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.

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 Am a Clam by Kenn Nesbitt
I Am a Clam
I Only Like People Exactly Like Me by Kenn Nesbitt
I Only Like People Exactly Like Me
Dexter McDwyer by Kenn Nesbitt
Dexter McDwyer
Sailing Off to Singapore by Kenn Nesbitt
Sailing Off to Singapore

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.

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