18 Dark Poems - Poetry for When the World Seems Dark and Lonely (2024)

1. The Raven

One of the most famous poems ever written, "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe is a delightfully spooky, dark poem. What makes this poem so remarkable? There is a certain romance in darkness and melancholy. There is something mysterious about that which is hidden and unknown. Dark poems seek to romanticize sadness and depression. There is much room for creativity in this genre.

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• By Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

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2. A Hero

Robert William Service was a British-Canadian author who lived from 1874-1958. He spent much of his early career years as a banker, but his dream was to be a cowboy. This poem shows the dark side of a person, someone who wishes to kill another, and in the end decides it's better to kill himself.

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• By Robert W. Service

Three times I had the lust to kill,
To clutch a throat so young and fair,
And squeeze with all my might until
No breath of being lingered there.

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Very well written but a very disturbing situation. Powerful and powerfully sad.

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3. Circus In Three Rings

Sylvia Plath was an American poet who lived from 1932-1963. Sylvia’s dad died during her childhood, and her husband left her for another woman. She experienced heartbreak and depression that ultimately led to her commit suicide at the age of 30. Her poetry was raw and honest, which can be seen in the chaos she captures in this poem. First published in The Atlantic Monthly in 1955, the hurricane mentioned in the poem could be compared to the personal struggles that swirled inside of her.

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• By Sylvia Plath

In the circus tent of a hurricane
designed by a drunken god
my extravagant heart blows up again
in a rampage of champagne-colored rain

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4. Out Out

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• By Robert Frost

The buzz-saw snarled and rattled in the yard
And made dust and dropped stove-length sticks of wood,
Sweet-scented stuff when the breeze drew across it.
And from there those that lifted eyes could count

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5. The Cremation Of Sam McGee

Service was inspired to write this dark and spooky narrative poem by the stories he heard from the people of the Yukon. The poem was published in his book, Songs of a Sourdough in 1907. "The Cremation of Sam McGee" has turned out to be one of Service's most famous poems.

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• By Robert W. Service

There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;

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I love this poem! I have been looking for something for my project, and this poem just spoke to me. It has plenty of events, emotions and feeling for me to be able to fashion a short story...

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6. Cold Dark Corner

This poem was written during some of the hardest times I've yet to come by.

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• By Blake Duffy
• Published by Family Friend Poems March 2009 with permission of the Author.

There's a cold dark corner
in the back of my room,
it speaks to me
and says I'm coming for you.

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We all have ways of expressing ourselves. Some chose not to do so at all. I'm glad that I could help find some emotional security during those times. I hope that you found yourself to be a...

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7. The Ongoing Battles With My Demons

I wrote this poem during a very down period in my life.

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• By Patricia A Fleming
• Published by Family Friend Poems July 2020 with permission of the Author.

I peek through blinds that are tightly drawn,
Shocked by the glow of the breaking dawn.
I shun the brilliance of another day.
Enslaved and entombed, I stay hidden away.

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Wow, this poem really ignited a spark in me. To be honest, I love all poems but I prefer dark poems, and your poems really touched me. I read quite a few of your poems and I just love them...

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8. Darkness

A powerful poem that explores the feelings of darkness and uncertainty that can consume us in the darkest of moments. Through the use of repetition and vivid imagery, the poem paints a picture of internal turmoil and the desire for release from suffering.

• By Evangeline King
• Published by Family Friend Poems January 16, 2023 with permission of the Author.

No moon tonight
Darkness creeps in
Into my soul
Into my heart

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9. Rain Does Not Trouble The Drowning Man

• By Coral Leffew
• Published by Family Friend Poems November 2008 with permission of the Author.

We can bead these seashells together,
Hoping this monofilament is enough of a tether,
To keep them from shattering all over the sky,
These clouds in the ocean form waves in my eye,

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10. Losing Myself

A little bit everywhere, but it comes straight from my heart...This poem explores the feeling of losing oneself in the midst of overwhelming pain and darkness. It touches on themes of pain, and death, and ultimately portrays a sense of hopelessness and despair. The author expresses a sense of being beaten down and losing control, ultimately fading into nothingness.

• By Remnant
• Published by Family Friend Poems April 2009 with permission of the Author.

My eyes close.
I'm holding onto
my memories
and hatred.

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I've been in this dark place for awhile now too. I haven't smiled since he broke my heart two weeks ago. I just wanted to comment by saying thank you for sharing this poem because it let me...

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11. A Cry From The Soul

I think that everyone one time or another has had dark days

• By Charlene Valladares
• Published by Family Friend Poems May 2011 with permission of the Author.

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I hope everything has changed, light has fallen upon your soul and love and happiness knocked on your doorstep. No matter what we go through, always pray. Some things happen for reasons we...

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12. Darkness' Grasp

About the fight against suicide, death, or depression. I wrote this before an attempted suicide.

• By Leah Sarah-May Wells
• Published by Family Friend Poems June 2008 with permission of the Author.

I'm swimming all alone in a pool of darkness,
and I feel like darkness is slowly pulling me under.
I yell for help, but no one is there to hear it.
I begin to see the water at eye level

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Wow, I really felt your pain. Hope you are safe now.

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13. I Will Wear Masks

I have beat cancer twice and am presently fighting again along with the effects of a stroke. The attempt on my life erased 42 years of memories. I have fought and won a battle of addiction. Friends have been leaving my life, and some others have gone as far as to convince people none of this happened. I can't find the strength to reach out again in fear of what will happen if I do. Losing friends and your identity is a lonely place made only for me. JOE DIRT JUNE/2010

• By Joe Dirt
• Published by Family Friend Poems May 2011 with permission of the Author.

In times of trouble and insanity,
I carry masks to disguise
the pain I carry
secure behind my eyes.

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This poem truly spoke to me. It's so accurate on so many levels. Life has been hard, and I've had to grow up fast. I've had to be strong and show no panic so my mother would think everything...

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14. Demon's Wrath

I wrote this poem when I felt like the world was suffocating me, when I had no one to turn to and no one I could talk to.

• By Shianne
• Published by Family Friend Poems January 2017 with permission of the Author.

Whisper it, don't let them hear.
Be careful; it's them you should fear.
Follow them, do what they say,
And for your sake, don't run away.

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15. Burn The Beauty

The deception of beauty

• By Elizabeth McCrorie
• Published by Family Friend Poems July 2008 with permission of the Author.

One does not own beauty.
One creates it.
In their dreams,
They feel they can obtain it.

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This is magnificent! Ever word is placed perfectly in place, and it's just so hauntingly beautiful! But beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as cliche as it sounds. But what defines...

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16. Losing Me

This poem is a strong poem that I wrote about a year ago in one of the darkest parts of my life. I was just put in placement after one of the worst foster homes known in my county. I ended up getting out three months later, but it has shown me that even the weak can overcome anything. This poem is meant to be read aloud. I am performing this at one of my school get-togethers because my teachers have fallen in love with it. I was inspired by a fellow poet, Patrick Roche.

• By Graci L. Whitfield
• Published by Family Friend Poems October 16, 2023 with permission of the Author.

I am just so tired
Not just mentally from life,
But from the insomnia that haunts me at night.
And I'm just waiting,

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17. Unseen

Sometimes we come to a point where we no longer know what's happening around us.

• By 'abstruse PSYCHE
• Published by Family Friend Poems November 2007 with permission of the Author.

you are trapped in a cage..
no one sees it.. not even you..
you don't know what it's made of..
you don't even know where it came from..

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I really like this, I was thinking of getting a tattoo for my 18th of a bird cage with the door open but as the bird tries to fly it is still chained down and I thought this poem actually...

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18. Death

Just wanted to see if it was any good. so comment and rate

• By Evan
• Published by Family Friend Poems November 2012 with permission of the Author.

Time stops
And stands still
Each day
Seems like a year

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