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.

Don’t Bring Camels in the Classroom
School Year Extension by Kenn Nesbitt
School Year Extension
Dreaming of Summer
Gabby the Garbage Collector by Kenn Nesbitt
Gabby the Garbage Collector
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
Spinach Is One of My Favorite Foods
Spinach is One of My Favorite Foods
Just a Slug
I'm Staying at Home by Kenn Nesbitt
I’m Staying at Home
Ancient Romans Ancient Greeks by Kenn Nesbitt
Ancient Romans, Ancient Greeks
I'll Never by Kenn Nesbitt
I’ll Never
Going Nowhere Slowly by Kenn Nesbitt
Going Nowhere Slowly
Porcupine Valentine
Chester Sylvester the Jester by Kenn Nesbitt
Chester Sylvester the Jester
We're Skydiving Elephants by Kenn Nesbitt
We’re Skydiving Elephants
There’s a Witch Outside My Window
I've Got a Secret by Kenn Nesbitt
I’ve Got a Secret
Can't Sleep by Kenn Nesbitt
Can’t Sleep
Today Is the Day by Kenn Nesbitt
Today Is the Day
Bed Head by Kenn Nesbitt
Bed Head
The Horsemen Are Headless this Evening by Kenn Nesbitt
The Horsemen Are Headless this Evening
I Only Like People Exactly Like Me by Kenn Nesbitt
I Only Like People Exactly Like Me
I Am a Clam by Kenn Nesbitt
I Am a Clam