Stress is one of the most universal experiences of modern life. Whether it’s caused by work, relationships, money, or even just the chaos of everyday living, stress affects us all. But sometimes, the best way to handle it isn’t with yoga or deep breathing—it’s with laughter. That’s where funny poetry about stress comes in. Humor can lighten our mental load and make the unbearable feel bearable.
In this article, we’ll explore 10 hilarious poems that reflect on stress in witty, charming, and often absurd ways. Each selection captures the emotional rollercoaster of being human while reminding us that we’re not alone. Some of these poems are brief and snappy; others offer extended comic relief. All of them offer a fresh lens on a stressful world.
10 poems about stress You May Interested In
1. “Now We Are Six” by A.A. Milne (Excerpt)
Although not strictly about stress, A.A. Milne’s playful view of childhood indirectly touches on the stress adults feel by contrasting it with the innocence of youth.
“When I was One,
I had just begun.
When I was Two,
I was nearly new…”
This nostalgic and rhythmic poem reminds us that growing up brings stress. The older we get, the more we long for the simplicity of earlier days. The humor is gentle and reflective, but there’s a clear underlying tension: adulthood isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Milne’s childlike tone serves as a form of stress relief, showing how laughter can arise from remembering when our biggest problem was learning to walk.
2. “The Panic Bird” by Billy Collins (Excerpt)
Billy Collins is known for his dry wit and self-deprecating humor. In The Panic Bird, he imagines stress as a bird nesting in his chest.
“It is the early morning panic bird
fluttering against the glass of my sternum,
all its feathers thundering,
beak breaking repeatedly…”
The personification of panic as a frantic bird is funny in its precision. Who hasn’t felt like a wild animal was trying to escape from inside them? Collins delivers humor through exaggerated imagery, allowing us to step back and laugh at our own anxious minds.
This poem helps us cope by naming the absurdity of stress and turning it into a metaphor we can laugh about.
3. “I Can’t Find My Phone” by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
In this modern classic of digital-age stress, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater captures the sheer panic of losing your phone.
“I looked on the table.
I looked on the chair.
I looked in the kitchen.
I looked everywhere…”
The poem is short, punchy, and completely relatable. The humor comes from the escalating desperation of the search—something we’ve all experienced. Phones, the very tools meant to reduce our stress, often cause it instead.
VanDerwater’s light-hearted rhyme scheme and everyday setting make this poem especially delightful. Stress becomes something we can laugh at—especially when we find the phone was in our pocket the whole time.
4. “Stress Relief” by Kenn Nesbitt
Kenn Nesbitt, a former U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate, offers a hilarious take on workplace stress in Stress Relief.
“I started to panic.
I felt so uptight.
My forehead was sweating.
My pants were too tight…”
This humorous poem describes a person so stressed that every little thing adds to their anxiety—until they blow their top in a funny, exaggerated way. The comedic timing and simple rhymes keep it light, while also reflecting the reality of cumulative stress.
It’s a reminder that sometimes, you just have to laugh—or scream—when things pile up.
5. “Why Me?” by Shel Silverstein
Shel Silverstein has a way of taking everyday frustration and turning it into absurd comedy. In Why Me?, he writes:
“We’re facing depression,
Inflation, recession,
We’re facing the end of the earth…”
The humor lies in the voice of someone so overwhelmed by life that they collapse under the weight of existential dread—except it’s presented in a sing-song rhyme that keeps the mood buoyant. Silverstein blends real-world issues with over-the-top delivery to make a funny statement about how ridiculous our worries can become.
Silverstein’s brilliance lies in making stress look ridiculous enough to laugh at—and in doing so, making it easier to bear.
6. “Worrywart” by Judith Viorst
Viorst captures the essence of overthinking with a dry humor that’s both endearing and cringe-worthy.
“I worry about dentists, and crazy people, and being late, I worry about getting sick, and falling down the stairs…”
The speaker lists worry after worry, ranging from the mundane to the absurd. The humor builds through accumulation—by the time she gets to worrying about not worrying enough, the irony is laugh-out-loud funny.
This poem is a mirror for anyone who’s lain awake thinking too much. By presenting worry as a kind of poetic sport, Viorst invites us to laugh at our own spirals.
7. “Procrastination” by Ron Rubin
Stress and procrastination go hand in hand, and Ron Rubin captures this relationship perfectly in Procrastination.
“I’d work on the taxes but later today,
Right after I clear all this lint in the tray…”
The poem continues with excuse after excuse, each more mundane than the last. Rubin’s rhythm and rhyming are tight, and the punchlines are delivered with precision. He doesn’t just talk about procrastination—he lives it.
Rubin’s poem is a winking nod to anyone who’s ever cleaned the whole kitchen to avoid a deadline. It’s funny because it’s true.
8. “Sick” by Shel Silverstein
One of Silverstein’s best-known poems, Sick follows a child who invents every ailment imaginable to get out of school.
“I cannot go to school today,”
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
“I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash, and purple bumps…”
The humor escalates as Peggy invents more and more illnesses, each more ridiculous than the last. Then the punchline hits—she suddenly feels fine once she finds out it’s Saturday.
The poem is a hilarious reminder of how we sometimes stress about obligations, only to realize they were never real to begin with.
9. “Bedtime” by Michael Rosen
Michael Rosen writes with the energetic voice of childhood, capturing the stress (and hilarity) of bedtime routines.
“Go upstairs,
say your prayers,
brush your teeth,
don’t pick your nose…”
The rapid-fire commands mimic the chaos of parenting, which can be both funny and stressful at the same time. Rosen’s poem reflects the perspective of a parent who’s just trying to get through the night without losing it.
In its humor, Bedtime reveals the emotional tightrope we all walk—and how laughter is a crucial tool for survival.
10. “Not Waving but Drowning” by Stevie Smith (Dark Humor)
Though often interpreted as a serious poem, Not Waving but Drowning contains elements of dark humor that highlight the absurdity of misunderstanding others’ suffering.
“I was much too far out all my life
And not waving but drowning.”
This line captures the tragicomic reality of how stress and distress are often mistaken for something else. The idea that someone could be struggling and everyone thinks they’re just waving is both heartbreaking and bizarrely funny in its irony.
Smith’s understated wit gives the poem a surreal quality, making it a powerful and unusual entry on this list.
Conclusion
Stress is no laughing matter—except when it is. These 10 funny poems give us permission to laugh at our problems. They show us that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and even better to find joy in the chaos. From childhood innocence to adult anxiety, these poets prove that laughter really is the best medicine.
So next time stress creeps in, don’t just reach for a cup of tea—grab a poem. It might just make all the difference.
