30+ Elizabeth Barrett Browning Poems, Ranked by Poetry Experts

Grief

‘Grief’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning tells of the necessary conditions for feeling true grief and the way it transforms one’s body and soul.

Considered one of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's finest works, 'Grief' delves into the complex nature of sorrow. The poem asserts that grief manifests not through overt displays of emotion, but rather turns one into a "statue" of perpetual vigilance and woe. The speaker likens the soul to a barren desert, unyielding to the trials of life. The poem concludes with the notion that only through the act of weeping can one find a semblance of relief from this emotional burden.

I tell you, hopeless grief is passionless;

That only men incredulous of despair,

Half-taught in anguish, through the midnight air

Beat upward to God’s throne in loud access

Died..

‘Died..’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning explores the impact of a man’s death while also exploring the immorality of passing judgements, good or bad.

In 'Died...', Elizabeth Barrett Browning examines the impact of a man's death and questions the ethics of labeling him posthumously. The poem unfolds as a dialogue, initially between a husband and wife, and later involving a broader audience. The speaker argues that judgments on the deceased are pointless, as they are beyond the reach of earthly opinions. The poem serves as a reminder of human mortality, urging the reader to focus on constructive actions rather than idle criticisms. The speaker emphasizes that everyone will eventually become a "was," overshadowed by God's eternal "am."

What shall we add now? He is dead.

And I who praise and you who blame,

With wash of words across his name,

Find suddenly declared instead--

“If thou must love me…” (Sonnet 14)

‘If thou must love me…’ (Sonnet 14) by Elizabeth Barrett Browning declares the speaker’s intentions for how she is to be loved.

In this Petrarchan sonnet, the speaker lays out her criteria for love, insisting that she be loved not for transient qualities like her smile or shared thoughts, but for love itself. She warns against love based on superficial attributes, as such love is doomed to fade over time. Instead, she yearns for a love that is genuine and eternal, one that will withstand the test of time and endure through "eternity."

If thou must love me, let it be for nought

Except for love's sake only. Do not say,

"I love her for her smile—her look—her way

Of speaking gently,—for a trick of thought

Sabbath Morning at Sea

‘Sabbath Morning at Sea’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning describes the experiences of a speaker trapped on board a ship at sea.

The poem delves into the emotional landscape of a person confined to a ship at sea, particularly as the Sabbath approaches. Rather than succumbing to despair, the speaker finds solace in her faith and the natural world around her. She shifts her focus from her isolation and the absence of her "sweet friends" to the beauty in the sea and sky, using her faith as a source of optimism and strength.

The ship went on with solemn face;

To meet the darkness on the deep,

The solemn ship went onward.

I bowed down weary in the place;

George Sand: A Desire

‘George Sand: A Desire’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning pays homage to the French writer Amantine-Lucile-Aurore Dupin, known by her pen name George Sand.

The poem serves as a tribute to the French writer George Sand, born Amantine-Lucile-Aurore Dupin. Elizabeth Barrett Browning commends Sand for her intellectual prowess and emotional depth, evident in her writing. The speaker admires Sand's ability to embody both masculine and feminine qualities in her work. Browning acknowledges the courage it took for Sand to write under a male pseudonym and to tackle the subjects she did, responding to the world's challenges "roar for roar."

Thou large-brained woman and large-hearted man,

Self-called George Sand! whose soul, amid the lions

Of thy tumultuous senses, moans defiance

And answers roar for roar, as spirits can:

“Let the world’s sharpness…” Sonnets from the Portuguese (XXIV)

‘Let the world’s sharpness’ (Sonnet 24) is a poem that proposes a resolution to the world’s strife — all turn to, and accept, Love.

This Petrarchan sonnet delves into the idea that the world's strife can be resolved through Love, which is later clarified as God's love. The speaker likens the cessation of worldly troubles to the closing of a "clasping knife," rendering its blade harmless. This act is attributed to Love, or God's love, which has the power to bring peace and control over life and death. The poem concludes by emphasizing the unparalleled potency of divine love in transforming the world.

Let the world's sharpness, like a clasping knife,

Shut in upon itself and do no harm

In this close hand of Love, now soft and warm,

And let us hear no sound of human strife

A Musical Instrument

‘A Musical Instrument’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning describes the decimation of a riverbed and the crafting of the god Pan’s famous flute.

The poem explores the mythological narrative of Pan, the god of the wild, flocks, and rustic music. It opens with a reference to "the great god Pan...Down in the reeds," setting the stage for the unfolding tale. According to the myth, Pan falls in love with a wood-nymph named Syrinx, who tries to escape his advances. To protect her, her sisters transform her into a reed among many. Confused and unable to identify which reed Syrinx had become, Pan opts to cut seven reeds and craft them into the flute that now bears his name. The poem serves as a poetic recounting of this myth, exploring themes of love, transformation, and the origins of art.

High on the shore sate the great god Pan,

While turbidly flowed the river ;

And hacked and hewed as a great god can,

With his hard bleak steel at the patient reed,

The Best Thing in the World

‘The Best Thing in the World’ explores the intangible yet impactful elements of life, from natural beauty to truth.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poem delves into the abstract yet deeply resonant aspects of human experience. The speaker enumerates various elements of the world she cherishes the most, ranging from the beauty of nature to the south wind and the concept of harmless truth. What unites these diverse elements is their intangibility; they are things that cannot be physically held but profoundly affect the human spirit. The poem employs sensory imagery to evoke a multitude of interpretations, allowing each reader to connect with the text based on their own life experiences. The concluding lines encapsulate the idea that the most valuable aspects of life are often those that elude physical grasp.

WHAT'S the best thing in the world ?

June-rose, by May-dew impearled;

Sweet south-wind, that means no rain;

Truth, not cruel to a friend;

Patience Taught By Nature

‘Patience Taught By Nature’ reminds readers that there is a whole world beyond one’s own that is uninfluenced by the problems of human life.

Published in 1845, 'Patience Taught by Nature' emphasizes that while humans grapple with existential questions, the natural world remains undisturbed. The speaker finds solace in this constancy, noting that even as leaves fall and seasons change, the eternal stars remain visible. This enduring natural backdrop serves as a comforting reminder of a reality beyond human woes.

‘O DREARY life,’ we cry, ‘O dreary life!’

And still the generations of the birds

Sing through our sighing, and the flocks and herds

Serenely live while we are keeping strife

Say over again… (Sonnet 21)

‘Say over again…’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning delves into the speaker’s need for constant reassurance of love from her partner.

In this poignant sonnet, the speaker expresses her deep need for her lover to continually affirm his love for her. This constant reassurance serves as a remedy for her doubts and insecurities, allowing her emotional landscape to transition from a wintry desolation to a spring-like bloom. As her lover's affirmations dispel the darkness in her mind, she envisions a world filled with endless stars and flowers. However, the speaker adds a nuanced layer at the end of the poem, emphasizing that true love should also exist in the unspoken depths of the soul.

Say over again, and yet once over again,

That thou dost love me. Though the word repeated

Should seem "a cuckoo-song," as thou dost treat it,

Remember, never to the hill or plain,

Explore more poems from Elizabeth Barrett Browning

The Mask

‘The Mask’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning is a highly relatable poem that explores society’s expectations and how they often mean you can’t express yourself fully.

This poem is a good example of Browning's verse but it's not regarded as her best known. It does provide readers with an interesting insight into how Browning may have been suffering emotionally during her lifetime. However, it's also possible she was drawing from other people's experiences rather than her own to write this poem.

I HAVE a smiling face, she said,

I have a jest for all I meet,

I have a garland for my head

And all its flowers are sweet, —

Sonnet 43: How do I love thee?

In ‘Sonnet 43’, or ‘How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways’ the speaker is proclaiming her unending passion for her beloved.

This sonnet is one of Barrett Browning's finest and most famous poems. The poet was well known for her use of the sonnet form but the depth of the devotion evoked in these lines surpasses anything else the poet produced and, arguably, than any poet produced in this form aside from Shakespeare. The lines are regularly quoted in marriage services and the poem remains a powerful declaration of romantic love.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace.

A Curse For A Nation

‘A Curse for a Nation’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning explores societal injustices and moral decay through varied stanza structures and rhyming schemes.

'A Curse For A Nation' encapsulates Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poetic style and thematic concerns. Through rich imagery and intricate rhyming schemes, Browning critiques societal injustices and moral decay, highlighting the responsibility of individuals in confronting wrongdoing. This poem reflects Browning's broader body of work, characterized by its exploration of complex moral and social issues with depth and sensitivity.

I heard an angel speak last night,

And he said 'Write!

Write a Nation's curse for me,

And send it over the Western Sea.'

Hiram Powers’ Greek Slave

‘Hiram Powers’ Greek Slave’ is a deeply powerful account of seeing a sculpture which evokes feelings of both beauty and suffering.

'Hiram Powers' Greek Slave' is, like many of Barrett Browning's poems, a sonnet but it also demonstrates one of her most enduring political beliefs: her commitment to abolitionism. The poem also serves to situate Barrett Browning in her historical context as the titular statue was displayed at the Great Exhibition of 1851.

They say Ideal beauty cannot enter

The house of anguish. On the threshold stands

An alien Image with enshackled hands,

Called the Greek Slave! as if the artist meant her

Paraphrase on Anacreon: Ode to the Swallow

‘Paraphrase on Anacreon: Ode to the Swallow,’ is a translation of a Greek lyric poem in which the speaker explains that love constantly (and annoyingly) inhabits their heart.

Since 'Paraphrase on Anacreon: Ode to the Swallow' is a translation of an Ancient Greek poem, we cannot give Browning all the credit for this poem. However, her masterful translation, which uses English Anacreontic meter, has won her much praise in the scholarly community, as it is as close to the original Greek as it can be without becoming too confusing.

Thou indeed, little Swallow,

A sweet yearly comer.

Art building a hollow

New nest every summer.

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