenings that feel pulled from old tales passed down through generations. The chant about the hare, the idea of a warlock, and the silver bullets all reflect a world where magic and fear are part of everyday life. This use of folklore creates a strong sense of mystery and gives the story an eerie, timeless feeling.

After the fair, I’d still a light heart

and a heavy purse, he struck so cheap.

And cattle doted on him: in his time

mine only dropped heifers, fat as cream.

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Crow Sickened

by Ted Hughes

‘Crow Sickened’ is a brilliant example of Hughes’ playful style, in which Crow attempts to work out the cause of his misery.

The poem draws on traditional stories and myths. Crow, the main character, is a figure often found in many cultures' folklore. His actions and struggles reflect age-old human experiences and lessons. The poem uses these familiar themes to explore deep questions about life and suffering. Crow's story connects to the timeless nature of folklore.

His illness was something could not vomit him up.

Unwinding the world like a ball of wool

Found the last end tied round his own finger.

#10

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"> 56/100

Goosey goosey gander

by Anonymous

‘Goosey goosey gander’ is an old English nursery rhyme that has unclear origins. But, it does have a few very interesting interpretations.

Some interpretations of ‘Goosey Goosey Gander’ connect it to folklore, particularly historical events such as the persecution of Catholic priests in England. The reference to an old man who wouldn’t say his prayers may symbolize religious resistance, reflecting how folklore often embeds cultural and historical narratives within seemingly simple stories.

Goosey goosey gander,

Whither shall I wander?

Upstairs and downstairs

And in my lady's chamber.

#11

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"> 55/100

Aiken Drum

by Anonymous

‘Aiken Drum’ is an interesting Scottish folksong. It dates back to 1820 and describes what one strange man’s clothes are made out of.

‘Aiken Drum’ is a piece of folklore because it reflects Scottish cultural traditions passed down orally. In the poem, Aiken Drum is a figure who wears clothes made of food, a playful and exaggerated character that could only come from folk tales. The whimsical nature and its connection to historical events, like the Battle of Sheriffmuir, show how folklore blends cultural history with storytelling.

There was a man lived in the moon, lived in the moon, lived in the moon,

There was a man lived in the moon,

And his name was Aiken Drum.

#12

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"> 55/100

Remember Remember the 5th of November

by Undefined Poet

‘Remember Remember the 5th of November’ is a commemorative poem that celebrates the capture and execution of Guy Fawkes. It is recited on Guy Fawkes day, celebrated on November the 5th.

The poem fits well into folklore, as it preserves and retells the story of Guy Fawkes and the failed Gunpowder Plot, which has become a part of English tradition. Through folklore, the poem transforms this historical event into a shared memory, helping generations connect with the story each year. This genre turns history into a tale that endures through annual remembrance and communal celebration.

Remember, remember!

The fifth of November,

The Gunpowder treason and plot;

I know of no reason

#13

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My Bonnie lies over the ocean

by Anonymous

‘My Bonnie lies over the ocean’ is a popular nursery rhyme. It may refer to Bonnie Prince Charlie, or Charles Edward Stuart.

The poem is connected to folklore, as it is believed to be inspired by the exile of Bonnie Prince Charlie. This connection to historical and cultural stories passed down through generations is typical of folklore. In this case, the poem uses the idea of longing for Bonnie’s return, possibly reflecting the collective mourning of the Jacobite supporters after Bonnie Prince Charlie’s defeat.

My Bonnie lies over the ocean,

My Bonnie lies over the sea.

My Bonnie lies over the ocean.

So bring back my Bonnie to me.

#14

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Beware: Do Not Read This Poem

by Ishmael Reed

‘Beware: Do Not Read This Poem’ by Ishmael Reed is a thoughtful poem about culture and how language is used to tell stories. The poem warns against becoming too consumed within one method of storytelling.

The poem feels like folklore, especially through its strange story of a woman disappearing into mirrors and haunting others. This folklore quality gives it a warning tone, much like traditional tales that offer caution or wisdom. Reed uses this style to connect readers with a timeless legend, creating an eerie, mystical world. The folklore element makes the poem’s message stronger by blending an old story with ideas about identity and self-discovery.

tonite, thriller was
about an old woman, so vain she
surrounded herself with
many mirrors

#15

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Ballad of the Moon Moon

by Federico García Lorca

‘Ballad of the Moon Moon’ by Federico Garcia Lorca is a brilliant and dreamlike depiction of the moon descending to Earth in the form of a woman.

Many of this poem's primary elements draw upon traditional European folklore, especially the moon's association with women and its ability to descend to Earth. The evocation of the gypsies also alludes to the folk tradition in Spain and beyond.

Moon came to the forge

in her petticoat of nard

The boy looks and looks

the boy looks at the Moon

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15+ Must-Read Folklore Poems

(15 to start, 18+ to explore)

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15+ Must-Read Folklore Poems

(15 to start, 18+ to explore)

by W. de Wycombe

by Thomas Babington Macaulay

by Alfred Lord Tennyson

by Sir Walter Scott

by Robert Burns

by Sherman Alexie

by Thomas Ravenscroft

by Ian Duhig

by Ted Hughes

by Anonymous

by Anonymous

by Undefined Poet

by Anonymous

by Ishmael Reed

by Federico García Lorca

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