Fifth grade students have been learning about rhymes all of their lives. Most of the poems from their younger years, though, may be feeling cheesy to them now. As they approach the end of their elementary school years, they’re ready for something more substantial. We’ve put together a list of 5th grade poems to take your poetry lessons to the next level!
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“I cooked my math book in a broth.”
Themes: Humor, school, exaggeration
Literary devices: Hyperbole, rhyme, imagery
This playful poem imagines turning homework into a literal stew, using humor and exaggeration to engage young readers. It’s great for teaching creative writing, rhyme schemes, and how to use figurative language to make school-related topics fun.
“And the day but one.”
Themes: Love, transience, perception
Literary devices: Metaphor, contrast, symbolism
This short yet poignant poem compares the night to having a thousand eyes (stars) and the day to having just one (the sun). It’s an excellent choice for discussing metaphor, contrast, and how poets convey deep meaning in just a few lines.
3. Spring by Henry Gardiner Adams
“A bursting into greenness …”
Themes: Renewal, nature’s cycles, energy
Literary devices: Imagery, personification, sensory details
This poem vividly describes spring as a time of awakening and transformation, making it perfect for discussing seasonal poetry, sensory language, and how personification brings nature to life.
4. Summer by Walter Dean Myers
“I like hot days, hot days.”
Themes: Heat, relaxation, appreciation for the season
Literary devices: Repetition, rhythm, simplicity
This poem’s repeated phrase, “hot days,” mimics the intensity of summer heat, using rhythm to create an immersive experience. It’s a good one for discussing how poets use repetition for emphasis and mood.
“I’ve pinned my notes inside my vest.”
Themes: School, test anxiety, humor
Literary devices: Rhyme, exaggeration, irony
This humorous poem depicts a student’s creative (and doomed) attempt at cheating on a test, making it a fun way to explore storytelling in poetry, as well as irony and rhyme in humorous verse.
6. Autumn by Emily Dickinson
“The morns are meeker than they were …”
Themes: Change of season, impermanence, nature
Literary devices: Imagery, personification, symbolism
This poem paints a vivid picture of autumn, using rich descriptions to capture the shifting season. Dickinson’s use of personification and metaphor makes it an excellent choice for discussing how poets bring nature to life and how seasons symbolize change.
7. A Lesson by Ruby Archer
“Would ye build that generations
Yet to be may call you great?”
Themes: Legacy, wisdom, responsibility
Literary devices: Didactic tone, metaphor, rhetorical questions
This poem encourages readers to think about how their actions affect future generations. It’s great for discussing poetry with a moral or instructive tone and how poets use rhetorical devices to engage the audience.
8. Winter by Russell Blair
“Winter is white as a fluffy cloud.”
Themes: Simplicity, nature, seasonal imagery
Literary devices: Simile, sensory imagery, contrast
This poem compares winter’s whiteness to a fluffy cloud and its coldness to ice, making it an accessible piece for younger readers. It’s useful for teaching how similes help create clear, relatable images in poetry.
“A figure rugged and forlorn …”
Themes: Loneliness, purpose, change
Literary devices: Personification, contrast, symbolism
This poem describes a scarecrow as a rugged, lonely figure, yet one that serves a purpose. It’s a good example for discussing symbolism in poetry and how simple figures in nature can represent deeper themes of isolation or resilience.
“So maybe I’ll just make a rhyme.”
Themes: Creativity, humor, procrastination
Literary devices: Rhyme, self-referential humor, playful tone
This humorous poem captures the struggle of writing poetry, using rhyme and irony to turn frustration into fun. It’s perfect for encouraging reluctant writers to experiment with poetry in a lighthearted way.
11. Harlem by Langston Hughes
“What happens to a dream deferred?”
Themes: Dreams, inequality, deferred aspirations
Literary devices: Simile, metaphor, rhetorical question
This powerful poem explores what happens when dreams are delayed or denied, using striking imagery to convey frustration and potential consequences. It’s perfect for discussing social justice themes, figurative language, and how poetry can reflect real-world struggles.
12. Peepers by William Skinner
“A voice of amphibians chirping …”
Themes: Nature, sound, transition
Literary devices: Onomatopoeia, sensory imagery, personification
This poem vividly describes the chirping of amphibians—spring peepers—as a symbol of seasonal change. It’s a good example for teaching how poets use sound and imagery to bring nature to life.
13. My Pets by Lacey Broughton
“My dog’s name is Missy.”
Themes: Companionship, joy, daily life, pets
Literary devices: Simple imagery, conversational tone, rhyme
This lighthearted poem introduces a pet dog in a straightforward and engaging way. It’s ideal for young readers and can be used to discuss how poetry can capture everyday moments with warmth and simplicity.
“Neither I nor you.”
Themes: Nature, mystery, observation
Literary devices: Rhetorical question, repetition, personification
This poem ponders the unseen force of the wind, using a rhythmic structure to create a sense of wonder. It’s excellent for discussing how poets use personification to make abstract concepts more relatable.
“It looks like a big white blanket.”
Themes: Winter, peacefulness, transformation
Literary devices: Simile, imagery, contrast
By comparing snow to a “big white blanket,” this poem emphasizes winter’s soft, covering effect on the landscape. It’s useful for discussing how similes enhance visual imagery and can create a sense of calm.
16. The Miser by Ruby Archer
“I caught old Ocean this morning early …”
Themes: Greed, nature, power
Literary devices: Personification, metaphor, imagery
This poem describes the ocean as a “miser,” using personification to depict its vastness and reluctance to give up its treasures. It shows how poets use metaphor to give nature human qualities and explore themes of possession and control.
“Father Time, your footsteps go …”
Themes: Time, change, reflection
Literary devices: Personification, rhythm, contrast
This poem presents time as something that moves in a steady, swinging motion, reinforcing the idea of life’s inevitable progression. It’s useful for discussing how poets use movement as a metaphor for the passage of time.
18. If-ing by Langston Hughes
“If I had some small change I’d buy me a mule …”
Themes: Hope, dreams, perseverance
Literary devices: Repetition, conversational tone, rhythm
Hughes uses a playful, rhythmic structure to express longing for a better life, showing how even small changes could bring joy. This poem is great for discussing how poets use repetition and rhythm to enhance meaning and mood.
“You can meet anyone.”
Themes: Imagination, exploration, possibility
Literary devices: Open-ended imagery, optimism, simplicity
This poem encourages readers to embrace adventure, leaving room for interpretation about where and how it happens. It’s excellent for discussing how poetry can inspire creativity and curiosity.
“Watching the world go by.”
Themes: Observation, stillness, patience
Literary devices: Imagery, personification, minimalism
This short poem captures the quiet presence of a toad watching the world pass by, emphasizing the theme of stillness. It’s a good choice for discussing how haiku-like simplicity in poetry can create vivid imagery with just a few words.
21. The Sky by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
“I saw a shadow on the ground.”
Themes: Observation, nature, perspective
Literary devices: Imagery, contrast, sensory details
This poem captures the simple wonder of noticing a shadow on the ground and looking up to find its source. It can show students how poetry can encourage close observation of everyday moments.
“Are you nobody, too?”
Themes: Identity, individualism, society’s expectations
Literary devices: Metaphor, irony, contrast
This playful yet thought-provoking poem challenges the idea of popularity and being “somebody.” It’s perfect for discussions on self-identity and how poets use irony and contrast to question societal norms.
“And conscience smitten sorely…”
Themes: Guilt, regret, morality
Literary devices: Personification, internal conflict, rhyme
Dunbar personifies conscience as a force that weighs heavily on the speaker, making this poem a good one for exploring how poets use personification to bring abstract emotions to life.
“I am Ebenezer Bleezer …”
Themes: Imagination, humor, absurdity
Literary devices: Rhyme, alliteration, exaggeration
This fun, whimsical poem lists outrageous ice cream flavors, making it a fun way to introduce wordplay, creativity, and rhythm in poetry to 5th graders.
“On the bus we’re put in the back …”
Themes: Segregation, childhood, fairness
Literary devices: Metaphor, contrast, straightforward language
This poem uses a child’s perspective to highlight racial injustice, making it a strong piece for discussions on history, civil rights, and how poetry can be a tool for social change.
“Whose woods these are I think I know.”
Themes: Nature, solitude, responsibility
Literary devices: Symbolism, repetition, rhyme scheme, imagery
This classic poem’s quiet reflection on a snowy landscape carries deeper themes of duty and contemplation. It’s great for discussing symbolism and poetic structure.
27. The Branch by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
“We stopped at the branch on the way to the hill.”
Themes: Exploration, childhood, nature
Literary devices: Sensory imagery, narrative structure, nostalgia
This poem captures a moment of play and discovery, making it useful for discussing how poetry preserves small but meaningful childhood experiences.
“I know it’s the last day of school …”
Themes: School, humor, exaggeration
Literary devices: Rhyme, hyperbole, playful tone
This humorous poem imagines an endless school year, making it a good choice for engaging students with poetry and showing how rhyme and exaggeration create humor.
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