Most adults probably remember reading Shel Silverstein and the joy his book A Light in the Attic brought us. Reading poetry with children fosters creativity and important literacy skills like rhyming. Short poems for kids can also help develop memory skills because students usually can’t wait to share what they learned with family and friends. Since long poems may seem intimidating to younger readers or even those who are just new to poetry, we gathered some of the best short poems for kids. While some are silly and include nonsense words and funny names, others are more serious and tackle important social issues. Check out our complete list of short poems for kids below.
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1. The Homework Machine by Shel Silverstein
“Just put in your homework, then drop in a dime.”
Themes: Technology, unexpected consequences, personal responsibility
Literary devices: Rhyme, personification, hyperbole, humor
Shel Silverstein is famous for writing easy poems for kids to memorize and love. This whimsical poem utilizes humor and imagination to explore the consequences of the overuse of technology. It cautions against taking shortcuts while advocating for personal responsibility.
2. This Is Just To Say by William Carlos Williams
“I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox”
Themes: Banality, apology, implied story
Literary devices: Imagery, vernacular, sensory language, free verse, juxtaposition
This poem has three short stanzas each consisting of four lines. Despite it’s short length, it can be interpreted a number of different ways. While the speaker asks for forgiveness, the apology seems either playful or not heartfelt. The use of everyday language suggests a close familiar relationship between the speaker and the audience.
3. There Was a Young Lady of Clare by Edward Lear
“When she found she was tired, she abruptly expired,
That unfortunate Lady of Clare.”
Themes: Humor, dark comedy, exaggeration, absurdity, whimsy
Literary devices: Rhyme scheme (AABBA), repetition, euphony
In typical Edward Lear style, this humorous and nonsensical limerick utilizes exaggeration to drive home the humorous plot. The unexpected ending provides for a comedically dark twist.
4. Happy Thought by Robert Louis Stevenson
“The world is so full of a number of things
I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings.”
Themes: Optimism, joy
Literary devices: Rhyme scheme (AABB), repetition, imagery, metaphor, simile
We love short poems for kids that express joy. While short and seemingly simple, this poem carries with it a deeper meaning about finding contentment in life. In a mere two lines, the poet has managed to spread a message about happiness being rooted in perception rather than possessions.
5. The Stars Are Blinking by Annette Wynne
“The stars are blinking in the skies;
They see some sights that hurt their eyes.”
Themes: Nature, empathy
Literary devices: Imagery, personification, anthropomorphism
This short poem utilizes personification, giving the stars human-like qualities. The poet alludes to the stars watching over us and imploring the listener to be good for them.
6. Tiny Little Snowflakes by Lucy Larcom
“Robed so white and spotless,
Flying like a dove.”
Themes: Nature, joy, wonder
Literary devices: Imagery, personification, metaphor, symbolism, repetition, anthropomorphism
This poem utilizes personification, giving the snowflakes human-like qualities by saying the snowflakes are dancing and kissing. The mention of children in the poem is repeated throughout, emphasizing the theme of childlike wonder.
7. The Crocodile by Lewis Carroll
“How cheerfully he seems to grin …”
Themes: Nature, animal behavior
Literary devices: Juxtaposition, satire, parody, irony
The use of irony is prevalent throughout the poem, with the poet describing the crocodile as being smiley and welcoming. The ending, however, reveals that he is eating the fish. There is contrast and juxtaposition in the phrase “gently smiling jaws.”
8. How Do I Love Thee? by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.”
Themes: Boundless love, afterlife, spirituality, devotion
Literary devices: Repetition, iambic pentameter
This poem is a sonnet written in iambic pentameter, meaning it has a rhythmic pattern consisting of 10 alternating stressed and unstressed syllables per line of poetry. The poem opens with a rhetorical question that the poet will then attempt to answer. It delves into the theme of immeasurable love that transcends space and time.
9. The Cry of the Cicada by Matsuo Basho
“The cry of the cicada
Gives us no sign
That presently it will die.”
Themes: Simplicity, nature
Literary devices: Haiku, symbolism, juxtaposition
This haiku is deceptively simple at just three lines long, but it contains strong themes such as the impermanence of life. The paradox of the cicada’s cry versus it’s impending death is also featured.
10. I’m Nobody! Who Are You? by Emily Dickinson
“I’m Nobody! Who are you?
Are you – Nobody – too?”
Themes: Anonymity, societal expectations, pitfalls of fame
Literary devices: Simile, rhyme, juxtaposition
Some short poems for kids are written by famous poets that didn’t necessarily write with children in mind. This poem juxtaposes the concept of being a nobody versus being a somebody. Dickinson makes it explicit throughout the poem that she values anonymity versus fame despite societal expectations.
11. Sonnet by James Weldon Johnson
“Tho’ thick the battle and tho’ fierce the fight,
There is a power making for the right.”
Themes: Adversity, racism, perseverance, resilience, identity, courage, hope
Literary devices: Imagery, motif, symbolism, juxtaposition
This poem speaks to the resiliency of the human spirit especially when faced with injustice such as racism. The poet juxtaposes the enslaved body with the free heart and spirit.
12. My Missing Shoe by Kate Miller Wilson
“My mother is calling me, and I’m calling you,
Where have you gone, my missing shoe?”
Themes: Innocence, childhood, humor, imagery
Literary devices: Personification, analogy, irony
This is a short, humorous poem in which a child speaker looks for their missing shoe while personifying the shoe by speaking to it directly. The forgetfulness of children is highlighted by all the possible places the child believes they could have left their shoe. The speaker even analogizes themself to the shoe when saying, “My mother is calling me, and I’m calling you.”
13. I Ate a Chili Pepper by Barbara Vance
“I ate a chili pepper
On a lunch-time dare …”
Themes: Consequences, peer pressure
Literary devices: Humor, hyperbole, irony
Short poems for kids like this one can be fun allegories. On the surface, it is a story about a child that ate a hot chili pepper on a dare. As a result, they lose their sense of taste and smell therefore cautioning against caving in to peer pressure.
14. My Long-Eared Dog by Denise Rodgers
“My long-eared dog is very sweet.
He loves to lick my stinky feet.”
Themes: Companionship, fun, pets
Literary devices: Humor, rhyme, imagery, hyperbole, juxtaposition
This short, lighthearted poem is silly and uses hyperbole to describe the poet’s relationship with their dog. It also utilizes juxtaposition with contrasting adjectives like sweet and stinky.
15. Poetry Is My Underwear by April Halprin Wayland
“Doesn’t she know
she’s waving my underwear?”
Themes: Humor, privacy
Literary devices: Simile, metaphor, rhyme
Short poems for kids that talk about things like underwear are sure to be a crowd-pleaser. This poem can be looked at as merely silly since the poet likens her poetry to her underwear. However, there is also a deeper meaning to be found in the metaphor as the poet portrays the vulnerability one feels when sharing their poetry.
16. On Quiet Feet by Nikki Grimes
“I might even
hear
his heart beat—
but never
his quiet
feet.”
Themes: Love, childhood, family
Literary devices: Simile, imagery
Some short poems for kids vividly depict the relationship between children and caregivers. “On Quiet Feet” by Nikki Grimes describes the love between a father and their child. The father is described through various parts of his anatomy including his heartbeat and “quiet feet.” The poet uses a simile “silent as shadow” to describe the father’s movements.
17. My Rock by Pat Mora
“I sit on my desert rock, listen
to the world’s hum.”
Themes: Strength, identity, nature
Literary devices: Metaphor, imagery
This poem relies heavily on nature and animal imagery to describe the poet’s view from their rock. The author is grounded while absorbing the sights and sounds of nature while contemplating the “halls of judgements.” The so-called halls likely refer to societal pressures.
18. Cat by Marilyn Singer
“No cat I remember
dislikes December
inside.”
Themes: Animals, comfort, pets
Literary devices: Rhyme, imagery, juxtaposition
“Cat” by Marilyn Singer uses vivid imagery to depict a scene of a cat seeking warmth inside during the cold of December. Singer juxtaposes the warmth inside, including a “perfect fire,” with the implied cold outside.
19. A Blank White Page by Francisco X. Alarcón
“is a meadow
after a snowfall”
Themes: Creation, freedom of expression, identity, voice, new beginnings
Literary devices: Metaphor, imagery, personification, symbolism
Despite its short length, this poem packs a powerful message about artistic expression. At the heart of the poem is a metaphor likening a blank white page to a meadow after a snowfall. There is personification of the poem itself since the poet states that it hopes to cross the meadow.
20. The Promise by Jane Hirshfield
“Stay, I said to my loves.
Each answered,
Always.”
Themes: Change, love, nature, commitment, loss, transcendence
Literary devices: Repetition, imagery, personification, metaphor
Not all short poems for kids have to be targeted to just children. “The Promise” by Jane Hirshfield is a beautiful statement about the impermanence of the earthly world while speaking to the transcendence of love. There is personification throughout the poem as the speaker implores flowers, leaves, meadows, and others to stay. There is powerful nature imagery throughout the poem as well.
21. Mr. McGallimagoo by James McDonald
“Refer to me by my proper name,
Which is Mr. Hullibajiss.”
Themes: Names, identity
Literary devices: Repetition, humor, irony, rhyme
This is a lighthearted poem that employs humor to explore the theme of identity and the implications of names. There is irony at the end of the poem where the poet reveals that his preferred name is equally as silly as the one he has been rejecting repeatedly throughout the poem.
22. Dust by P.A. Ropes
“The grey dust runs on the ground like a mouse …”
Themes: Mischief
Literary devices: Personification, rhyme, humor, simile
This poem personifies dust as a small grey mouse running all around a house. It also employs a basic coupled rhyme scheme. Some easy poems for kids, like this one, provide plenty of opportunity to learn about different literary devices while keeping the messaging and reading simple.
23. My Griffin by Laura E. Richards
“I keep my Griffin in the barn;
I keep him busy winding yarn.”
Themes: Imagination, friendship, childhood, wonder
Literary devices: Repetition, humor, rhyme
“My Griffin” by Laura E. Richards is a fun poem likely told from the perspective of a young child. In it, the speaker describes their imaginary friend/creature and all the ways they keep him (the Griffin) busy and hidden from others. It is a whimsical attempt to capture the imagination of childhood.
24. Fun by Leroy F. Jackson
“I love to hear a lobster laugh,
Or see a turtle wiggle …”
Themes: Imagination, joy, wonder, fun
Literary devices: Repetition, humor, coupled rhyme, imagery, personification
This short, sweet poem expresses a sense of joy through absurd yet delightful imagery such as a giggling monster or wriggling mountains.
25. A Baby Sardine by Spike Milligan
“‘Oh come, come, come,’
Said the sardine’s mum.
‘It’s only a tin full of people.'”
Themes: Imagination, absurdity
Literary devices: Rhyme, humor, irony, personification
While short at just six lines long, this whimsical and playful poem flips expectations on their head. Rather than tell the story from the perspective of a person, the poet tells it from the perspective of a baby sardine. The irony is that the baby sardine is looking at the submarine full of people with wonder and amusement rather than the people looking at the sardine and other underwater life that way.
26. Oh, Fly by Jane Yolen
“For oh, you are
a lovely fly.
Just
do not go
and multiply.”
Themes: Frustration, persistence, acceptance
Literary devices: Humor, juxtaposition, rhyme, imagery, symbolism
This is a humorous poem that tells the story of a fly that is irritating the speaker. It is filled with contrast, calling the fly both a “vector of disease” as well as “lovely.” The fly can be seen as standing in for life’s worries.
27. Stronger Together by Rupi Kaur
“more women in the arena means
more room for all of us to rise.”
Themes: Unity, strength, feminism, empowerment, jealousy
Literary devices: Symbolism, contrast
The poet implores women to see that their strength is in their unity. There is contrast in the poet’s view of women versus men as well as jealousy and isolation versus strength and unity. The “arena” spoken of in the poem is a symbol for the world as a whole.
28. Hummingbirds by Betty Sage
“I think it is a funny thing
That some birds whistle, others sing.”
Themes: Diversity, uniqueness
Literary devices: Rhyme, symbolism, contrast
This sweet poem uses contrast to compare the various singing abilities of different types of birds. The birds serve as a symbol of the diversity in the human race. The poet employs a simple, coupled rhyming scheme throughout the short, six-line poem.
29. A Wee Little Worm by James Whitcomb Riley
“A wee little worm in a hickory-nut
Sang, happy as he could be …”
Themes: Gratitude, nature
Literary devices: Rhyme, symbolism
This is a short and simple poem about a small worm who displays great appreciation for his life. The deeper meaning of the poem is to find gratitude for the small things in life since they are really the big things.
30. Snowball by Shel Silverstein
“I made myself a snowball
As perfect as could be.”
Themes: Innocence, childhood, imagination, nature
Literary devices: Rhyme, humor, symbolism, personification
This funny poem is told from the perspective of a child who wishes to keep a snowball as a pet. The pet is given human or animal-like traits as the child speaker wishes to give it pajamas and put it to bed. The humor of childlike innocence is highlighted at the end of the poem when the speaker believes that the snowball has wet the bed and run away rather than merely melting.
31. The Purple Cow by Gelett Burgess
“I never saw a purple cow.
I never hope to see one.”
Themes: Absurdity, curiosity, individualism, uniqueness
Literary devices: Rhyme, irony, humor
This simple poem follows an alternating rhyme scheme, where the end of every other line rhymes. It can be seen as being absurd and fanciful, but it can also belie a deeper meaning. A purple cow would certainly stand out from the masses, and the speaker of the poem makes it clear that they would rather not be that purple cow. This preference could represent a desire to fit in with societal norms.
32. At the Zoo by William Makepeace Thackeray
“Then I saw the elephant a-waving of his trunk;
Then I saw the monkeys—mercy, how unpleasantly they smelt!”
Themes: Observation, anthropomorphism, wonder
Literary devices: Rhyme scheme, imagery, repetition, alliteration
This humorous poem uses vivid imagery to describe each of the animals seen at the zoo. It also uses repetition in repeating the phrase “then I saw” throughout the poem. There is alliteration as well in the phrases “wombat waddle” and “monkeys – mercy.”
33. Jack and Jill by Mother Goose
“Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water …”
Themes: Consequences, childhood, companionship
Literary devices: Humor, rhyme
Some short poems for kids are beloved nursery rhymes. This classic one employs a simple rhyming scheme with a singsongy quality. Humorous and fun, it’s a playful warning to pay attention to your actions.
34. Star Light, Star Bright by Anonymous
“Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have this wish I wish tonight.”
Themes: Hope, wishes, nighttime
Literary devices: Rhyme scheme, repetition, imagery
This well-known simple and sweet poem has a rhythmic and melodic quality. The message is a hopeful one filled with childlike wonder as the speaker makes a wish on the first star they see at night.
35. My Cat Is Fat by James McDonald
“I’ve a cat named Vesters,
And he eats all day.
He always lays around,
And never wants to play.”
Themes: Love for pets, playfulness, acceptance
Literary devices: Repetition, hyperbole, irony
“My Cat Is Fat” is a humorous poem told from the perspective of fat cat Vesters’ human. While the speaker is insulting the cat, it is done in a playful way that indicates affection. The irony comes at the end when the cat still doesn’t play despite now being thinner.
36. There Was an Old Person Whose Habits by Edward Lear
“There was an Old Person whose habits,
Induced him to feed upon rabbits;
When he’d eaten eighteen,
He turned perfectly green,
Upon which he relinquished those habits.”
Themes: Absurdity, consequences, societal expectations, eccentricity
Literary devices: Rhyme, hyperbole, imagery
This short, humorous poem uses hyperbole to tell a tale of an eccentric old man who took to eating rabbits. One day he took it too far and turned “green,” thus highlighting the theme of consequences. Since turning green, presumably symbolizing sickness, he changes his habits.
37. What Are Heavy by Christina Rossetti
“What are heavy? sea-sand and sorrow:
What are brief? today and tomorrow:
What are frail? spring blossoms and youth:
What are deep? the ocean and truth.”
Themes: Nature, passage of time, emotional vs. physical burdens, grief
Literary devices: Repetition, rhyme, parallelism, symbolism, juxtaposition, metaphor
This poem is brief but packs a big punch. It juxtaposes earthly things against more spiritual concepts. It speaks to the fleeting nature of time and youth and the heaviness of sorrow.
38. Tommy by Gwendolyn Brooks
“I put my seed into the ground
And said, ‘I’ll watch it grow.’
I watered it and cared for it
As well as I could know.”
Themes: Nature, passage of time, childhood, innocence
Literary devices: Imagery, symbolism, rhyme
This poem can be taken a number of different ways. On the one hand, it could be seen as capturing the innocence of childhood as the speaker is surprised to see the seed they planted has grown. On the other hand, the seed and the resulting growth could be seen as symbolizing the growth of a child and a parent’s surprise at how quickly they grow.
39. The Parent by Ogden Nash
“Children aren’t happy with nothing to ignore,
And that’s what parents were created for.”
Themes: Childhood, parenthood
Literary devices: Humor, rhyme
“The Parent” is a short, humorous poem poking fun at children’s tendency to not listen to their parents. The intended audience is likely other parents.
40. Way Down South by Anonymous
“Way down South where bananas grow,
A grasshopper stepped on an elephant’s toe.”
Themes: Animal kingdom, unexpected outcomes
Literary devices: Humor, rhyme, irony
Some short poems for kids, like this one, are silly and playful and play on our own expectations by flipping them on their heads. Usually when someone says to pick on someone their own size, they are referring to a bigger person picking on someone smaller, but here the joke and the irony is that it is the opposite.
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If you liked these short poems for kids, check out these poems about teaching.
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