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The Best Poems About June
The Best Poems About June

Poets, from Romantics to Realists, have long seen June as a symbol of promise, warmth, and emotional clarity. Here are ten of the most beautiful, evocative excerpts about June—each followed by a review that explains what makes the lines stand out.

1. “O my Luve’s like a red, red rose / That’s newly sprung in June.”

Robert Burns, “A Red, Red Rose”

Why it works: Burns equates love with the symbolic freshness of a June rose. The imagery is elemental—passion, youth, bloom. It’s unforgettable because it’s honest and deeply rooted in natural cycles.

A red red rose
A red red rose

Review: These lines turn simplicity into genius. The rose isn’t just romantic fluff—it’s a visceral metaphor for love that’s blooming, fresh, and fragile. June gives it context and weight.

2. “When June comes dancing o’er the death of May, / With scarlet roses tinting her green breast.”

Claude McKay, “A Memory of June”

Why it works: McKay gives June a pulse. She’s a woman, alive, stepping over spring’s grave with color and fire.

Review: This personification is electric. McKay doesn’t just observe June—he animates her. The "scarlet roses" against "green" are visual fireworks. It’s sensual, symbolic, and layered with memory.

3. “Tell you what I like the best— / ‘Long about knee-deep in June.”

James Whitcomb Riley, “Knee-Deep in June”

Why it works: Riley trades grandeur for the grounded. “Knee-deep” in June means being fully immersed in nature’s height—sun, hayfields, ripe cherries.

Review: These lines carry the rhythm of a front porch conversation. You don’t just read it—you hear it. It’s homespun poetry at its best: vivid, nostalgic, and grounded in everyday joy.

Welcome to the month of June with a poem
Welcome to the month of June with a poem

4. “A week ago I had a fire / To warm my feet, my hands and face…”

William Henry Davies, “All in June”

Why it works: In just a few lines, Davies captures a shift in season, in mood, in being. He sets up a contrast between the cold past and the generous warmth of June.

Review: The power here is in the transition. These lines invite you to feel the comfort of warmth, bees, fields, and sky. The poem doesn’t just describe June—it makes you exhale into it.

5. “The sun has long been set, / The stars are out by twos and threes…”

William Wordsworth, “A Night in June”

Why it works: Wordsworth slows time. The focus shifts to the subtle—the sky darkening, birds whispering. It’s evening in real time.

A Night In June
A Night In June

Review: This is a masterclass in quiet. There’s no drama, just awe. The world in June doesn’t need embellishment. Wordsworth shows you that June’s silence can sing.

6. “When June is here—what art have we to sing / The whiteness of the lilies midst the green?”

James Whitcomb Riley, “When June is Here”

Why it works: It asks a real question: how can we even begin to capture June’s beauty?

Review: There’s humility in these lines. Riley suggests that no art can rival nature in June. The language is rich, but also reverent. He puts poetry in its place—just under the lilies.

7. “Your voice, with clear location of June days, / Called me outside the window.”

Richard Wilbur, “June Light”

Why it works: Wilbur blends the physical world with memory. June isn’t just a season—it’s a portal to moments of intimacy and clarity.

Review: These lines hit differently. The voice that calls, the “clear location” of light—it’s haunting in the best way. A poem about June, but also about presence, absence, and memory's sharp edges.

8. “Why was June made?—Can you guess? / June was made for happiness!”

Annette Wynne, “Why Was June Made?”

Why it works: Straightforward, unapologetically joyful. No irony, no sadness—just celebration.

Review: Wynne’s tone might feel childlike, but the message hits home. June is happiness—long days, warm winds, bare feet. Sometimes joy doesn’t need to be complicated.

June Poems to Celebrate the Glorious Summer Time
June Poems to Celebrate the Glorious Summer Time

9. “June-rose, by May-dew impearled; / Sweet south-wind, that means no rain.”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “The Best Thing in the World”

Why it works: Browning captures the perfection of early summer in compact, elegant lines.

Review: These are delicate, precious lines. You can almost smell the petals, feel the breeze. She weaves a sensory spell—quiet but rich, calm but unforgettable.

10. “Far up in the deep blue sky, / Great white clouds are floating by; / All the world is dressed in green; / Many happy birds are seen.”

F.G. Sanders, “June”

Why it works: These lines are panoramic—a wide, green world under an endless sky.

Review: It reads like a child's observation, but it’s all the more profound for that. The innocence, the scope, the simplicity—it's nature through unfiltered eyes. That’s what makes June feel eternal.

Final Thoughts

June’s poetry isn’t just seasonal—it’s emotional. These ten excerpts show how a single month can hold love, memory, joy, and peace. From Burns’ romantic bloom to Wilbur’s haunting voice in the light, June proves its poetic worth again and again.

If you’ve ever stepped outside in early summer and felt something shift inside you, these poets knew the feeling—and turned it into lasting art.

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