Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? To celebrate, we’re sharing ten poets from around the world that have made their mark on history. From the famous phrases of William Shakespeare to the thoughtful haikus of Matsuo Bashō, there is much to discover.
Wang Zhenyi
Time: 1768–1797
Place: China
Notable poems: Climbing Tai Mountain and Praise of Manly Woman
Interesting fact: Wang Zhenyi was an accomplished astronomer as well as a poet. She is best known for calculating equinoxes and explaining lunar eclipses with her at-home experiments.
Learn more about her fascinating story in our podcast Anytime Now!
Taras Shevchenko
Time: 1814–1861
Place: Ukraine
Notable poems: My Testament (Zapovit) and The Caucasus
Interesting fact: Born a serf, Taras Shevchenko bought his freedom at 24 years old when friends raffled off a painting for 2,500 rubles. Today, he is considered Ukraine’s national poet, and a crater on Mercury is named after him.
Learn more about his life in our podcast Anytime Now!
Kalidasa
Time: c. 4th–5th century CE
Place: India
Notable poems: Raghuvaṃśa (Dynasty of Raghu), Kumārasambhava (Birth of Kumara), and Meghadūta (The Cloud Messenger).
Interesting fact: Kalidasa wrote his work in Sanskrit and is considered ancient India’s greatest poet and playwright.
Learn more about the history of Sanskrit in our kids magazine, Issue 10 | A Portrait of India.
Fadwa Tuqan
Time: 1917–2003
Place: Palestine
Notable poems: The Deluge and the Tree and Enough for Me (Kafeeni)
Interesting fact: Known as the “Poetess of Palestine,” Fadwa Tuqan wrote many of her poems about her experience as a woman in Palestine and life during the wars of 1948 and 1967.
Learn more about her work and life in our kids magazine, Issue 23 | A Home to Many.
William Shakespeare
Time: c. 1564–1616
Place: England
Notable poems: Sonnet 18 and Sonnet 116
Interesting fact: A popular poet and playwright, Shakespeare was also a favorite with royalty. The English queen, Elizabeth I, would hire Shakespeare’s company to come and perform for her.
Learn more about this famous writer in our kids magazine, Issue 9 | Era of Exploration.
Sappho
Time: c. 630–c. 570 BCE
Place: Greece
Notable poems: Hymn to Aphrodite and Midnight Poem
Interesting fact: Sappho’s poems were meant to be sung with music. She was considered one of the greatest poets of her time, though most of her poetry is now lost.
Learn more about this ancient poet in our kids magazine, Issue 17 | An Age of Legends.
Lea Goldberg
Time: 1911–1970
Place: Israel
Notable poems: Pine and Ha'amnam Od Yavo'u (Will There Yet Come Days of Forgiveness).
Interesting fact: Born in Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia), Lea Goldberg moved to Mandatory Palestine (now Israel) in the 1930s. She was a Hebrew-language poet, as well as a playwright and children’s author.
Learn more about her life in our kids magazine, Issue 23 | A Home to Many.
Phillis Wheatley
Time: c. 1753–1784
Place: USA
Notable poems: On Being Brought from Africa to America, His Excellency General Washington, and On Imagination.
Interesting fact: Phillis Wheatley would become the first African American author to publish a book of poetry. Kidnapped from Africa and sold into slavery at age seven, she eventually gained her freedom following the success of her book. Wheatley was considered one of the most well-known poets of pre-19th-century America.
José Martí
Time: 1853–1895
Place: Cuba
Notable poems: I Have a White Rose to Tend (Cultivo una rosa blanca) and A Sincere Man I Am (Yo soy un hombre sincero)
Interesting fact: José Martí was a poet, essayist, and philosopher who played a key role in Cuba’s War of Independence. His work is still read and studied throughout Cuba and Latin America today.
Matsuo Bashō
Time: 1644–1694
Place: Japan
Notable poems: Old Pond, A Cicada Shell, and Death Poem
Interesting fact: Descended from samurai, Matsuo Bashō popularized the haiku style of poetry in Japan. He took the pen name Bashō, which means “banana tree,” due to his love for a banana tree that a student gifted him.
Learn more about the history of Japan and the samurai in our kids magazine, Issue 16 | The Way of the Samurai.
