Great English classic poem

[moved]

Hi, I'm writing papers and looking for inspiration. Poetry suitable for bright 11+ aged children written by authors who have been dead for more than 70 years (copyright). Looking for examples of techniques such as assonance, imagery, etc.

Trying not to be too gloomy, I keep coming up with death and mourning,

I'm very interested in all of your views.

[um]

Robert Louis Stevenson's poems are always great, and not too gloomy.
I like the railway one which begins, 'Faster than fairies, faster than witches..'.
That's the only suitable poet I can think of at the moment..

[moved]

Thank you very much.
Very strange I have it open to the right of me as I type. It is a well used resource. Sadly, it is a little too short for my needs.

[ourmaminhavana]

'The Highwayman' (Alfred Noyes) is one that I used to use that immediately springs to mind.

Edit: admittedly there is death, but the kids always seemed to enjoy it; it's not like a WW1 sort of death

Causley's 'Timothy Winters' is another.

[moved]

Sadly, or perhaps, gladly The Highwayman is now part of the literacy strategy for year 5. Does mean that it is too familiar for a paper though.

[ourmaminhavana]

Sorry, it's many moons since I've taught but how about the following:

De La Mare's 'The Listeners'?
Peter Porter's 'Your Attention Please'?
Jenny Joseph's 'Warning' (When I am an old woman I shall wear purple)
A bit of Tennyson?

[doodles]

How about Sir Henry Newbolt's "Vitae Lampada" - contains the immortal line "play up play up and play the game".

[moved]

He has also been dead 72 years - so no copyright issues. Thanks. I'm having a great afternoon reading all of this poetry.

Edit: you all seem to be keen on death too!

[doodles]

Wondered why 70 years was so critical!!! Enjoy your reading.

[rosered100]

DS1 had to quick study some poems for a general knowledge quiz & loves If & Slough, also Charge of the Light Brigade. Not sure if the first 2 make the 70 year cut off though.