Taurus Poets

Vote for Your Favourite Taurus Poets

Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

Rabindranath Tagore
80
Birthdate: May 7, 1861
Birthplace: Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Died: August 7, 1941

Rabindranath Tagore was an Indian polymath who contributed greatly to the fields of literature, art, and philosophy. Referred to as the Bard of Bengal, Tagore is credited with reshaping Bengali literature and music. The first non-European to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, Tagore is also credited with composing the national anthems of India and Bangladesh.

 2 
Robert Browning
(Poet & Playwright)
Robert Browning
5
Birthdate: May 7, 1812
Birthplace: Camberwell
Died: December 12, 1889

Robert Browning was an English playwright and poet best remembered for his dramatic monologues. His monologues are widely studied around the world as most teachers consider them ideal examples of the monologue form. One of the most important Victorian poets, Browning has inspired several poets and playwrights. 

Dante Gabriel Rossetti
6
Birthdate: May 12, 1828
Birthplace: London, United Kingdom
Died: April 9, 1882

Known for founding the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Dante Gabriel Rossetti was a legendary poet and painter of the 19th century. His illustrations also adorned the books of his poet sister Christina Rossetti. Known for volumes such as The House of Life, he also influenced the Aesthetic movement.

Recommended Lists:
 4 
William Shakespeare
(English Playwright & Poet Who is Regarded as the Greatest Writer in the English Language)
William Shakespeare
49
Birthdate: April 26, 1564
Birthplace: Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Died: April 23, 1616

English playwright, poet, and actor William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. He is also often called England's national poet. Many of his works have been translated into other languages and his plays continue to be produced till day. Popular during his lifetime, he acquired an iconic status after his death.

 5 
Vladimir Nabokov
(Best Known For His Novels 'Lolita' and 'Pale Fire')
Vladimir Nabokov
6
Birthdate: April 23, 1899
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: July 2, 1977
Russian author Vladimir Nabokov, also known by his pen name, Vladimir Sirin, is best remembered for his controversial novel Lolita. His other works include the novel Pale Fire and his memoir, Speak, Memory. He was also an entomologist, specializing in lepidoptery. He also liked composing chess problems.
 6 
Michael Rosen
(Children's author and poet who has written 140 books)
Michael Rosen
7
Birthdate: May 7, 1946
Birthplace: Harrow, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 7 
Phillis Wheatley
8
Birthdate: May 8, 1753
Birthplace: West Africa
Died: December 5, 1784
 8 
C. Day Lewis
(British poet and Poet Laureate from 1968 until his death in 1972.)
C. Day Lewis
5
Birthdate: April 27, 1904
Birthplace: Ballintubber, Ireland
Died: May 22, 1972

C. Day-Lewis was an Anglo-Irish poet who also wrote many mystery stories. From 1968 to 1972, he served as the Poet Laureate. He also contributed as a publications editor during World War II, working for the Ministry of Information.

 9 
Sue Grafton
(American Author of Detective Novels)
Sue Grafton
6
Birthdate: April 24, 1940
Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Died: December 28, 2017
 10 
Li Bai
(Poet)
Li Bai
6
Birthdate: May 19, 0701
Birthplace: Suiye, Tang Empire (now Chuy Region, Kyrgyzstan)
Died: November 30, 0762

Li Bai was a Chinese poet whose works helped Chinese poetry flourish in the Tang dynasty. Acclaimed as a genius, Li is credited with popularizing traditional poetic forms. His poetry has been influential from his own time to the present day. Along with Zhang Xu's calligraphy and Pei Min's swordplay, Li's poetry is counted among the Three Wonders in china.

 11 
Adrienne Rich
(American poet)
Adrienne Rich
6
Birthdate: May 16, 1929
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Died: March 27, 2012
 12 
Angela Carter
(Author of 'The Bloody Chamber' and 'Nights at the Circus')
Angela Carter
5
Birthdate: May 7, 1940
Birthplace: Eastbourne, England
Died: February 16, 1992
 13 
Charlotte Bronte
12
Birthdate: April 21, 1816
Birthplace: Thornton, Yorkshire, England
Died: March 31, 1855
Charlotte Bronte, remembered for her iconic novel Jane Eyre, was one of the most significant literary figures of the 19th century. She was the eldest of the Bronte sisters who survived into adulthood. She and her sisters Emily and Anne wrote under the pseudonyms Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell.
 14 
Roger Zelazny
(American Poet, Short Story Writer, Science Fiction Writer and Novelist)
Roger Zelazny
6
Birthdate: May 13, 1937
Birthplace: Euclid, Ohio, United States
Died: June 14, 1995

Author Roger Zelazny led the New Wave of science fiction and soared to fame with his series The Chronicles of Amber. The six-time Hugo Award winner published over 150 short stories, too. He made use of anachronisms, minimal dialogue, and heavy references to Hindu, Norse, and Egyptian mythological tales.

 15 
Rod McKuen
(Poet)
Rod McKuen
5
Birthdate: April 29, 1933
Birthplace: Oakland, California, United States
Died: January 29, 2015
 16 
Joseph Addison
(Essayist & Poet)
Joseph Addison
7
Birthdate: May 1, 1672
Birthplace: Milston, United Kingdom
Died: June 17, 1719
Best known for his articles in the iconic 18th-century periodicals The Tatler and The Spectator, English essayist Joseph Addison had a lifelong collaboration with Richard Steele. Educated at Oxford, he excelled in Latin and classics. A prominent Whig, he mostly wrote on the social and cultural trends of his time.
 17 
Tristan Tzara
(French Writer Known for Being One of the Founders and Central Figures of the Anti-Establishment 'Dada Movement')
Tristan Tzara
4
Birthdate: April 28, 1896
Birthplace: Moinești, Romania
Died: December 25, 1963

Tristan Tzara was a Romanian-born French avant-garde performance artist, poet, and essayist. A multi-talented personality, Tzara was also active as a playwright, journalist, art and literary critic, film director, and composer. Tristan Tzara is best remembered for co-founding the anti-establishment Dada movement, which he helped popularize. He is also credited with co-founding the Romanian literary and art magazine Simbolul.   

 18 
Novalis
(German Romantic Poet and Philosopher Known for His Poems ‘Hymns to the Night’ and ‘Spiritual Songs’)
Novalis
6
Birthdate: May 2, 1772
Birthplace: Wiederstedt, Germany
Died: March 25, 1801

Poet and philosopher Friedrich Leopold, better known as Novalis, was a significant figure of German Romanticism. He narrated the loss of his 15-year-old fiancé to tuberculosis in his Hymns to the Night. He himself died of the disease a few years later. He was also well-versed in natural sciences.

 19 
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
(Writer)
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
7
Birthdate: May 15, 1689
Birthplace: London, England
Died: August 21, 1762
 20 
Constantine P. Cavafy
(Greek Poet, Journalist and Civil Servant )
Constantine P. Cavafy
3
Birthdate: April 29, 1863
Birthplace: Alexandria, Egypt
Died: April 29, 1933

Widely regarded as one of the most distinguished Greek poets of the 20th century, Constantine Peter Cavafy became known for his own individual style. During his lifetime, he preferred to share his work through local newspapers and magazines only. His first book was published two years after his death. He also worked as a journalist and a civil servant.

 21 
Walter de La Mare
(Poet)
Walter de La Mare
5
Birthdate: April 25, 1873
Birthplace: Charlton, London Charlton, Kent, England, UK
Died: June 22, 1956
 22 
Robert Penn Warren
(poet, novelist, writer, literary critic, journalist)
Robert Penn Warren
4
Birthdate: April 24, 1905
Birthplace: Todd County
Died: 1989 AD
 23 
Gary Snyder
(American man of letters)
Gary Snyder
9
Birthdate: May 8, 1930
Birthplace: San Francisco
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 24 
Charles Maurras
(Author)
Charles Maurras
3
Birthdate: April 20, 1868
Birthplace: Martigues, France
Died: November 16, 1952
Recommended Lists:
 25 
Maya Deren
(Ukrainian-born American Filmmaker Who Abandoned Established Rules of Filmmaking and Created Her Own Techniques)
Maya Deren
4
Birthdate: April 29, 1917
Birthplace: Kiev, Ukraine
Died: October 13, 1961

Maya Deren was a Ukrainian-born American filmmaker known for her experimental work. She played a major role in promoting the avant-garde in the mid-20th century. A multifaceted personality, she was also a dancer, choreographer, film theorist, photographer, and writer. She abandoned established rules of filmmaking and created her own techniques. Sadly, she died at the young age of 44.  

 26 
Archibald MacLeish
(Librarian, Poet, Playwright, Writer, University teacher, Poet lawyer, Lawyer)
Archibald MacLeish
3
Birthdate: May 7, 1892
Birthplace: Glencoe
Died: April 20, 1982
 27 
Louise Glück
16
Birthdate: April 22, 1943
Birthplace: New York, United States
Recommended Lists:
 28 
Chūya Nakahara
(Poet, Writer, Tanka poet, Translator)
Chūya Nakahara
3
Birthdate: April 29, 1907
Birthplace: Yamaguchi
Died: October 22, 1937

Known as one of Japan’s most impactful bohemian romantic poets, Chūya Nakahara was often compared to French symbolist poets for his fine imagery. Also known as the Japanese Rimbaud, he was influenced by Dadaism, too. He tragically died of meningitis at 30, though his legacy of around 350 poems lives on.

 29 
Joy Harjo
(Poet)
Joy Harjo
4
Birthdate: May 9, 1951
Birthplace: Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
 30 
Camilo José Cela
(Winner of 1989 Nobel Prize in Literature)
Camilo José Cela
4
Birthdate: May 11, 1916
Birthplace: Iria Flavia, Spain
Died: January 17, 2002

Camilo José Cela was a Spanish novelist, essayist, story writer, and poet. One of the most respected Spanish writers of his generation, Camilo José Cela received a number of prestigious awards, including the 1987 Prince of Asturias Award for Literature. In 1989, he won the Nobel Prize in Literature. In 1994, he was honored with the Premio Planeta de Novela.

Recommended Lists:
 31 
W. G. Sebald
(One of the Greatest German Authors Known for His Works: 'Vertigo', 'The Emigrants' & 'Austerlitz')
W. G. Sebald
5
Birthdate: May 18, 1944
Birthplace: Wertach, Germany
Died: December 14, 2001

Born in Germany, W. G. Sebald later studied in Switzerland and England. He gained fame with his non-chronological tales of people traumatized by the ravages of war. His novels such as Vertigo and The Emigrants deal with themes of decay and memory. He died while driving around Norwich.

 32 
Karl Kraus
(Austrian Writer and Journalist)
Karl Kraus
3
Birthdate: April 28, 1874
Birthplace: Jicin, Czechia
Died: June 12, 1936

Initially aspiring to be a lawyer, Austrian writer Karl Kraus later deviated to philosophy and German literature before quitting studies altogether. He had also been a stage performer but later made his mark as one of the finest aphorists and playwrights in German history, with works such as Nights.

 33 
Alan Titchmarsh
(Television presenter, Horticulturist)
Alan Titchmarsh
1
Birthdate: May 2, 1949
Birthplace: Ilkley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
 34 
Annie Dillard
(Author)
Annie Dillard
4
Birthdate: April 30, 1945
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
 35 
Sheldon Harnick
(Poet, Writer, Songwriter, Librettist)
Sheldon Harnick
3
Birthdate: April 30, 1924
Birthplace: Chicago
 36 
Natasha Trethewey
(Poet)
Natasha Trethewey
3
Birthdate: April 26, 1966
Birthplace: Gulfport, Mississippi, United States
 37 
Gabriel Okara
(Nigerian Novelist and Poet Who was the First Poet of Anglophone African Origin to Embrace Modernism)
Gabriel Okara
3
Birthdate: April 24, 1921
Birthplace: Eastern Region, Nigeria
Died: March 25, 2019
Gabriel Okara was a Nigerian novelist and poet best remembered for his experimental novel, The Voice. Over the course of his career, Okara won several prestigious awards such as the Commonwealth Poetry Prize and the Nigeria Prize for Literature. Nicknamed the Nigerian Negritudist, Gabriel Okara was the first poet of Anglophone African origin to embrace modernism.
 38 
Edmund Wilson
(Journalist, Poet, Playwright, Literary critic, Essayist, Social critic, Writer)
Edmund Wilson
3
Birthdate: May 8, 1895
Birthplace: Red Bank
Died: June 12, 1972
 39 
Yoshitoshi
(Engraver, Painter, Poet)
Yoshitoshi
3
Birthdate: April 30, 1839
Birthplace: Edo
Died: June 9, 1892

One of the greatest ukiyo-e woodblock artists of Japan, Yoshitoshi depicted everything from folklore and kabuki subjects to ghost stories through his works. A student of Kuniyoshi, he suffered immense mental trauma during the Meiji Restoration. He later worked as Taiso but spent his final years in an asylum.

 40 
Jane Roberts
(Poet, Writer, Psychic, Science fiction writer, Children's writer)
Jane Roberts
3
Birthdate: May 8, 1929
Birthplace: Saratoga County
Died: September 5, 1984
 41 
Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick
(Academic Scholar)
Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick
3
Birthdate: May 2, 1950
Birthplace: Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
Died: April 12, 2009
 42 
Charles Simic
3
Birthdate: May 9, 1938
Birthplace: Belgrade, Serbia
 43 
May Sarton
(Poet, novelist and memoirist)
May Sarton
3
Birthdate: May 3, 1912
Birthplace: Wondelgem, Ghent, Belgium
Died: July 16, 1995
 44 
Geza Rohrig
(Actor)
Geza Rohrig
4
Birthdate: May 11, 1967
Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary

Best known for his performance as Saul Ausländer in the Academy Award-winning movie Son of Saul, Hungarian actor Geza Rohrig grew up in foster care and was initially interested in music. He is also a talented poet, who has dealt with themes such as the Holocaust in his works.

 45 
Yehuda Amichai
(Israeli Poet and Author)
Yehuda Amichai
3
Birthdate: May 3, 1924
Birthplace: Würzburg, Germany
Died: September 22, 2000

One of Israel’s most significant poets, Yehuda Amichai was born to Jewish parents in Germany and later moved to Jerusalem, where he fought for the British Army during World War II. His works, such as Now and in Other Days, carry themes of war, Jewish history, and the philosophy of life.

 46 
Assi Rahbani
(Composer)
Assi Rahbani
3
Birthdate: May 4, 1923
Birthplace: Antelias
Died: June 21, 1986

Assi Rahbani, part of the Lebanese composer duo The Rahbani Brothers, which also had his brother Mansour Rahbani, previously worked with Near East Radio. He later mostly composed music for his singer wife Nouhad Haddad, better known as Fairuz. The husband-wife duo also appeared in movies such as The Exile.

 47 
Émile Bernard
(Post-Impressionist painter, Writer)
Émile Bernard
3
Birthdate: April 28, 1868
Birthplace: Lille, France
Died: April 16, 1941
 48 
Yusef Komunyakaa
(Poet)
Yusef Komunyakaa
3
Birthdate: April 29, 1947
Birthplace: Bogalusa, Louisiana
 49 
Alejandra Pizarnik
(Argentine Poet)
Alejandra Pizarnik
3
Birthdate: April 29, 1936
Birthplace: Avellaneda, Argentina
Died: September 25, 1972
Argentine poet Alejandra Pizarnik had initially focused on painting and had then worked for various publishing houses in Paris. She was best known for her poem collections, such as The Musical Hell, and prose works, such as The Bloody Countess. She unfortunately committed suicide at age 36.
 50 
James Fenton
(Poet)
James Fenton
4
Birthdate: April 25, 1949
Birthplace: Lincoln, England