homework poem in english

7+ Poems About Homework, Exams And Assessments: Getting The Job Done

Are you feeling stressed about exams? Fear not, because poems can help! This collection will share some poems about assignments, assessments, and tests to make you feel better about your next challenge.

What Are The Best Homework Poems?

Exam mystery by jobinmaktub, farm boy after summer by robert francis, the exam by joyce sutphen, examination phobia by harsh sandhu, homework oh, homework by jack prelutsky, the homework machine by shel silverstein, the lesson by roger mcgough.

Exams are a necessary evil. They test our knowledge and determine our future. And yet, we all hate them. This collection of poems is an excellent resource for any student who needs some inspiration to get through their homework and all those other dreadful school tasks.

Related To Poems About Exams And Assessments

Related posts:, pick me up poetry, trending articles, 57+ websites that will pay for your poetry in 2024, the history of poetry (5000bc- 2024) – a timeline, the top 25 instagram poetry accounts, the ultimate guide to 2024’s most prestigious poetry awards, trending poems, a christmas poem by helen steiner rice, she is gone by david harkins, the joy of giving by john greenleaf whittier, introspection by nikki giovanni, trending collections, 17+ poems about giving: tales of selflessness, 17+ authentic poems about community: growing together, 11+ unique poems about moving houses: bittersweet goodbyes, 7+ exciting poems about gifts and presents: wrapped in love, 21+ beautiful poems about sunrise: rise and shine, 19+ poems about joy and happiness: the smiles of life.

Homework! Oh, Homework!

Homework! Oh, Homework! I hate you! You stink! I wish I could wash you away in the sink, if only a bomb would explode you to bits. Homework! Oh, homework! You’re giving me fits. I’d rather take baths with a man-eating shark, or wrestle a lion alone in the dark, eat spinach and liver, pet ten porcupines, than tackle the homework, my teacher assigns. Homework! Oh, homework! You’re last on my list, I simply can’t see why you even exist, if you just disappeared it would tickle me pink. Homework! Oh, homework! I hate you! You stink!

 Summary of Homework! Oh, Homework!

Analysis of literary devices used in homework oh, homework.

“Homework! Oh, Homework! I hate you! You stink.”

“I simply can’t see why you even exist, if you just disappeared it would tickle me pink.”

“ Homework! Oh, Homework! I hate you! You stink.”

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Homework! Oh, Homework!

Quotes to be used.

“ You’re last on my list, I simply can’t see why you even exist, if you just disappeared it would tickle me pink.”

Related posts:

Post navigation.

Homework Poems

Homework oh, homework.

Homework! Oh, Homework! I hate you! You stink! I wish I could wash you away in the sink, if only a bomb would explode you to bits. Homework! Oh, homework! You're giving me fits. I'd rather take baths with a man-eating shark, ......

My Teacher Ate My Homework

My teacher ate my homework, which I thought was rather odd. He sniffed at it and smiled with an approving sort of nod. He took a little nibble— it's unusual, but true— then had a somewhat larger bite and gave a thoughtful chew. ......

All My Great Excuses

I started on my homework, but my pen ran out of ink… My hamster ate my homework… My computer's on the blink… I tripped and dropped my homework in the soup my mom was cooking… My brother flushed it down the toilet when I wasn't looking… ......

Science Homework

I hope that you believe me, for I wouldn't tell a lie. I cannot turn my science homework in and this is why: I messed up the assignment that you gave us yesterday. It burbled from its test tube and went slithering away. ......

Homework Stew

I cooked my math book in a broth and stirred it to a steaming froth. I threw in papers—pencils, too— to make a pot of homework stew. I turned the flame up nice and hot and tossed my binder in the pot. I sprinkled in my book report with colored markers by the quart. ......

The Homework Machine

The Homework Machine, Oh, the Homework Machine, Most perfect contraption that's ever been seen. Just put in your homework, then drop in a dime, Snap on the switch, and in ten seconds' time, Your homework comes out, quick and clean as can be. Here it is— 'nine plus four?' and the answer is 'three.' Three? Oh me . . . ......

Homework, I Love You

Homework, I love you. I think that you're great. It's wonderful fun when you keep me up late. I think you're the best when I'm totally stressed, preparing and cramming all night for a test. Homework, I love you. What more can I say? I love to do hundreds of problems each day. You boggle my mind and you make me go blind, but still I'm ecstatic that you were assigned. ......

See more of Poemist by logging in

Login required!

by Simon Armitage

It’s evening again, late. I go out into the lane and doodle a beard and mustache on the face of the moon with a red pen.

Over the next hill an old teacher of mine takes off her glasses and wipes the lenses with a soft cloth. She can’t believe what she’s just seen.

• Share this Poem:

More Poems Published by this Author

• I am very bothered
• Cataract Operation
• The Golden Toddy

Quotes of the Day

Poets by type, tags in english poets, popular topics.

By Allen Ginsberg

Allen Ginsberg’s ‘Homework’ promotes reform while satirically addressing political upheaval and degradation of the environment.

Allen Ginsberg

Nationality: American

Notable works include  ' America '  and  ' Howl .' 

Poem Analyzed by Sudip Das Gupta

First-class B.A. Honors Degree in English Literature

‘Homework’ by Allen Ginsberg is a poem depicting the environmental degradation in the modern world. The metaphorical reference to “Laundry” is significant. It reflects how dirty the world looks like from the eyes of an aware citizen of the world. Here, the aware citizen or the speaker of the poem is none other than the poet, Allen Ginsberg, himself. In his voice , there is a sternness of protest as well as a reformative appeal. The condition of the world be it environmental or political, both make the poet think about the dirt that modernity had stored in this azure planet called earth. Through this poem, the poet voices his protest in a reformative tone .

Explore Homework

• 1 Summary of Homework
• 2 Structure of Homework
• 3 Literary Devices in Homework
• 4 Analysis of Homework
• 5 Historical Context of Homework
• 6 Similar Poetry

Summary of Homework

In ‘Homework’ by Allen Ginsberg, the speaker feels as if the dirty places are clothes. He tries to wash them clean and remove the dirt of environmental degradation, politics, and pollution. There is a reference to a variety of countries, rivers, and places in this poem. The poet refers to countries such as Iran, the United States, Alaska, Russia, and China. Moreover, the poet refers to continents such as Africa, Asia, and North America. He also talks about the rivers namely Amazon, Rhine, Hudson, Thames, and Neckar, and other water bodies such as Carin and Gulf of Mexico, Love Canal, Mediterranean basin, and Lake Eerie. Apart from that, there are other references in the poem such as the North Pole, Rocky Flats, Los Alamos, Parthenon, and Sphinx.

By pointing out these places, Ginsberg highlights the major causes of natural degradation in the mentioned places. Last but not least, he wants to purify them by symbolically washing, scrubbing, wiping, rubbing, rinsing, and wringing those places.

Structure of Homework

‘Homework’ by Allen Ginsberg consists of fourteen long lines without any specific rhyme scheme . The lines of the poem don’t follow conventional poetic diction . Ginsberg uses prosaic lines to reflect the lack of beauty and the drooping condition of the places the poet talks about in this poem. Moreover, the poet describes how he wants to clean the dirt out of those regions from a first-person point-of-view . Hence, this poem is an example of a lyric . Though there isn’t any rhyming scheme in the poem, it is not unrhythmic at all. The poet uses internal rhythms to maintain the flow of the poem.

Apart from that, there is a use of both the iambic meter and anapestic meter in this poem. However, some lines also contain the trochaic meter . The mixture of the meters creates a rising and falling rhythm that makes the sound scheme of the poem more interesting while reading.

Literary Devices in Homework

‘Homework’ by Allen Ginsberg begins with a metaphor in the usage of the word “Laundry” and in “dirty Iran” the poet makes a comparison between a dirty cloth and Iran. Thereafter the poet uses metonymy in the second line. Here, the poet refers to the places of the United States and Africa that are polluted. Moreover, the poet uses an allusion to the nursery rhyme “Rub a dub dub” in this poem. It’s not the only case where the poet uses allusion. There are several allusions such as the tragedy of Love Canal, the nuclear weapon manufacturing unit at Rocky Flats in America, and the Vietnam War. However, there are some lines in the poem that are connected by the use of enjambment .

Apart from that, in the last line, there is alliteration in “put the planet”. This line also contains irony as well as hyperbole in the use of the word “Aeon”.

Analysis of Homework

Lines 1–6.

If I were doing my Laundry I’d wash my dirty Iran (…) Rub a dub dub for Rocky Flats and Los Alamos, Flush that sparkly Cesium out of Love Canal

‘Homework’ by Allen Ginsberg begins with sarcasm . The poet if he were doing his “Laundry”, he would preferably choose neither of his clothes. Rather he would take the countries and places that had become dirty due to pollution or man-made disasters. Hence, the poet says he would wash his dirty Iran and throw in the United States into his washing machine. Thereafter he would pour the Ivory Soap and scrub the whole of Africa until it became clear. He would put all the birds and elephants out of the zoos back to the jungle.

Moreover, the poet alludes to the polluted Amazon River and oily Carib and the Gulf of Mexico for washing the waste materials. After the washing with soap session is done, Ginsberg would start rubbing off the smog from the North Pole and wipe all the waste-carrying pipelines in Alaska. He would rub the Rocky Flats and Los Alamos for cleaning the radioactive waste stored there. Thereafter, he would flush the radioactive Cesium out of Love Canal that was polluted due to the disposal of chemical waste in the 1940s.

Lines 7–10

Rinse down the Acid Rain over the Parthenon & Sphinx, Drain Sludge out of the Mediterranean (…) Cleanse the Hudson Thames & Neckar, Drain the Suds out of Lake Erie

‘Homework’ by Allen Ginsberg focuses on the effect of Acid Rain on the Parthenon and the Sphinx at the beginning of this section. The poet says he would rinse down those monuments and drain the sludge out of the Mediterranean basin to make it azure again. Thereafter, the sky above the Rhine River catches the poet’s attention. He desires to blue the sky over the river and bleach the darkening clouds so the snow would look white as snow. This section reflects how everything has changed due to modernization and the pollution associated with it. Moreover, the poet says he would cleanse the rivers such as Hudson, Thames, and Neckar and drain the suds out of the Lake Eerie of America.

Lines 11–14

Then I’d throw big Asia in one giant Load & wash out the blood & Agent Orange, (…) & put the planet in the drier & let it sit 20 minutes or an Aeon till it came out clean.

Thereafter, in ‘Homework’ by Allen Ginsberg, the poet humorously refers to throwing the “big Asia” in “one giant load” to wash out the blood and “Agent Orange” from it. Here, “blood” symbolically refers to the Vietnam War, and Agent Orange was used by the U.S. Military as a tactical weapon to destroy the forest cover in Vietnam. Moreover, the poet refers to the political turmoil in China and Russia as the “whole mess”. He would put those countries in the wringer to squeeze out the political interference of the U.S. However, the poet ironically says he would also squeeze the brutality of the Central American police states out by putting them in the wringer.

At last, the poet says his work was done. Then, he would put the planet earth in the drier and let it sit for 20 minutes. Then suddenly the poet realized that it was not enough. That’s why he says the drying would take “an Aeon till it came out clean.”

Historical Context of Homework

‘Homework’ by Allen Ginsberg refers to the major man-made disasters that shook the planet. The poet refers to the Gulf Wars, the pollution of the Amazon, and a lot more. There is a reference to the effect of massive industrialization on specific regions such as the North Pole and Alaska. Moreover, the poet refers to the radioactive pollution in the region of Rocky Flats and Los Alamos and the waste-disposal in the Love Canal. Apart from that, the poet presents the changing landscape due to pollution in Europe. In the last few lines, he presents the political tension in the countries of Asia and hints at the role of America in it.

At the end of the poem, the poet mocks the present scenario of the planet as if the dirt would not come out even if the poet tries this process for ages. Hence, it’s a satire on the artificiality of the problems existing in the modern world.

Similar Poetry

Like ‘Homework’ by Allen Ginsberg, the following poems present similarly talk about the effects of modernity and pollution.

• The Dream by Lola Ridge – Here, Lola Ridge similarly sketches the modern landscape ridden by pollution.
• Crossing a City Highway by Yusef Komunyakaa – Here, Yusef Komunyakaa talks about the effect of air pollution.
• Evening Scene From My Table by Vikram Seth – This one of the best Vikram Seth poems , presents how the polluted air that blocks the poet’s vision.
• Inauguration by Lorenzo Thomas – It’s about global pollution valued over people’s lives. 

Home » Allen Ginsberg » Homework

About Sudip Das Gupta

Join the poetry chatter and comment.

Exclusive to Poetry + Members

Join Conversations

Share your thoughts and be part of engaging discussions.

Expert Replies

Get personalized insights from our Qualified Poetry Experts.

Connect with Poetry Lovers

Build connections with like-minded individuals.

Access the Complete PDF Guide of this Poem

Poetry + PDF Guides are designed to be the ultimate PDF Guides for poetry. The PDF Guide consists of a front cover, table of contents, with the full analysis, including the Poetry+ Review Corner and numerically referenced literary terms, plus much more.

Get the PDF Guide

Experts in Poetry

Our work is created by a team of talented poetry experts, to provide an in-depth look into poetry, like no other.

Cite This Page

Gupta, SudipDas. "Homework by Allen Ginsberg". Poem Analysis , https://poemanalysis.com/allen-ginsberg/homework/ . Accessed 17 September 2024.

Help Center

Request an Analysis

(not a member? Join now)

Poem PDF Guides

PDF Learning Library

Beyond the Verse Podcast

Poetry Archives

Poetry Explained

Poet Biographies

Useful Links

Poem Explorer

Poem Generator

[email protected]

Poem Solutions Limited, International House, 36-38 Cornhill, London, EC3V 3NG, United Kingdom

• Free writing courses
• Famous poetry classics
• Forums: Poet's • Suggestions
• My active groups   see all
• Trade comments
• Print publishing
• Rate comments
• Recent views
• Membership plan
• Contact us + HELP

Homework! Oh, Homework!

Jack prelutsky   follow.

Make comments, explore modern poetry. Join today for free!

Top poems List all »

Have you read these poets? List all »

More by jack prelutsky list all ».

• Send Message
• Open Profile in New Window

Loving. Healing. Touching.

FFP Poetry Forums

• Forgot Your Password
• Login with Google
• Login with Facebook
• Famous Poems
• Famous Children Poems

Homework Stew

Famous children poem, making homework stew is not quite what the teacher had in mind. this funny children’s poem shows what can happen when we mishear something. famous poet kenn nesbitt writes humorous poetry for children, and he served as the children’s poet laureate from 2013-2015..

I loved this poem because I loved how it said "I sprinkled up my book report". When at the end the teacher said "Your quite a chef but you get a F, I did not say homework stew, I said...

Read complete story

Share your story! (1)

Famous Poem

I cooked my math book in a broth and stirred it to a steaming froth. I threw in papers—pencils, too— to make a pot of homework stew. I turned the flame up nice and hot and tossed my binder in the pot. I sprinkled in my book report with colored markers by the quart. Despite its putrid, noxious gas, I proudly took my stew to class. And though the smell was so grotesque, I set it on my teacher’s desk. My teacher said, “You’re quite a chef. But, still, you’re going to get an F. I didn’t ask for ‘homework stew,’ I said, ‘Tomorrow, homework’s due.'” “Homework Stew” copyright © 2005 Kenn Nesbitt. All Rights Reserved. Published in When the Teacher Isn’t Looking . Reprinted by permission of the author. www.poetry4kids.com

Advertisement

• Add to Collection

more Kenn Nesbitt

• Shares 1731
• Fav orited 10
• Rating 4.38

Snowball By Shel Silverstein

• Shares 53368
• Fav orited 67

Sick By Shel Silverstein

• Shares 81353
• Fav orited 94

Now We Are Six By A. A. Milne

• Shares 61456
• Fav orited 75

Life Doesn't Frighten Me By Maya Angelou

• Shares 23575
• Fav orited 36

Wind On The Hill By A. A. Milne

• Shares 57020
• Fav orited 78

I loved this poem because I loved how it said "I sprinkled up my book report". When at the end the teacher said "Your quite a chef but you get a F, I did not say homework stew, I said tomorrow homework's due".

• All stories are moderated before being published.
• Check Your Spelling or your story will not be published!
• Do NOT submit poems here, instead go to the Submit Poem form .

* Indicates required fields

Not published

Between 50 - 1000 Characters

STOP! Did you spell check your submission? Common Mistakes: the word "i" should be capitalized, "u" is not a word, and "im" is spelled "I'm" or "I am".

Help us stop spam

Back to Top

PoetryVerse

Allen Ginsberg

If I were doing my Laundry I'd wash my dirty Iran I'd throw in my United States, and pour on the Ivory Soap, scrub up Africa, put all the birds and elephants back in the jungle, I'd wash the Amazon river and clean the oily Carib & Gulf of Mexico, Rub that smog off the North Pole, wipe up all the pipelines in Alaska, Rub a dub dub for Rocky Flats and Los Alamos, Flush that sparkly Cesium out of Love Canal Rinse down the Acid Rain over the Parthenon & Sphinx, Drain the Sludge out of the Mediterranean basin & make it azure again, Put some blueing back into the sky over the Rhine, bleach the little Clouds so snow return white as snow, Cleanse the Hudson Thames & Neckar, Drain the Suds out of Lake Erie Then I'd throw big Asia in one giant Load & wash out the blood & Agent Orange, Dump the whole mess of Russia and China in the wringer, squeeze out the tattletail Gray of U.S. Central American police state, & put the planet in the drier & let it sit 20 minutes or an Aeon till it came out clean

Feel free to be first to leave comment.

Poems & Poets

My Doggy Ate My Homework

“My doggy ate my homework. He chewed it up,” I said. But when I offered my excuse My teacher shook her head. I saw this wasn’t going well. I didn’t want to fail. Before she had a chance to talk, I added to the tale: “Before he ate, he took my work And tossed it in a pot. He simmered it with succotash Till it was piping hot. “He scrambled up my science notes With eggs and bacon strips, Along with sautéed spelling words And baked potato chips. “He then took my arithmetic    And had it gently fried. He broiled both my book reports    With pickles on the side. “He wore a doggy apron As he cooked a notebook stew. He barked when I objected. There was nothing I could do.” “Did he wear a doggy chef hat?” She asked me with a scowl. “He did,” I said. “And taking it Would only make him growl.” My teacher frowned, but then I said    As quickly as I could, “He covered it with ketchup,    And he said it tasted good.” “A talking dog who likes to cook?”    My teacher had a fit. She sent me to the office,    And that is where I sit. I guess I made a big mistake    In telling her all that. ’Cause I don’t have a doggy.    It was eaten by my cat. Copyright Credit: “My Doggy Ate My Homework.” © 2004 by Dave Crawley. Reprinted from If Kids Ruled the School (© 2004 by Meadowbrook Creations) with permission from Meadowbrook Press. Source: If Kids Ruled the School (Meadowbrook Press, 2004)

• Funny Poems
• Poems by Subject
• Funny Poems by Email
• Classic Poems
• Poems by Reading Level
• Poetry Minute
• Nursery Rhymes
• Poems by Length
• Famous Children’s Poets
• Surprise Me!
• Poems by Poetic Technique
• Other Poetry Websites and Resources
• Poetry Writing Lessons
• Poetry Activities
• Activity Worksheets by Type
• Rhyming Dictionary
• Poetic Terms Dictionary
• Activity Worksheets by Grade Level
• Lists of Rhyming Words
• About Kenn Nesbitt
• School Author Visits
• Event Calendar
• Contact Kenn

Science Homework

From the book Revenge of the Lunch Ladies

I hope that you believe me for I wouldn’t tell a lie. I cannot turn my science homework in and this is why:

I messed up the assignment that you gave us yesterday. It burbled from its test tube and went slithering away.

It wriggled off the table and it landed with a splat, convulsed across my bedroom floor and terrorized the cat.

It shambled down the staircase with a horrid glorping noise. It wobbled to the family room and gobbled all my toys.

It tumbled to the kitchen and digested every plate. That slimy blob enlarged with every item that it ate.

It writhed around the living room digesting lamps and chairs, then snuck up on our napping dog and caught him unawares.

I came to school upset today. My head’s in such a fog. But this is my excuse: You see, my homework ate my dog.

 — Kenn Nesbitt

Copyright © 2007. All Rights Reserved.

Reading Level: Grade 4 Topics: Monster Poems , School Poems , Science and Technology Poems Poetic Techniques: Hyperbole , Imagery , Narrative Poems , Onomatopoeia Word Count: 150

About This Poem

From my book Revenge of the Lunch Ladies , this is either a story of a science experiment gone very, very wrong, or it is an elaborate excuse for not turning in your homework. Or possibly both. It is also a long way to go for a groaner of an ending, but I had so much fun writing it that I just couldn't help myself. Lastly, this is also a good example of using onomatopoeia —words that sound like the actions they describe—in a poem. Words like "burble," "slither," and "gobble" all evoke sounds as well as visual descriptions. I used these intentionally to heighten the sensory impact of the poem and make it more engaging. I hope you enjoy it.

Use This Poem

Would you like to use this poem in your classroom? Would you like permission to reprint, record, recite or broadcast this poem, or set it to music? Please click on one of the following links for permissions and reprint rights information:

• Publishers, editors and anthologists

Member Login

Rhyming dictionary for kids.

Type any word here to find all the words that rhyme with it

Support Poetry4kids

Get Poems by Email

Visit My Other Websites

Find the Best Kids Books

What are you looking for.