15+ Oscar Wilde Poems, Ranked by Poetry Experts

The Grave of Keats

‘The Grave of Keats’ by Oscar Wilde describes the physical state of Keats’ grave and the emotional impact that his short life had on England.

In 'The Grave of Keats,' Oscar Wilde presents a profound and heartfelt tribute to John Keats, skillfully weaving the tranquil imagery of his resting place with the enduring legacy of his verse. Wilde's deep admiration and respect for Keats are palpable as he solemnly vows to eternally honor Keats's memory with his own tears, ensuring the poem's esteemed status within his celebrated oeuvre and among the annals of poetic tributes.

Rid of the world’s injustice, and his pain,

He rests at last beneath God’s veil of blue:

Taken from life when life and love were new

The youngest of the martyrs here is lain,

Sonnet to Liberty

In Wilde’s contemplative verse, the speaker addresses Liberty directly, revealing a complex relationship with the concept—both critical and intimately connected, a force that has historically driven humanity to rise against tyranny.

Published in Oscar Wilde's 1881 "Poems," this standout work opens with a profound exploration of liberty, justice, and the human condition. The speaker, using apostrophe, converses with Liberty, expressing a complex relationship of skepticism and connection. This nuanced dialogue mirrors the fervor that has historically fueled rebellions against tyranny, positioning the poem as a contemplative piece on the multifaceted influence of freedom in societal evolution.

Not that I love thy children, whose dull eyes

See nothing save their own unlovely woe,

Whose minds know nothing, nothing care to know,—

But that the roar of thy Democracies,

Her Voice

‘Her Voice’ by Oscar Wilde is told by a speaker who is having to accept the end of a relationship she once vowed to uphold for eternity.

'Her Voice' by Oscar Wilde is a poignant reflection on the end of a relationship and the enduring nature of personal essence. The speaker reminisces about promises of eternal love made in a garden, now recognizing the end of their 'eternity.' The poem weaves through the speaker's acceptance, acknowledging that the idea of forever was as ephemeral as the sea's elusive charm. In the wake of love's end, the speaker finds solace in the lasting qualities they each possess—her beauty and his art.

The wild bee reels from bough to bough

With his furry coat and his gauzy wing.

Now in a lily-cup, and now

Setting a jacinth bell a-swing,

The Ballad of Reading Gaol

‘The Ballad of Reading Gaol’ is a scathing critique of the penal system and an exploration of complex human emotions.

'The Ballad of Reading Gaol' by Oscar Wilde is a poignant critique of the penal system, drawn from his own incarceration and a fellow prisoner's execution. Across 109 stanzas, Wilde examines the inmate's regret and the grim realities of prison, emphasizing the mental anguish of guilt and the certainty of death. The work challenges the justice system's effectiveness and proposes that genuine peace lies in spiritual absolution.

He did not wear his scarlet coat,

For blood and wine are red,

And blood and wine were on his hands

When they found him with the dead,

Requiescat

‘Requiescat’, by Oscar Wilde, is a mournful poem that describes the sorrow felt over the passing and burial of a young woman.

'Requiescat' by Oscar Wilde mourns a beloved now beyond the speaker's reach. The poem whispers of a beauty lost to the grave, where "golden hair" tarnishes amidst the silence. In death, she escapes the speaker's grief, leaving him to confront a life entwined with her eternal stillness. This elegy reflects on love and loss, and the solitude that death imposes, even as the speaker yearns for a connection severed by mortality.

Tread lightly, she is near

Under the snow,

Speak gently, she can hear

The daisies grow.

On the Sale By Auction of Keats’ Love Letters

In this poem, Wilde decries the auction of Keats’ intimate letters as a profane act of greed.

Oscar Wilde's poem criticizes the auction of John Keats' private love letters, an event that sparked outrage among Keats' admirers in 1821. Wilde's verse condemns the commodification of Keats' intimate exchanges with Fanny Brawne, likening the sale to a profane act reminiscent of the Romans casting lots for Christ's garments. The poem is a testament to Wilde's respect for Keats and a scathing rebuke of society's voyeuristic and mercenary tendencies that tarnish the purity of personal sorrow and artistic integrity.

These are the letters which Endymion wrote

To one he loved in secret, and apart.

And now the brawlers of the auction mart

Bargain and bid for each poor blotted note,

The Garden of Eros

‘The Garden of Eros’ describes a metaphorical garden that plays host to various flowers and the memories of some of the greatest English poets.

'The Garden of Eros' by Oscar Wilde is a lyrical homage to the enduring spirits of English poets Keats, Shelley, Swinburne, and Rossetti, set within a metaphorical English garden. Wilde's verses bloom with floral and mythological allusions, reflecting his admiration for Greek lore and the bygone era of antiquity. Central to the poem is Eros, embodying the passion that animates the poets' timeless works in this verdant literary sanctuary.

It is full summer now, the heart of June;

Not yet the sunburnt reapers are astir

Upon the upland meadow where too soon

Rich autumn time, the season's usurer,

Apologia

This poem articulates a speaker’s fervent declarations of sacrifice for a beloved, revered as angelic and celestial.

The narrative voice in the poem passionately enumerates the sacrifices he is prepared to make for his cherished "Love." His devotion is so profound that he willingly forfeits his aspirations, relinquishes his finery, and embraces melancholy. The beloved is exalted to divine status, likened to the sublime realms of the heavens and the radiance of the sun. The poem's title alludes to a formal justification of personal beliefs, reflecting the poet's compulsion to vindicate his profound affection for an esteemed individual in his life.

Is it thy will that I should wax and wane,

Barter my cloth of gold for hodden grey,

And at thy pleasure weave that web of pain

Whose brightest threads are each a wasted day?

A Vision

This poem by Wilde reflects on an encounter with the spirits of Greek playwrights Æschylos, Sophokles, and Euripides, highlighting Euripides’ distinct lack of public honors.

In Wilde's verse, the speaker encounters the timeless Greek playwrights Æschylos, Sophokles, and Euripides, with Euripides notably laurel-less, hinting at a deeper appreciation beyond conventional honors. The poem intertwines with literary history, referencing Beatrice from Dante's 'The Divine Comedy', adding a dimension of divine love and guidance, showcasing Wilde's layered tribute to the greats of literature and their immortal influence.

Two crownèd Kings, and One that stood alone

With no green weight of laurels round his head,

But with sad eyes as one uncomforted,

And wearied with man's never-ceasing moan

Magdalen Walks

‘Magdalen Walks’ by Oscar Wilde describes the coming of spring and the vibrant, continually moving elements which herald its arrival.

Oscar Wilde's 'Magdalen Walks' is a vivid portrayal of spring's arrival, marked by a dynamic interplay of nature's elements. Known for its simplicity and depth, the poem weaves a tapestry of trees, birds, and blossoms, each contributing to the season's renewal. The setting is rooted in the English countryside, specifically at Magdalen College, Oxford, reflecting Wilde's personal connection to the place from his academic years.

The little white clouds are racing over the sky,

And the fields are strewn with the gold of the flower of March,

The daffodil breaks under foot, and the tasselled larch

Sways and swings as the thrush goes hurrying by.

Explore more poems from Oscar Wilde

Ravenna

‘Ravenna’ by Oscar Wilde is the poet’s recollection of a trip to the culturally and historically important Italian city of Ravenna.

Although certainly a fine poem, 'Ravenna' is not generally considered one of Oscar Wilde's best poems. Today, 'Ravenna,' written while Oscar Wilde was still essentially a callow youth, is most likely read for the insight it gives into Oscar Wilde the man. The poem provides an intriguing look into the values and interests of Wilde in his early 20s before he embarked on the endeavors that would bring him lasting fame. This is particularly so since, unlike many poems, 'Ravenna' is definitively biographical, dealing with an actual event in Wilde's life.

A year ago I breathed the Italian air,

And yet, methinks this northern Spring is fair,

These fields made golden with the flower of March,

The throstle singing on the feathered larch,

Madonna Mia

‘Madonna Mia’ by Oscar Wilde is a beautiful and interesting poem. In it, the speaker describes a “lily-girl.”

A lily-girl, not made for this world’s pain,

With brown, soft hair close braided by her ears,

And longing eyes half veiled by slumberous tears

Like bluest water seen through mists of rain:

My Voice

‘My Voice’ reflects on love’s end, blending ballad and ode elements to explore themes of loss, longing, and the passage of time.

Within the restless, hurried, modern world

We took our hearts’ full pleasure—You and I,

And now the white sails of our ships are furled,

On Easter Day

‘On Easter Day’ by Oscar Wilde asks readers to consider how Christian teachings align with the modern-day Pope. It’s about the importance of not putting man-made desires and institutions ahead of God.

The silver trumpets rang across the Dome:

The people knelt upon the ground with awe:

And borne upon the necks of men I saw,

Like some great God, the Holy Lord of Rome.

On the Massacre of Christians in Bulgaria

‘On the Massacre of the Christians in Bulgaria’ is a sonnet that questions the divinity of God after a massacre of Christians in Batak, Bulgaria.

Christ, dost Thou live indeed? or are Thy bones

Still straitened in their rock-hewn sepulchre?

And was Thy Rising only dreamed by her

Whose love of Thee for all her sin atones?

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