poetic device: Lyric & Dramatic Poems

Lyric poems, not to be confused with song lyrics, are poems in which the poet expresses his or her emotions or feelings. This is as opposed to narrative poetry, which tells a story, or descriptive poetry. which gives a detailed description of something or someone.

Dramatic poems are lyric poems that are meant to be read aloud to express the feelings and emotions of the reader.

Can you figure out what emotions the narrator is expressing in each of these lyric poems? Try reading some of these poems out loud to see if you share their emotions.

Rules for School by Kenn Nesbitt
Rules for School
I’m Counting the Days until Christmas
Bow Wow Wow, Meow, Meow
Let Me out of the Classroom
My World Is Turning Downside-Up by Kenn Nesbitt
My World Is Turning Downside-Up
I’m Staying Home From School Today
Xbox, Xbox
Welcome Back to School
I’m Lonely, So Lonely
Sunday’s Somewhat Melancholy
Lost Inside a Labyrinth by Kenn Nesbitt
Lost Inside a Labyrinth
It’s Winter Vacation
My Senses All are Backward
I'm a Pirate and a Pumpkin by Kenn Nesbitt
I’m a Pirate and a Pumpkin
It's Halloween My Face is Green by Kenn Nesbitt
It’s Halloween, My Face Is Green
I'd Like to Sing in Singapore by Kenn Nesbitt
I’d Like to Sing in Singapore
Liverwurst Pie
Liverwurst Pie
I like It When It's Quiet by Kenn Nesbitt
I Like It When It’s Quiet
You’re Not Supposed to Touch Your Face
I Don't Know What to Do Today by Kenn Nesbitt
I Don’t Know What to Do Today
The Sport for Me by Kenn Nesbitt
The Sport for Me
Please Don't Read this Poem by Kenn Nesbitt
Please Don’t Read This Poem
The School Year Is Over by Kenn Nesbitt
The School Year Is Over
Merlo the Magnificent

Whoa There, Pardner!

Hold your horses! Kenn's the sheriff in these here parts and some of this whistle-stop is off-limits except to his deputies.

Join the posse for just one greenback a month to have the run of the place.

Become a Deputy
I've got my badge. Let me in! No thanks. I'll vamoose!