1681 in poetry

• Richard Baxter, Poetical Fragments^[1]
• Charles Cotton, The Wonders of the Peake^[1]
• John Dryden, Absalom and Achitophel, published anonymously; a satire on Anthony Ashley Cooper, earl of Shaftesbury and James Scott, Duke of Monmouth (see also The Second Part of Absalom and Achitophel as well as other poetic responses 1682)^[1]
• Thomas D'Urfey, The Progress of Honesty; or, A View of a Court and City (see also The Malcontent 1684)^[1]
• Andrew Marvell (died 1678), Miscellaneous Poems,^[1] including "To His Coy Mistress"
• John Oldham, published anonymously
  • Satyrs upon the Jesuits (the first "Satyr Upon the Jesuits" had been published in 1679 in the form of a broadside under the title Garnets Ghost)^[1]
  • Some New Pieces Never Before Publisht

• Thomas Hansen Kingo, Aandelige Siunge-Koor ("Spiritual Song Choir"), second part (first part 1674), Denmark

Death years link to the corresponding "[year] in poetry" article:

• March 24 (March 14 O.S.) – Georg Philipp Telemann (died 1767), German composer and poet
• Johann Ernst Hanxleden (died 1732), German poet and lexicographer
• Nedîm (died 1730), Ottoman poet

Birth years link to the corresponding "[year] in poetry" article:

• May 25 – Pedro Calderón de la Barca (born 1600), Spanish writer, poet and dramatist
• August 12 – Sir George Wharton, 1st Baronet (born 1617), English Royalist soldier, astrologer and poet
• October 7 – Nikolaes Heinsius (born 1620), Dutch poet and scholar
• December – Charles Cotin (born 1604), French abbé, philosopher and poet
• Magha 9, 1603 (Saka era) – Samarth Ramdas (born 1608), Marathi saint and religious poet

• Poetry
• 17th century in poetry
• 17th century in literature
• Restoration literature