Greatest Poets of All Time

German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long poem of modern European literature

The great Psalmist of the Bible

Writing most of the Proverbs in the Old Testament of the Bible

One of the best known poets of all times. He has created some of the best poetry, although some of them are hard to interpret for the lay person.

German language poet, probably the greatest of the 20th century.

Hafiz (1325? – 1389) wrote poetry in the form of ghazal, a short traditional Persian form that he perfected. The lines of a ghazal are written in rhyme in such order: 1 – 2 – 4 – 6 – 8 - … Hafiz is greatly admired both in Iran and, in translation, in the West. Especially appealing are his love for the common person and his relation of daily life to the search of humanity for the eternal. In many of his poems, Hafiz implicitly criticizes the way clergies preach people on their relations with God. Hafiz believed in God's love and mercy, and from this point of view he literally satirized those who promoted a tough vengeful image of God. One example: Disheveled hair, sweaty, smiling, drunken, and With a torn shirt, singing, the jug in hand Narcissus loudly laments, on his lips, alas, alas! Last night at midnight, came and sat right by my bed-stand Brought his head next to my ears, with a sad song Said, O my old lover, you are still in dreamland The lover who drinks this nocturnal brew Infidel, if not worships the wine's command Go away O hermit, fault not the drunk Our Divine gift from the day that God made sea and land Whatever He poured for us in our cup, we just drank If it was a cheap wine or heavenly brand The smile on the cup's face and Beloved's hair strand Break many who may repent, just as Hafiz falsely planned. Narcissus in Persian literature is often used metaphorically instead of the love's Eyes. Here, God is described as man's love who created man to love, and Hafiz does what the love requests (pours in his cup), whatever the clergies might say. Hafiz's poetry is gathered in a book called Divan. In his West-Eastern Divan," Goethe", great German poet, says: Hafis, with thee, alone with thee Will I contend! joy, misery, The portion of us twain shall be; Like thee to love, like thee to drink,-- This be my pride,--this, life to me!

Firdawsi is best known through his great work, Shah Nameh. Shah Nameh contains 60,000 rhyming couplets, making it more than seven times the length of Homer's Iliad. The work deals with Persian legends, heroic stories and parts of history. Effective use of imagery, attractive suspense and a touch of romance in most stories are remarkable features of Shah Nameh. Matthew Arnold used a famous episode from the epic as the basis of his poem Sohrab and Rustum. A portion of Mercury's surface is named Firdousi in honor of this great poet.

A great Persian poet from Iran

was a Russian author of the Romantic era who is considered by many to be the greatest Russian poet and the founder of modern Russian literature. Pushkin pioneered the use of vernacular speech in his poems and plays, creating a style of storytelling—mixing drama, romance, and satire—associated with Russian literature ever since and greatly influencing later Russian writers.

Ever heard of him?

Epics like the Illiad and The Oddysey.

This night I write of love not love torn from passing strangers souls nor love lovers staring into each others eyes But of love born cruel deceptive not caring how often we hurt thee *** This night no love sounds out deaf ears tune in breaking barriers Hand to hand creatures touch lips to lips hissing Words lowly held below passion ******* feeling Their evening ends with no hello neither goodbye Static heat greets morning sunrise *** This night I crave love no more games for serpent play nor dismal morals in the drama But a touch etched in compassion A mead to fly me away keep me awake kiss dreams into... This night

"Ah! Sure some stronger impulse vibrates here, Which whispers friendship will be doubly dear To one, who thus for kindred hearts must roam, And seek abroad, the love denied at home."

I'm not really a Stein fan, but it is impossible to deny her contribution to poetry. Stein's idea of trying to literally paint a picture with words and the way she linked together things that were completely different but could somehow find similarities was very unique. I don't like her poetry very much, but I definitely would have like to have coffee with her one day and talk about her poetry.

Every line and poem is a surprise and inspiring.

he is absolutely riveting

Although she wrote almost 1800 poems during her lifetime, fewer than a dozen were published. Many of her poems dealt with darkness and death, and I assume that is why only less than a dozen made it through the publisher.

Portugal's greatest poet, mind-blowing for everyone.

Mihai Eminescu, along Goethe and Rimbaud should be around top 5 of all times. Few peoples on this list seems to know some more about the big culture most of the peoples only know about english poetry ..so sad. Who don't know about Eminescu or Eminesco as the english transform his name ..Google is music.

simply because he is exceptional in his writings.for example he has written poems like daffodils,the solitary reaper.lucy gray etc.............................

Russian avant-garde poet, playwright and designer.

Perhaps the defining Modernist English-language Modernist.

She was the "tenth muse" for crying out loud

Russian modernist poet.

The great Irish poet.

Jim Morrison lead singer of The Doors and poet should rank up there with some of the greatest poets of alltime or atleast one of the greatest American poets. Morrison and his words sold more than 80 million records in 54 months and almost 40 years after his death The Doors still sell over 1 million albums ayear. What other poet living or dead can do that?

one of the greatest ancient greek poets

He had a huge impact on the romantic movement in England, and many of the other poets on this list admire him greatly. I was stunned not to see him.

The central metaphysical poet

Russian lyrical poet

Greatest and most influencial songwriter/poet of the 20th century, Dylan single handidly reinvented folk music and brought it to the masses before transforming himself into a Rock and roll icon in the mid sixties. His contributions to 20th century pop culture and musical genius will never be forgotten.

Russian symbolist poet. Her work is considered among some of the greatest in twentieth century Russian literature. Without means of support and in deep isolation, Tsvetaeva committed suicide in 1941

Greatest Spanish poet of the 20th century. Loved worldwide, inspired thousands.

British Romantic Poet

greatest of poets.

One of the most influential poets - "Essay on Man" one of the best poems of all time

Wrote one of the most amazing works "Les fleurs du mal" or "The flowers of evil." I'm shocked that he wasnt on the list.

SIMPLY THE BEST.

Greek oral poet generally thought by scholars to have been active between 750 and 650 BC

Russian lyrical poet

Russian surrealist and absurdist poet, writer and dramatist.

The guy is completely underrated by most major poetry critics but in spite of this he continues to be a vastly influential poet. He told it like it was. He went where not many others wanted to go, made bed on the floor and invited some hookers to join him there. Bukowski lived his poetry. Beyond this he was a great novelist as well. He is, if not the greatest poet ever, one of the all time best.

Howl alone should be considered as one of the best poems of all time...

Great second-generation Romantic poet

Influenced all modern poetry, a master of words and language, lived a depressing life and expressed it beautifully with words.

Russian poet and writer

Russian writer, poet and painter, has become the most important Russian poet after Alexander Pushkin's death. Lermontov is considered the supreme poet of Russian literature side by side with Pushkin and the greatest figure of Russian Romanticism.

Robert Browning's mastery of dramatic verse made him one of the foremost Victorian poets.

Known for his blank verse, his overreaching protagonists, he fits the ranks with Shakespeare in his poetic ability.

Another one of the great American poets of the 19th century. Crane's imagery is pure brilliance.

Welsh poet and writer. Author of such acclaimed writings as "Under Milk Wood" and "Do not go gentle into that good night".

A major metaphysical poet

Spenser isn't recognized enough. His writings showed the best of what the heart has to offer.

Aubade

Alba

Regarded by literary and historical scholars as possibly the earliest known author and poet of either gender, Enheduanna served as the High Priestess during the third millennium BCE

How Stevens isn't on this list is completely beyond me. He is definitely one of the greatest American poets of the 19th century and one of my favorite poets.

Polish nobel prize awarded poet and essayist. He is considered to be the most influencial writers in 20th century.

Greatest poet who wrote Mahabharatha. His profound verses are timeless.

the last of three great Romantic poets of Russia, following Alexander Pushkin and Mikhail Lermontov

He writes with profound depth to address the realities of existence.

Wilfred Owen as well as Robert Graves and Siegfried Sassoon etc. really captured the true horror of WW1, and there work reminds us of the world wars, and that we should never forget those who were lost in them.

An Irish poet of great insight