Before you start searching for a poem or short story, identify the title or poet you would like to research. If you still need to choose a title or author, first determine the time period or cultural context you are interested in. You can find lots of recommended poems or short stories available from a quick Google search, or try the Works Search in Gale Literature.
Keep in mind, both poems and short stories are often collected into books called anthologies or collected works. These 'collections' are usually selected based on author, time-period, cultural context, or subject matter. In these cases, use a keyword search based on these categories.