Unicorn Poems to Inspire You
Unicorns are such noble, magical creatures; It goes without saying they are very poetic too. Today, I’d like to introduce you to some beautiful unicorn poems I found.
Actually, I expected to find more unicorn poems than I did. After all, you would expect unicorns to inspire so many poets, right?
But you can always write your own unicorn poems in addition to the existing ones. Feel free to share your original unicorn poem in the comment section of this post!
The Unicorn
Written by Ella Young
While yet the morning star Flamed in the sky A unicorn went mincing by Whiter far than blossom of the thorn: His silver horn Glittered as he danced and pranced Silver pale in the silver pale morn. The folk that saw him, ran away. Where he went, so gay, so fleet, Star-like lilies at his feet Flowered all day, Lilies, lilies in a throng, And the wind made for him a song: But he dared not stay Over-long!
“The Unicorn” is a beautiful poem written by an Irish poet and Celtic mythologist Ella Young.
This poem represents the unicorn as a white creature with a silver horn. I find so much joy in this poem. The unicorn dances and prances, and his silver horn glitters.
The people who see the unicorn run away; they are afraid of his sparkling happiness, his magical grace. The unicorn is beyond their understanding.
It seems to me the writer of this poem, Ella Young, was very unicorn-like herself. She was an eccentric white-haired lady who wore Druid robes. When she emigrated to United States, she was suspected to suffer from mental illness, because she believed in fairies and other magical creatures.
But wherever she went, everybody loved her. She seemed to be “lighted from within”. When she spoke, everyone listened.
The Unicorn Is Noble
Medieval German folk song
I stood in the Maytime meadows By roses circled round Where many a fragile blossom Was bright upon the ground And as though the roses called them And their wild hearts understood, The little birds were singing In the shadows of the wood. The nightingale among them Sang sweet and loud and long, Until a greater voice than hers Rang out above her song. For suddenly between the crags, Along a narrow vale The echoes of a hunting horn Came clear along the gale. The hunter stood beside me Who blew that mighty horn, I saw that he was hunting The noble unicorn. The unicorn is noble, He keeps him safe and high Upon a narrow path and steep Climbing to the sky And there no man can take him, He scorns the hunter's dart And only a virgin's magic power Shall tame his haughty heart. What would be now the state of us But for this unicorn And what would be the fate of us, Poor sinners, lost, forlorn? Oh may He lead us on and up, Unworthy though we be, Into His Father's kingdom To dwell eternally.
There is beauty and grace in this medieval German unicorn poem; the beauty of the nature, the singing birds, the glorious unicorn.
In the Middle Ages, unicorns were represented as an allegory of the Christ. This folk song is no exception; the lyrics say “Oh may He lead us on and up, / Unworthy though we be, / Into His Father’s kingdom / To dwell eternally.” This refers to Jesus (the unicorn) leading people to God’s kingdom.
The medieval tales of the unicorn had a pattern: Hunters hunted the unicorn. Only a virgin could tame the unicorn, so a virgin lured the unicorn, so that the hunters could catch the unicorn and take him to the king.
We can find the familiar pattern in this poem. The hunters represent people who killed the Christ, the virgin is virgin Mary, and the unicorn is the Christ, who was taken to the king (the God) to save mankind. This is not my own interpretation; it is a widely known interpretation of the medieval unicorn tales.
The Lion and the Unicorn
Traditional nursery rhyme
The lion and the unicorn were fighting for the crown The lion beat the unicorn all around the town Some gave them white bread and some gave them brown Some gave them plum cake and drummed them out of town
“The Lion and the Unicorn” is an old nursery rhyme. The lyrics are about the fight of two kingdoms, England and Scotland. Traditionally, the lion is the symbol of England, while the unicorn is a symbol of Scotland.
Unicorn Poems – Which One Is Your Favorite?
Do you know any other unicorn poems? What is your favorite unicorn poem? If you know a unicorn poem that wasn’t mentioned on this post, feel free to share it in the comment section below!
Also, if you get inspired to write your original unicorn poem, please share it with us in the comment section as well. Have a magical day!
I loved the poem by Ella Young and her story. I think I like it cause she was seen as Druid like and possibly magical and full of wonder. The poem sparkles with a childlike innocence and joy, that only a true believer could capture. The poem also feels like most mortals fear such purity and joy. Unicorns are portrayed as nature loving, joyful about the simple things in life, living in the moment, swift, and not wanting to reveal too much to just any person. Whispers of and songs of unicorns are now the legends we draw upon. Ella Young must’ve found such joy envisioning her unicorn.🦄❤️
It’s my favorite unicorn poem too! I also found so much joy in Ella Young’s poem, and interpreted that the people in the poem can’t understand the unicorn because he’s too magical and out of this world. 🦄 Thank you for sharing your favorite unicorn poem.
The Unicorn is a special beast. Really enjoyed all three poems, thank you for sharing. I’ll share one with you. Really hope you enjoy it.
Mesmerized
I see it all like a picture, evolving over time. When the moon shines it cast a shadow, playing tricks on my eyes. It woke me from a daze, it caught me by surprise. Some things aren’t as they seem to be, somethings I can’t describe.
I see it all while leaning, taking it in from afar. Watching and standing with support, but floored in awe. I do not understand and seeing more makes it more hard.
No poet can articulate, no phrase could put into words. No vision could give sight to.
O where to even start?
I see it all now and here, yet I can’t make it out. So imagine now if you could my unique dilemma. To express to you the greatest thing, but to know not what to write.
I saw a horned, flying, horse like creature sparkling in the night. Sounds crazy to admit but not as crazy as the sight. I think I know in my heart I saw a unicorn in flight.
Beautiful. As i read your words I pictured true love, and that is what you saw within the unicorn in flight. Thank you for sharing this with us all.
I have enjoyed reading the poems about the unicorns. My favourite one is the The Lion and The Unicorn. To me it represents a scenario whereby there is a situation or person who is deemed to be the most powerful, yet there is another rival who comes in and changes the course. It also sends a message that whilst others may cheer and give ‘bread’ so that a fight continues the best thing to do is to resolve differences amicably. Because at the end of the day we are all people, just like these two creatures were both animals.
Thank you for your comment and your interpretation of the poem Lion and the unicorn. I never thought of it that way. Your interpretation shows we can find many meanings in poetry (or any art), more than just the original meaning the author intended.
Hi.
I’m looking for a poem that was written on a ceramic book my mom made many years ago. I never knew who the author was and I’m wondering if you might be familiar with it.
Thanks in advance.
Oh, how in our childlike hearts still we mourn the passing of the unicorn
A creature unfit for our worlds pace
Yet wait, for who’s to say
Perhaps even now in some cool and distant forest shade… (And I forgot the rest.)
Hi Mel,
Unfortunately I had never heard of that poem before. I tried searching for information on it, but I didn’t manage to find out who the author is. However, it seems this poem can be found on Bruce Coville’s anthology called The Unicorn Treasury – Stories, Poems and Unicorn Lore. Sorry I couldn’t find more information, sounds like a lovely poem.
My mother just passed away and as I was going through her unimaginably large unicorn collection I started reading this poem and wondered who was the author. I’m reading it from a ceramic book with a music box built in so it sounds like it’s the same piece as your mom made. Do you know anything about this art piece? There are no markings on it but if they were sold as a craft item that would explain why. Thanks! I’m probably being over sentimental but would be nice to know a little about it
I’m sorry for your loss, Emma. Unfortunately, I don’t know about the art piece.
Hi Mel… I have an old handwritten copy of the poem you are looking for, called “The Last Unicorn”, author unknown. As you wrote…”Perhaps even now in some far distant forest glade, there still moves quietly in the cool and leafy shade, that timeless creature of a golden age, that spirit of a shining dawn, that noble beast the Unicorn. I see this post is almost a year old….hope you get to see this! Kathleen
Who wrote:
“He came like a melody heard
When the strings of a fiddle are tunefully stirred,
And went to where all such melodies go,
When the hand of the fiddler surrenders his bow” ?