1. John Keats

John Keats was born on October 31, 1795 in Moorgate, London to Thomas and Frances Keats. Perhaps, another of the established Romantic poets, Keats received praise for his series of odes unto nature’s various facets. His writings were smooth in emotional flow and description. Unfortunately, only about 6 years into his passion, his health deteriorated on account of tuberculosis and he bid farewell to the world on 23 February, 1821 at a young age of 25. “Ode to the Nightingale” and “To Autumn” were some of his best works.

2. Lord Byron

Lord Byron was born on 22 January 1788. He was a prolific writer and is best known for his work “Don Juan”.  He was active in politics and resented his competitors by his literary works.  He is one of the most lauded poets of Britain although his personal life was black marked by scandals and credit issues.  He became a part of the popular culture in his time .  He succumbed to a violent fever on April 19, 1824.

3. Rabindranath Tagore

Born on 7 May 1861, he was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature for his work Gitanjali in 1913 that was reviewed upon as being original and reviving spiritual and sympathetic feelings. Many of his Bengali poems lost their beauty in translation.  A symbol of Bengal Renaissance, he modernised Bengali art and covered topics ranging from political issues to the personal ones. He let go his knighthood to protest against the infamous Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.  One of the greatest poets the subcontinent has ever produced, he founded the Viswa Bharati Institute. One of his most famous works was “Where The Mind is Without Fear.”

4. Robert Frost

One of the most famous poets in America’s Literature front, Robert Frost is the recipient of 4 Pulitzer Prizes. His writings generally portrayed the typical rural life of the English countryside. His mastery over the rhythm with which he composed his lines stand testimonial to his being called upon the iconic literary figure of America.  One of his most revered poems is the “Road Not Taken” which has  the lines “I took the one less travelled by; And that has made all the difference” that is often quoted by many writers.  Born on March 26, 1874, he died at the age of 88 at Boston, USA.

5. Maya Angelou

Born on April 4, 1928, Maya Angelou is an American poet who rose to critical acclaim with her work “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings”. She has published numerous autobiographies, essays and poems mainly focusing on race and identity. In her literary life spanning for over 50 years she has received many a awards and a litany of honorary degrees from across the world for an outstanding contribution to political ideas and standpoints through her works.  She is the most famous among the modern day contemporary writers. Though her poems did attract negative reviews, she has been well received and appreciated by social activists and readers across the globe.