Poems on Wisdom

For years poets have been writing poems on wisdom. Wisdom itself is defined as the quality of having experience, knowledge and good judgement. To write a poem on wisdom it would make sense that the author him/herself is wise and worthy of offering advice to others. There are many poets throughout history but only a few that have written great poems on wisdom that have been so influential as to be quoted time and time again. In this article I will outline some of the best poets of all time that have written on wisdom and have shared their advice with generations. As you learn more about poets and their writings you will find that almost every writer at one time writes about wisdom but only the wisest are re-quoted and memorized such as Robert Frost, William Shakespeare, Solomon of the Bible, and John Keats.

Whenever someone mentions poems on wisdom I think of Robert Frost and his poem The Road Not Taken. The Road Not Taken is a poem written about a man that is traveling and comes upon a fork in the road and chooses to travel the road less traveled, hence the name. The wisdom that Frost offers is the encouragement to live a life and take a journey that is different than others. This life will be harder but will offer more in rewards after living it. I remember the first time hearing this poem for me was in the seventh grade. I immediately connected with Frost’s ideas and was moved by the challenge of taking the road less traveled.

Another great poet that has written poems on wisdom is King Solomon from the Bible. King Solomon wrote what Christan’s call the book of Proverbs. This book of the Bible was originally written in Hebrew and outlines what to do to live a good life. Solomon constantly compares the wise person with the foolish person in his writing and also offers advice on how to live a meaningful life. Some of my favorite Proverbs address sexuality and money management. One of Solomon’s most famous words on wisdom was “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:24

What would an article about poems on wisdom be without Shakespeare? William Shakespeare has been quoted and re-quoted for centuries because of his beautifully written poems about life and love. Although Shakespeare doesn’t address wisdom itself often, he offers it in his stories and sonnets. Shakespeare is famous for offering poems people live by and many read his works to find advice about their love lives. “This above all: to thine own self be true.” is a famous quote from Shakespeare’s work, Hamlet. Shakespeare’s famous works include Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, and A Mid Summer Night’s Dream which is my personal favorite.

Last but not least John Keats is among the best of poets that have written poems on wisdom. Keats is most notable for his type of work called an ode. These odes often include addressing things such as melancholy, autumn, the psyche, and indolence. Within Keat’s odes he shares his wisdom about different subjects and how to cope with different situations. In his Ode to Melancholy, Keats tell the sufferer how to deal with sadness and what to do to make things better in their life such as focusing on the beauty of nature. When I feel frustrated with life or in need of encouragement I simply read John Keats and feel immediately uplifted. His wisdom shared through his poems is greatly appreciated by many and will be for years to come. Other great works include Ode on a Grecian Um and Ode to Psyche.

In conclusion, many poets write on wisdom even if they don’t realize it or intend to do so. As long as the author has had quality experiences, knowledge, and good judgement they can write poems on wisdom. What makes great poets stand out are those that have written poems and have been quoted and re-produced over the years such as Frost, Solomon, Shakespeare, and Keats. Keep looking for encouraging poems on wisdom and you will find more than you think!