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.

Ode on a Unicycle
Calculator, Calculator by Kenn Nesbitt
Calculator, Calculator
Dear Summer
Moving to China
Don’t Bring Camels in the Classroom
Potluck Christmas by Kenn Nesbitt
Potluck Christmas
School Year Extension
Dreaming of Summer
I’m Not Afraid of the Dark
How Did You Get So Mean by Kenn Nesbitt
How Did You Get So Mean?
I’ve Been Working on My Homework
Just a Slug
I'm Staying at Home by Kenn Nesbitt
I’m Staying at Home
Spinach Is One of My Favorite Foods
Spinach is One of My Favorite Foods
Porcupine Valentine
I’ve Got a Secret
Can’t Sleep
Today Is the Day by Kenn Nesbitt
Today Is the Day
The Horsemen Are Headless this Evening by Kenn Nesbitt
The Horsemen Are Headless this Evening
I Am a Clam