Poems and songs are the two things that we learn throughout our pre-school phase. In fact, poetry in English is one of most loved subject in schools. Moreover, even the teachers teach short funny poems to kids at their respective schools. Today, we will be talking about some of the best short English poems for recitation.
But, if we compare poems and songs they are not the same. Poetry in English is not set in the music they are just a collection of words.
Interestingly, both poems and songs have many things in common. They both express feelings, ideas, emotions, and give meaning. Moreover, the fun thing about poetry in English is that they very often rhyme and go in a rhythm.
Poetry in English can be of many types when it comes to the world of literature. In fact, we the normal people might categorize them as funny, imaginative, definitive, creative, or any other thing. But, types have specific names and are as follows:-
- Nursery Rhymes
- Limericks
- Haiku
- Acrostic
- Concrete
- Alliteration and Onomatopoeia
These are the various types of poetry in English. Moreover, we have shortlisted some of the unknown and famous English poetry for kids. Additionally, these are some of the best and famous English Poems ever written.
Short English Poems for Recitation
Poems and songs are the two things that we learn throughout our pre-school phase. In fact, poetry in English is one of most loved subject in schools. Moreover, even the teachers teach short funny poems to kids at their respective schools. Today, we will be talking about some of the best short English poems for recitation.
But, if we compare poems and songs they are not the same. Poetry in English is not set in the music they are just a collection of words.
Interestingly, both poems and songs have many things in common. They both express feelings, ideas, emotions, and give meaning. Moreover, the fun thing about poetry in English is that they very often rhyme and go in a rhythm.
Poetry in English can be of many types when it comes to the world of literature. In fact, we the normal people might categorize them as funny, imaginative, definitive, creative, or any other thing. But, types have specific names and are as follows:-
- Nursery Rhymes
- Limericks
- Haiku
- Acrostic
- Concrete
- Alliteration and Onomatopoeia
These are the various types of poetry in English. Moreover, we have shortlisted some of the unknown and famous English poetry for kids. Additionally, these are some of the best and famous English Poems ever written.
30 Best Short English Poems for Recitation
We probably know how poems change our mood and help create a positive environment. In the same way reciting them has some additional benefits. These help the reader to develop memorization skills.
Kindergartners learn to pick up the patterns and structure of the poem. It also helps children learn new words or languages. In fact, Poetry in English provides a pleasing way to practice English. Additionally, children come across new words and find out their meaning.
Below we have shortlisted 50 famous English poetry and famous English poems for kids.
Come Little Leaves by George Cooper
Read the poem below :
“Come, little leaves, said the wind one day,
“Come to the meadows with me, and play;
Put on your dresses of red and gold;
For Summer is past, and the days grow cold.”
Soon as the leaves heard the wind’s loud call,
Down they came fluttering, one and all;
Over the brown fields, they danced and flew,
Singing the soft little songs they knew.
“Cricket, good-bye, we’ve been friends so long;
Little brook, sing us your farewell song-
Say you’re sorry to see us go;
Ah! You are sorry, right well, we know.
“Dear little lambs, in your fleecy fold,
Mother will keep you from harm and cold;
Fondly we’ve watched you in vale and glade;
Say, will you dream of our loving shade?”
Dancing and flying, The leaves went along,
Til Winter called them to end their sweet song.
Soon, fast asleep in their earthy beds,
The snow lay a coverlet o’er their heads”.
This beautifully crafted poem is one of the short English poems for recitation for kids. The poem has been written by George Cooper way back in 1903. Moreover, the poet has depicted nature beautifully for the kids in this poem. In fact, we can see that he is talking to the little leaves and asking them to do many things.
Further in the poem, we see he is talking about the weather, brownfields, cricket, lambs, and many more. Also, in the end we also see that the winter leaves are covered with snow over their heads.
Read more about it at: https://rainydaypoems.com/poems-for-kids/poems-for-kids-to-recite/
Toot! Toot! By Anonymous
“A peanut sat on a railroad track,
His heart was all a-flutter;
The five-fifteen came rushing by-
Toot! toot! peanut butter!”
Count this anonymously written English poetry as one amongst the best short funny poems for kids. Additionally, this poem contains only four lines and is perfect for kids to recite.
The poem is about a small-sized peanut who sits on a railroad track. In fact, there is a train coming rushing towards the peanut butter. Interestingly, one would surprisingly get to know that it is being portrayed as “peanut butter” by the unknown poet.
Read more about it at: https://rainydaypoems.com/poems-for-kids/poems-for-kids-to-recite/
The Porcupine by Ogden Nash
“Any hound a porcupine nudges
Can’t be blamed for harboring grudges.
I know one hound that laughed all winter
At a porcupine that sat on a splinter”.
This is also another one of the unknown and famous English poems out there for kids. Besides, this poem is made up of four lines by Ogden Nash. This poem is about a porcupine and a splinter who are seen together at the end of the poem.
Read more about it at: https://keytopoetry.com/ogden-nash/analyses/the-porcupine/
The Purple Cow By Gelett Burgess
“I never saw a Purple Cow,
I never hope to see one,
But I can tell you, anyhow,
I’d rather see than be one”
There is quite an interesting story behind this beautifully-crafted poetry in English. This poem “The Purple Cow” has been written by Frank G. Burgess way back in 1899. Therefore, it won’t be wrong to that the words “Purple Cow” in the poem have been used as a brand name.
This is because it had something to do with Burgess’s business. This poem is one of the most famous poem for kids ever written. In fact, the poem is also described as a short nonsense poem written by any American writer.
The Lonesomest Fairy by Mary Carolyn Davies
“There’s a dewdrop shining bright
On the grass by the sun undried,
It’s a tear that fell in the night
When the lonesomest fairy cried”
Mary Carolyn Davies wrote this poem a long time back. This is one of the best poem for recitation for kids. It is because the poem is only of four beautiful lines that are about a fairy. Firstly, the poet is describing the weather conditions. Moreover, the poet talks about the dewdrops and how the sun is shining bright.
The last two lines tell that the lonely fairy cried the same night. However, the reason why the fairy cried is unknown to us.
I Heard A Bird Sing by Oliver Herford
“I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.
“We are nearer to Spring
Than we are in September,”
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.”
We have this another beautifully crafted poem for you. It is one of the famous poem ever written for kids. This poem is written by American poet, humorist, and author Oliver Herford.
The poet here talks about a bird who is singing a beautiful song during dark and cold December. In fact, the poet describes it as a “magical” creature. It is so “magical” that the poet describes the next line as “sweet to remember”.
Moreover, in the end we see, December month has passed and it has already become September. Then again the poet hears a bird singing during the month of dark December.
The Little Turtle by Vachel Lindsay
“There was a little turtle.
He lived in
a box.
He swam
in a puddle.
He climbed on
the rocks.
He snapped at
a mosquito.
He snapped
at a flea.
He snapped at
a minnow.
And he snapped at me.
He caught
the mosquito.
He caught
the flea.
He caught the minnow.
But he didn’t catch me”.
This poem is one of the best short funny poem for kids for recitation. Nicholas Vachel Lindsay was a significant American poet. In fact, this American poet is considered the founder of modern singing poetry.
The same way this poem was written way back in 1918. In fact, the poem was dedicated to the poet’s young niece, Martha Wakefield. Moreover, we see that there is a little turtle who is disturbed by a mosquito, a flea, and a minnow.
Read more about it at: https://keytopoetry.com/vachel-lindsay/analyses/the-little-turtle/
The Lion by Hilaire Belloc
“The lion, the lion, he dwells in the waste,
He has a big head and a very small waist;
But his shoulders are stark,
And his jaw they are grim,
And a good little child will not play with him”
Wondering, who curated this stunning piece of work? This is one of the best poetry in English written by the British poet Joseph Hilaire Belloc. He was quite a famous Franco-English writer and a poet during the early twentieth century. In fact, his work in literature is highly appreciated all over the world.
In the same way, the poem was written in the early twentieth century. The poet speaks about a lion. It could be a toy thrown near a waste. Moreover, the poet describes the body shape as “He has a big head and a very small waist”.
On the other hand, the lion’s shoulders barely have any outline and the jaws look very serious. As a result, for this reason a small child would not like to play with the toy (The Lion).
Find more reciting poems at: https://rainydaypoems.com/poems-for-kids/fairy-poems/
February Twilight by Sara Teasdale
“I stood beside a hill
Smooth with new-laid snow,
A single star looked out
From the cold evening glow.
There was no other creature
that saw what I could see-
I stood and watched the evening star
As long as it watched me.”
Sara Teasdale was a very famous American-based lyric poet. In fact, she had a major role in the contribution to world literature. Her poem “February Twilight” is one of the most famous English poem ever written.
The poem describes the poet who is standing beside the hill and tells everything she sees. She looks at a single star from the “cold evening glow”. Therefore, the poet depicts that there was no other living creatures present at the moment. In fact, she just enjoyed the evening star and the evening star watched her.
More at: https://dltk-holidays.com/winter/mteasdale.htm
Mice by Rose Fyleman
”I think mice
Are rather nice.
Their tails are long,
Their faces small,
They haven’t any
Chins at all.
Their ears are pink,
Their teeth are white,
They run about
The house at night.
They nibble things
They shouldn’t touch
And no one seems
To like them much.
But I think mice
Are nice.”
This might have been published way back in 1938 but, it is still lively and engaging. In fact, it is very engaging to hear good things about mice.
Rose Fyleman has used the positive side of “mice” in this famous English poetry. The poem is all about mice being nice. Interestingly, she describes them as “Their faces are small” then they do not have any chins. The poet also describes a small negative note at the end about mice.
It has been described as “They nibble things” and run the whole house at night. This is one of the reasons why no one seems to like mice. But, at the end of the poem, the poet thinks that “Mice are nice”.
Read more about it at: https://wakingbraincells.com/2012/12/12/review-mice-by-rose-fyleman/#:~:text=The%20poem%20is%20all%20about,the%20end%2C%20mice%20are%20nice.
The Wind by Christina Rossetti
“Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you;
But when the leaves hang trembling
The wind is passing through.
Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I;
But when the trees bow down their heads
The wind is passing by”
Firstly, this is one of the famous English poems available for kids out there. In fact, it has been written by a great English poet, Christina Rossetti. Additionally, It is a poem about formidable nature and was first published way back in 1947.
The speaker in the poem is talking about if anyone has ever seen the wind? Unfortunately, it is the speaker who answers by saying “Neither I nor you”. But, in the third line, we can see that the speaker can see the leaves “trembling”. This proves that the wind is passing through but, can’t be seen.
In fact, the speaker repeats the same question in the next stanza. Unfortunately, the answer comes the same as before. But, she can see that “when the trees bow down their heads” the wind is passing by it.
The Great Figure by William Carlos Williams
“Among the rain
and lights
I saw the figure 5
In gold
on a red
firetruck
moving
with weight and urgency tense
unheeded
to gong clangs
siren howls
and wheels rumbling
through the dark city.”
“The Great Figure” by William Carlos Williams was published way back in his 1921 collection “Sour Grapes”. It is one of the best short English poems for recitation for kids. In fact, two years later after its publication, the poem has become William’s most famous work.
Firstly, there are only thirty-one words in the poem which makes it one of the best short English poems for recitation. “The Great Figure” is none other than the fire truck in the poem which goes through a city by night. Additionally, the speaker of the poem talks about how the fire truck looks during the night time.
In fact, the speaker describes it as “gold on a red” “unheeded to gong clangs” and its “siren howls”. All of these happen when the truck is with heavy materials at the back and traveling at night.
Read more about it at: https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/poetry/great-figure
Faith by Emily Dickinson
“Faith is a fine invention
For gentleman who see;
But microscopes are prudent
In an emergency!”
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was a very well-established American poet. Moreover, she has written many short funny poems for kids. In fact, “Faith” is one amongst best short English poems for recitation. Unfortunately, Dickinson was very little-known during her life but, she was one of the important figures in the literature world.
This poem is religious-based poem. In fact, the speaker is speaking about faith and God to the readers. Hence, the speaker is explaining “Faith” as a blessing from God. Thus, “Faith” is for all men and women who see troubles or are facing difficult times in their life.
Caterpillar by Christina Rossetti
“Brown and furry
Caterpillar in a hurry,
Take your walk
To the shady leaf, or stalk,
Or what not,
Which may be the chosen spot.
No toad spy you,
Hovering bird of prey pass by you;
Spin and die
To live again a butterfly”.
We have many poetries in English when it comes to talking about ‘caterpillar’ as an insect. In the same way this is one of the famous English poems ever written by a poet. Christina Rossetti has written various romantic, religious, and short funny poems for kids.
The speaker is talking about the appearance of the caterpillar and described it as “brown and furry”. In fact, moving to the second line of the poem says that the caterpillar is in a hurry. But, the poet is also saying that the caterpillar should take his/her time. The “Spin and die” here means, that the caterpillar is finally turning into a butterfly.
The Land of Nod by Robert Louis Stevenson
“From breakfast on through all the day
At home among my friends I stay,
But every night I go abroad
Afar into the land of Nod.
All by myself I have to go,
With none to tell me what to do-
All alone beside the streams
And up the mountain-sides of dreams.
The strangest things are there for me,
Both things to eat and things to see,
And many frightening sights abroad
Till morning in the land of Nod.
Try as I like to find the way,
I never can get back by day,
Nor can remember plain and clear”
The curious music that I hear.
Let’s discuss some fascinating yet unknown facts about this most loved poem. Firstly, this beautifully crafted poem is one of the best short English poems for recitation. In fact, the poem has been written by R.L Stevenson way back in 1913.
Moreover, the poet talks mostly about the nature that he notices while going here and there. In the first paragraph, we see while going out with his friends he observes the good night. In fact, as the speaker notices it he goes to the land of Nod.
While going we see the speaker goes through the streams and up the “mountain-sides of dreams”. In the next paragraph, we see that the speaker observes strange things to eat and see. Moreover, the speaker cannot find their way back.
A Bag of Tools by R.L. Sharpe
“isn’t it strange
That princes and kings,
And clowns that caper
In sawdust rings,
And common people
Like you and me
Are builders for eternity?
Each is given a bag of tools,
A shapeless mass,
A book of rules;
And each must make-
A stumbling block
Or a stepping stone”.
Interestingly, there is very little information about the poet and the poem. We do not have any idea of when the poem was written. But, estimation says that it might have been written way back during the 18th Century. In fact, this is one of the best and ideal short English poems for recitation for kids in the fifth-sixth grade.
The poem is all about the speaker talking about the generalized human being. In fact, the speaker describes the normal human as “Are builders for eternity? Interestingly, the speaker describes them as “A Shapeless mass”, and “A book of rules”. This is how this one of the famous English poems ends.
Eletelephony by Laura Elizabeth Richards
“Once there was an elephant,
Who tried to use the telephant-
No! No! I mean an elephone
Who tried to use the telephone-
(Dear me! I am not certain quite
That even now I’ve got it right.)
Howe’er it was, he got his trunk
Entangled in the telephunk;
The more he tried to get it free,
The louder buzzed the telephee-
(I fear I’d better drop the song
Of elephop and telephong!”
This pleasant to hear poem by Elizabeth Richards proves that language can be fun sometimes. Moreover, it is one of the best short funny poems for kids. In fact, it is no doubt that the young reader will have some problem reading the poem.
Mosquito At My Ear by Kobayashi Issa
“Mosquito at my ear-
Does he think
I’m deaf?
This is one of the most famous short funny poems for kids. In fact, it is also one of the best short English poems for recitation. It is one of the best poetry in English.
The poet has focused on nuisance. In fact, the poem proves that the speaker is getting irritated with the mosquitoes around him. Moreover, the poet describes the situation as “does he think I’m deaf”. Interestingly, this is how the poet has ended the poem.
How Not To Have To Dry The Dishes by Shel Silverstein
“If you have to dry the dishes
(Such an awful, boring chore)
If you have to dry the dishes
And you drop one on the floor-
Maybe they won’t let you
Dry the dishes anymore.”
Shel Silverstein, here is clearly talking about washing the dishes for someone else. In fact, this is the reason why it is one of the famous short English poems for recitation.
The poet describes “washing dishes” as “such an awful, boring chore”. He then says that while drying the dishes if one of them drops on the floor then that is not good.
Puppy Goops by Gelett Burgess
“Candy in the cushions
Of the easy-chair;
Raisins in the sofa-
How did they get there?
The little Goop who’s greedy
Does it every day,
Like a little puppy,
Hiding bones away!”
This is another one of the famous short funny poem for kids from Gelett Burgess. Firstly, it is a very simple poem from Gelett talking about little puppies. Moreover, the speaker here is talking about a “little Goop” who is very naughty. In fact, it takes the raisins from the “easy-chair” to the sofa.
The Queen Bee by Mary. K Robinson
“When I was in the garden,
I saw a great Queen Bee,
She was the very largest one
That I did ever see.
She wore a shiny helmet
And a lovely velvet gown,
But I was rather sad, because
She didn’t wear a crown.”
A very cute poem from Mary. K. Robinson, is what this poem can be addressed as. In fact, it is one of the famous English poems ever written by Mary. K. Robinson. Moreover, this beautifully crafted poem is one of the best short English poems for recitation.
Firstly, talking about the poem, the speaker talks about a “Queen Bee” which is the “largest one” in the garden. Moreover, the bee wore a very “shiny helmet” and a beautiful “velvet gown”. But, the poet is sad at the end because the “Queen Bee” did not “wear a crown”.
Read more about it at: https://rainydaypoems.com/poems-for-kids/poems-for-young-children/queen-bee-by-mary-k-robinson/
The Night Sky by Anonymous
“All day long
The sun shines bright.
The moon and stars
Come out by night.
From twilight time
They line the skies
And watch the world
With quiet eyes.”
Unfortunately, we do not know to whom to give credit for such a beautiful poem. It is counted as one of the famous poetry in English. The poem is all about nature like the sun, moon, stars, night, and many more.
In fact, this poem talks about the sun shine bright all day long. In fact, “The moon and stars” also shines very brightly that “come out by night”. It is them who “watch the world” during the night “with quiet eyes”.
The Forest by Annette Wynne
“The forest is the town of trees
Where they live quite at their ease,
With their neighbors at their side
Just as we in cities wide.”
Firstly, this poem is only talking about trees in the forest. In fact, this is one of the famous English poems in English literature. Firstly, the forest that the speaker is talking about has become like a “town of trees”. In fact, all the trees live very peacefully in the forest. The poet is then comparing the trees that make up the forest with the people living in the cities.
Old Mother Hubbard by Anonymous
“Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard,
To give the poor dog a bone;
When she came there
The cupboard was bare,
And so the poor dog had none.”
This poem is widely used as short English poems for recitation. Moreover, the speaker in the poem talks about a character named “Mother Hubbard”. In fact, this character is portrayed as a unique character. Unfortunately, the character does not find anything in the cupboard so there was nothing to offer.
As I was going to St. Ives by Anonymous
“As I was going to St. Ives
I met a man with seven wives
Every wife had
seven sacks
Every sack had
seven cats
Every cat had
seven kits
Kits, cats, sacks, wives
How many were going to St. Ives?“
Firstly, this is one of the famous short funny poems for kids. In fact, it is counted as one of the famous English poetry in the history of English literature.
Moreover, the speaker is doing this by describing the three different creatures having many children. But, at the end, the poet is asking the reader “How many were going to St. Ives?”
Read more about it at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_I_was_going_to_St_Ives
Hey Diddle Diddle by Anonymous
“Hey diddle diddle,
The Cat and the fiddle,
The Cow jumped over the moon,
The little dog laughed to see such sport,
And the Dish ran away with the Spoon.”
Firstly, the name of the poem sounds very funny. Moreover, it is one of the best short funny poems for kids ever written by anyone. In fact, this poem talks about four different creatures doing different activities. Moreover, we can see that there is “cat and the fiddle”. Then the second line says “The Cow jumped over the moon”. In fact, this is how the whole poem goes.
I Ate a Chili Pepper by Barbara Vance
“I ate a chili pepper
On a lunch-time dare;
Sandy said I’d burn my mouth,
But I didn’t care.
I ate that chili pepper-
Left not a seed to waste-
And won that truly silly bet,
But lost my sense of taste.”
Firstly, this is a very sweet and one of the best short funny poems for kids. In fact, it is one of the famous short English poems for recitation. The speaker reveals that he or she has eaten a chili pepper while having lunch. Another character named, Sandy says that the speaker would burn his or her mouth.
Still, the speaker ate that chili pepper and did not waste any of the chili pepper. In fact, at the end of the speaker reveals that he or she lost the sense of taste.
At the Zoo by William Makepeace Thackeray
“First I saw the white bear, then I saw the black;
Then I saw the camel with
a hump upon his back;
Then I saw the grey wolf, with
mutton in his maw;
Then I saw the wombat
waddle in the straw;
Then I saw the elephant
a-waving of his trunk;
Then I saw the monkeys- mercy
\, how unpleasantly they smelt!”
Firstly, this beautifully-crafted poem is one of the famous English poems in the history of literature. In fact, it is one of the best short English poems for recitation.
Furthermore, it seems like the speaker has visited a zoo and explains all that he sees in the environment. In fact, he sees six different animals in the zoo doing different tasks. Moreover, looking at them, he explains what and how they are performing the task.
A Million Little Diamonds by Mary Frances Butts
“A million little diamonds
Twinkled on the trees;
And all the little children cried,
A jewel, if you please!
But while they held their hands outstretched
To catch the diamonds gay,
A million little sunbeams came
And stole them all away.”
This could be one of the best short English poems for recitation if you comprehend its meaning. In fact, it is one of the best famous English poetry ever written by Mary Frances Butts.
The speaker in this poem is talking about “million little diamonds” but, she puts her focus on a “jewel”. Moreover, at the end of this poem, all the million little diamonds conveyed as “million little sunbeams” are stolen by someone.
House and Home by Victor Hugo
“A house is built of logs and stone,
Of tiles and posts and piers;
A home is built of loving deeds
That stand a thousand years.”
Victor Hugo was famously known for his strident political voice and had a good observation for design. In fact, this beautiful work is Hugo’s most underappreciated work in his career. But, in many places, this poem is still considered one of the best poetry in English.
In fact, the speaker talks about how houses are built with “logs and stone”. Moreover, the speaker has described the interior of the house as “tiles and posts and piers”. In fact, the speaker also says that the “home is built of loving deeds”. In fact, this is the reason why those homes built with love live long.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many types of poetry are there and what are they?
Answer- Interestingly, there are over 50 different types of poetry in English literature. But, it can be divided into very simple genres such as narrative poetry, lyric poetry, and dramatic poetry.
2. What type of poem is usually silly or funny?
Answer- Limerick is a type of poem that is often silly and funny. In fact, this type of poems is written in five lines. Interestingly, the rhyme scheme of these types of poems is AABBA.
3. Who are the top poets that wrote for children?
Answer- Moreover, there are thousands of world-famous poets who have written famous English poetry for kids.
- A.A. Milne
- Walter De La Mare
- R.L. Stevenson
- Roald Dahl
- Valerie Bloom
- What are 14-line poem called in English literature?
Answer- A 14-line poem with a variable rhyme scheme is called Sonnet.
5. What is a poem which has six lines called?
Answer- A poem that consists of six lines is called Sestain. In fact, these kinds of poems are very repetitive and have a very unique rhyming process.
Parting Words From Podium
This list of poems of are Podium Team approved and are sure to be loved by kids. These fun and easy to learn rhymes would not only enhance a child’s memorization skills but will also open the child’s analytical skills since these poems open up a whole world of different themes for kids to get introduced to. So, what’s the wait for ? Happy Recitation!
