This famous poem by the great Scottish poet Robert Burns is regularly recited during celebrations throughout the world, whenever Haggis makes an appearance on the menu. (Read poem online and do language activities) (See/print audioscript)
In this poem John Edward Masefield fondly reminisces about the ‘good old days’ when there were pirates on the seas! (Read poem online and do a language activity) (See/print audio script)
This poem is by Nobel Prize for Literature winner Rabindranath Tagore, from India. Tagore once said ‘To study a banyan tree, you not only must know its main stem in its own soil, but also must trace the growth of its greatness in the further soil, for then you can know the true nature of its vitality’. (Read poem online and do language activities) (See/print audioscript)
In this amusing poem the correct words have been substituted by homophones (two or more words that are spelt differently, but pronounced the same). It proves that computer spelling checkers are not infallible! (Read poem online and do a language activity) (See/print audio script)
This amusing poem compares the meanings of words and expressions as they are used nowadays when speaking about computers, and in their original contexts. (Read poem online and do a language activity) (See/print audio script)
This poem by Archibald Lampman conjures up vivid images of a sweltering summer’s day. Phew! (Read poem online and do a language activity) (See/print audio script)
According to encyclopedia.com “William Butler Yeats, 1865-1939, Irish poet and playwright ... (was) the greatest lyric poet Ireland has produced and one of the major figures of 20th-century literature”. This poem graphically illustrates how it felt to be an Irishman fighting for the Allies. (Read poem online and do language activities) (See/print audioscript)
This poem by Celia Thaxter, who during her lifetime and briefly thereafter, was one of the better known women poets in America, vividly portrays the feelings of someone who yearns for the sea. (Read article online and do a language activity) (See/print audio script)
This poem, whose title was chosen by John Kerry as the slogan for his 2004 US Presidential campaign, was written by Langston Hughes, particularly known for his insightful, colorful portrayals of black life in America from the twenties through the sixties. (Read poem online and do language activities) (See/print audioscript)
In this fable by Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American essayist, poet, and leader of the Transcendentalist movement, a squirrel and a mountain have an argument! (Read poem online and do language activities) (See/print audioscript)
This funny ballad by one of Australia’s favourite poets, ‘Banjo’ Paterson (whose most famous work is undoubtedly Waltzing Matilda), is typical of his work in that his love for the bush and its colourful characters are very apparent. (Read poem online and do language activities) (See/print audioscript)
In this poem (written as a song), the great Scottish poet Robert Burns laments the illness of his loved one. (Read poem online and do language activities) (See/print audioscript)
This clever and amusing poem explains why English pronunciation is so very difficult. (Read poem online and do language activities) (See/print audio script)
One of Tennyson's most famous poems - partly due to its association with New Year's Eve. (Read poem online and do a language activity) (See/print audio script)
The famous lines from Shakespeare's play 'As You Like It'. (Read extract online and do language activities) (See/print audio script)
In this sad little poem by Robert Louis Stevenson, a mother spends the night at her sick child's bedside. (Read poem online and do a language activity) (See/print audio script)
The most famous poem from William Topaz McGonagall, who is renowned as one of the worst poets in the English language! (Read poem online and do a language activity) (See/print audio script)
This ballad by ‘Banjo’ Paterson shows what an enormous task it was delivering mail in a country as vast as Australia before modern technologies existed. (Read poem online and do a language activity) (See/print audio script)
This famous poem by William Blake conjures up amazingly vivid images of the mighty tiger. (Read poem online and do language activities) (See/print audioscript)
This grim poem by R. S. Thomas, the pre-eminent Welsh poet writing in the English language is typical of his work, which is uncompromising: images like slate - hard and sharp; his style spare, unflinching, honest." (Read poem and do language activities) (See/print audioscript)
Listen to our most recent stories, poems and articles
Listen to stories
Listen to articles
|