As the end of the school year approaches, the atmosphere in classrooms is charged with a mix of excitement, nostalgia, and anticipation. For teachers, this period is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of their students and to provide them with meaningful and memorable experiences as they prepare to move on to the next chapter of their lives.
Poems About Graduations
In the spirit of supporting educators with rich, engaging resources, I’ve compiled a list of popular poems about graduation. These poems capture the essence of this significant milestone, offering reflections on growth, the passage of time, and the promise of the future. Each poem in the list includes a link to its full text—simply click on the title to access and share them with your students.
1. It Couldn’t Be Done, by Edgar Guest
Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried…
2. My Heart Leaps Up, by William Wordsworth
My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began…
3. There Was a Child Went Forth Every Day, by Walt Whitman
There was a child went forth every day,
And the first object he looked upon and received with wonder or pity or love or dread, that object he became…
4. Live Blindly and Upon the Hour, by Trumbull Stickney
Live blindly and upon the hour. The Lord,
Who was the Future, died full long ago.
Knowledge which is the Past is folly. Go…
5. To You, by Walt Whitman
Whoever you are, I fear you are walking the walks of dreams,
I fear these supposed realities are to melt from under your feet and hands
Even now your features, joys,
6. Knows How to Forget! (433), by Emily Dickinson
Knows how to forget!
But could It teach it?
Easiest of Arts, they say…
7. From Oracles for Youth, by Caroline Gilman
Let some one hold the book, and ask one of the questions. The answers
being all
numbered, the girl or boy who is questioned chooses a number, and the
person…
8. See It Through, by Edgar Guest
When you’re up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
Plant your feet and take a brace…
9. From Morituri Salutamus, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
How beautiful is youth! how bright it gleams
With its illusions, aspirations, dreams!
Book of Beginnings, Story without End…
10. The Choir Invisible, by George Eliot
O May I join the choir invisible
Of those immortal dead who live again
In minds made better by their presence: live
In pulses stirr’d to generosity…
11.The Graduate Leaving College, by George Moses Horton
What summons do I hear?
The morning peal, departure’s knell;
My eyes let fall a friendly tear…
12. A Psalm of Life, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
What the Heart of the Young Man Said to the Psalmist
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
“Life is but an empty dream!”…
Related: 15 Creative Kindergarten Graduation Ideas
Final thoughts
Graduation marks a pivotal moment in the lives of students, filled with both joy and a sense of accomplishment. Using these thoughtfully selected poems in your end-of-year activities will help your students reflect on their journey and look forward to the future with hope and inspiration. Poetry has a unique way of touching hearts and minds, making it an ideal medium for celebrating this special occasion. I hope these poems resonate with your students as much as they have with countless others.
