65 Beautiful Love Poems Everyone Should Know: A Journey Through Timeless Romance
Love has been the muse of poets for centuries, weaving emotions into words that capture the heart’s deepest desires, joys, and pains. From the passionate sonnets of William Shakespeare to the raw, modern verses of Rupi Kaur, love poems transcend time, culture, and language. In this comprehensive guide, we present 65 beautiful love poems that every romantic should know. Whether you’re sharing a verse with your partner, seeking solace after a breakup, or drawing inspiration for your own poetry, this curated list offers a poem for every heart.
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1. “Come, And Be My Baby” by Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou, a towering figure in American literature, blends resilience and tenderness in Come, And Be My Baby. This poem captures the chaos of modern life and the comfort love offers, even if just for a moment. Angelou’s evocative language invites the reader into a world where love is a refuge amidst life’s noise.
Excerpt:
The highway is full of big cars
going nowhere fast
And folks think they’re going somewhere
Come, and be my baby.
Why It’s Beautiful: Angelou’s conversational tone and vivid imagery make this poem relatable, offering a heartfelt invitation to find solace in love. Perfect for those seeking comfort in connection.
2. “Bird-Understander” by Craig Arnold
Craig Arnold’s Bird-Understander is a raw, honest reflection on love’s ability to deepen through vulnerability. The poem’s simplicity belies its emotional depth, as Arnold uses a poignant metaphor to express how his partner’s words strengthen their bond.
Excerpt:
These are your own words
your way of noticing
and saying plainly
of not turning away
from hurt
you have offered them
to me I am only
giving them back
Why It’s Beautiful: The directness and metaphor of returning words create an intimate connection, making this poem ideal for those who cherish emotional authenticity in love.
3. “Habitation” by Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood, renowned for The Handmaid’s Tale, explores the gritty reality of marriage in Habitation. The stark imagery of squatting at “the edge of the receding glacier” and “learning to make fire” portrays love as a survival instinct, raw and enduring.
Excerpt:
at the back where we squat
outside, eating popcorn
the edge of the receding glacier
where painfully and with wonder
at having survived even
this far
we are learning to make fire
Why It’s Beautiful: Atwood’s candid acknowledgment of love’s challenges makes this poem a realistic yet beautiful ode to commitment, resonating with readers who value honesty in romance.
4. “Variations on the Word Love” by Margaret Atwood
Atwood’s second entry, Variations on the Word Love, dissects love’s multifaceted nature—platonic, passionate, and even patronizing. This poem is a lyrical exploration of love’s many forms, making it a must-read for those curious about its complexities.
Excerpt:
This is a word we use to plug
holes with. It’s the right size for those warm
blanks in speech, for those red heart-
shaped vacancies on the page.
Why It’s Beautiful: Atwood’s intellectual analysis combined with emotional depth makes this poem thought-provoking, appealing to readers who enjoy exploring love’s nuances.
5. “The More Loving One” by W.H. Auden
W.H. Auden’s The More Loving One is a poignant reflection on unrequited love and heartbreak. Using a celestial metaphor, Auden explores the pain of loving more deeply than one’s partner, yet finds beauty in the act of loving itself.
Excerpt:
Were all stars to disappear or die,
I should learn to look at an empty sky
And feel its total dark sublime,
Though this might take me a little time.
Why It’s Beautiful: Auden’s graceful acceptance of love’s pain makes this poem a comforting read for those navigating heartbreak, offering solace in its universal truth.
6. “To My Dear and Loving Husband” by Anne Bradstreet
Anne Bradstreet’s To My Dear and Loving Husband is a heartfelt declaration of love rooted in Puritan values. Her gratitude for her husband’s love and her prayer for divine reward create a deeply moving testament to enduring commitment.
Excerpt:
Thy love is such I can no way repay;
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let’s so persever,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.
Why It’s Beautiful: Bradstreet’s sincerity and devotion transcend time, making this poem a classic for couples celebrating lifelong love.
7. “Always For The First Time” by André Breton
André Breton, the founder of surrealism, crafts Always For The First Time as an ode to a woman he has yet to meet. The whimsical imagery of a “silk ladder unrolled across the ivy” evokes the dreamlike anticipation of love.
Excerpt:
There is a silk ladder unrolled across the ivy
There is
That leaning over the precipice
Of the hopeless fusion of your presence and absence
I have found the secret
Of loving you
Always for the first time
Why It’s Beautiful: Breton’s surrealist approach infuses this poem with a magical quality, perfect for romantics who believe in love’s endless possibilities.
8. “Love and Friendship” by Emily Brontë
Emily Brontë’s Love and Friendship compares romantic love to a fleeting rose and friendship to an enduring holly tree. This poem celebrates the strength of platonic love, offering a fresh perspective on connection.
Excerpt:
Love is like the wild rose-briar,
Friendship like the holly-tree—
The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms,
But which will bloom most constantly?
Why It’s Beautiful: Brontë’s natural imagery and focus on non-romantic love make this poem a unique and meaningful addition to any love poetry collection.
9. “To Be In Love” by Gwendolyn Brooks
Gwendolyn Brooks, the first African-American Pulitzer Prize winner, captures the transformative power of love in To Be In Love. The poem’s light, uplifting tone reflects how love reshapes one’s perspective.
Excerpt:
To be in love
Is to touch with a lighter hand.
In yourself you stretch, you are well.
Why It’s Beautiful: Brooks’ concise yet powerful language makes this poem accessible and inspiring for anyone experiencing the joy of new love.
10. “How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s How Do I Love Thee? is one of the most iconic love poems ever written. Its famous opening line sets the stage for a passionate exploration of love’s depth, breadth, and height.
Excerpt:
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
Why It’s Beautiful: Browning’s fervent declaration resonates with readers, making it a timeless choice for expressing profound love.
11. “A Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns
Robert Burns’ A Red, Red Rose is a vibrant celebration of passionate love. Comparing his “Luve” to a freshly bloomed rose, Burns conveys both ardor and renewal in this Scottish classic.
Excerpt:
O my Luve is like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve is like the melody
That’s sweetly played in tune.
Why It’s Beautiful: Burns’ vivid imagery and heartfelt tone make this poem a perennial favorite for romantics.
12. “She Walks in Beauty” by Lord Byron
Lord Byron’s She Walks in Beauty is a lyrical tribute to a woman’s inner and outer beauty. Unlike his more scandalous works, this poem focuses on admiration, creating a gentle, romantic portrait.
Excerpt:
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes;
Why It’s Beautiful: Byron’s delicate imagery and restrained emotion make this poem a timeless ode to understated love.
13. “Love is a fire that burns unseen” by Luís Vaz de Camões
Luís Vaz de Camões, Portugal’s greatest poet, explores love’s paradoxical nature in Love is a fire that burns unseen. The poem captures the simultaneous pleasure and pain of love, drawn from Camões’ own turbulent romantic experiences.
Excerpt:
Love is a fire that burns unseen,
a wound that aches yet isn’t felt,
an always discontent contentment,
a pain that rages without hurting,
Why It’s Beautiful: The poem’s oxymorons beautifully reflect love’s contradictions, making it a profound read for those who’ve felt its complexities.
14. “Beautiful Signor” by Cyrus Cassells
Set against the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic, Cyrus Cassells’ Beautiful Signor celebrates the enduring power of romantic love. The poem’s vivid imagery and dedication to “Lovers everywhere” make it a moving testament to love’s resilience.
Excerpt:
This is the endless wanderlust:
dervish,
yours is the April-upon-April love
that kept me spinning even beyond your eventful arms
toward the unsurpassed:
the one vast claiming heart,
Why It’s Beautiful: Cassells’ passionate and culturally rich language elevates this poem into a celebration of love’s transformative power.
15. “Rondel of Merciless Beauty” by Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer, the “Father of English poetry,” expresses heartbreak in Rondel of Merciless Beauty. The poem’s medieval roots and pledge of eternal devotion despite rejection create a poignant narrative.
Excerpt:
Your two great eyes will slay me suddenly;
Their beauty shakes me who was once serene;
Straight through my heart the wound is quick and keen.
Why It’s Beautiful: Chaucer’s lyrical structure and raw emotion make this poem a timeless exploration of unrequited love.
16. “Love Comes Quietly” by Robert Creeley
Robert Creeley’s Love Comes Quietly is a concise yet striking poem that captures the overwhelming desire to never be apart from one’s love. Its simplicity amplifies the intensity of the emotion.
Excerpt:
Love comes quietly,
finally, drops
around me, on me,
in the old ways.
Why It’s Beautiful: Creeley’s understated language conveys the profound impact of love’s quiet presence, perfect for those who appreciate subtlety in poetry.
17. “[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]” by E.E. Cummings
E.E. Cummings’ [i carry your heart with me(i carry it in] is a beloved poem that celebrates the inseparability of lovers. Its rich imagery and intimate tone make it one of the most iconic love poems of the 20th century.
Excerpt:
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
Why It’s Beautiful: Cummings’ unconventional style and heartfelt devotion create a deeply personal and universal expression of love.
18. “[love is more thicker than forget]” by E.E. Cummings
Another gem from Cummings, [love is more thicker than forget] explores love’s paradoxical nature—rare yet frequent, modest yet profound. The poem’s playful language and structure make it a captivating read.
Excerpt:
love is more thicker than forget
more thinner than recall
more seldom than a wave is wet
more frequent than to fail
Why It’s Beautiful: Cummings’ inventive wordplay and exploration of love’s complexity make this poem a delightful and thought-provoking addition.
19. “Sthandwa sami (my beloved, isiZulu)” by Yrsa Daley-Ward
Yrsa Daley-Ward’s Sthandwa sami is a deeply personal poem from her collection bone. It envisions a future with a beloved, filled with intimate moments like drinking wine from jam jars and singing in the kitchen.
Excerpt:
my thoughts about you are frightening but precise
I can see the house on the hill where we make our own vegetables out back
and drink warm wine out of jam jars
and sing songs in the kitchen until the sun comes up
Why It’s Beautiful: Daley-Ward’s vivid imagery and vulnerability make this poem a heartfelt ode to love’s transformative power.
20. “Married Love” by Guan Daosheng
Guan Daosheng, a Chinese poet of the Yuan Dynasty, uses the metaphor of clay figurines in Married Love to symbolize the unity of marriage. The poem’s simplicity and imagery convey a timeless bond.
Excerpt:
You and I
Have so much love,
That it
Burns like a fire,
In which we bake a lump of clay
Molded into a figure of you
And a figure of me.
Why It’s Beautiful: The poem’s elegant metaphor of unity through love makes it a beautiful choice for couples celebrating marriage.
21. “Heart, we will forget him!” by Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson’s Heart, we will forget him! is a forceful yet futile attempt to move on from a lost love. The poem’s commanding tone and raw emotion capture the struggle of letting go.
Excerpt:
Heart, we will forget him!
You and I, to-night!
You may forget the warmth he gave,
I will forget the light.
Why It’s Beautiful: Dickinson’s intense emotion and concise language make this poem a powerful reflection of heartbreak.
22. “Air and Angels” by John Donne
John Donne’s Air and Angels compares love to the ethereal movement of angels, emphasizing its purity and strength. The poem’s metaphysical imagery adds depth to its romantic message.
Excerpt:
Twice or thrice had I lov’d thee,
Before I knew thy face or name;
So in a voice, so in a shapeless flame
Angels affect us oft, and worshipp’d be.
Why It’s Beautiful: Donne’s blend of spirituality and romance creates a unique and captivating love poem.
23. “Flirtation” by Rita Dove
Rita Dove’s Flirtation captures the electric excitement of new love. The poem’s vivid imagery of a starry night and a humming heart conveys the thrill of budding romance.
Excerpt:
Outside the sun
has rolled up her rugs
and night strewn salt
across the sky. My heart
is humming a tune
I haven’t heard in years!
Why It’s Beautiful: Dove’s lively language and focus on flirtation’s joy make this poem a delightful read for those in love’s early stages.
24. “Heart to Heart” by Rita Dove
In Heart to Heart, Rita Dove rejects clichés about love, offering a grounded perspective. The poem reassures that her love, though not always showy, is deeply felt.
Excerpt:
It’s neither red
nor sweet.
It doesn’t melt
or turn over,
break or harden,
so it can’t feel
pain,
yearning,
regret.
Why It’s Beautiful: Dove’s honest, anti-romantic approach makes this poem a refreshing take on love’s reality.
25. “Love” by Carol Ann Duffy
Carol Ann Duffy, the first female and openly lesbian British poet laureate, describes love as boundless in Love. The poem’s sensory imagery, like the “sea, crazy for the shore,” evokes love’s vastness.
Excerpt:
you’re where I stand, hearing the sea, crazy
for the shore, seeing the moon ache and fret
for the earth. When morning comes, the sun, ardent,
covers the trees in gold, you walk
towards me,
out of the season, out of the light love reasons.
Why It’s Beautiful: Duffy’s lyrical and emotional style makes this poem a beautiful celebration of love’s infinite nature.
26. “The Love Poem” by Carol Ann Duffy
In The Love Poem, Duffy grapples with finding original words to express love, weaving in references to classic poetry. This metafictional approach highlights the challenge of capturing love’s essence.
Excerpt:
Till love exhausts itself, longs
for the sleep of words—
my mistress’ eyes—
to lie on a white sheet, at rest
in the language—let me love.
Why It’s Beautiful: Duffy’s clever intertextuality and emotional depth make this poem a unique exploration of love poetry itself.
27. “Before You Came” by Facorporation Ahmed Faiz
Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s Before You Came reflects on how love transforms one’s perspective, making the world feel whole. The poem’s plea for the lover to stay underscores love’s necessity.
Excerpt:
Don’t leave now that you’re here—
Stay. So the world may become like itself again:
so the sky may be the sky,
the road a road,
and the glass of wine not a mirror, just a glass of wine.
Why It’s Beautiful: Faiz’s vivid imagery and emotional urgency make this poem a powerful testament to love’s impact.
28. “Lines Depicting Simple Happiness” by Peter Gizzi
Peter Gizzi’s Lines Depicting Simple Happiness celebrates the simplicity of love’s joy. The poem’s straightforward language conveys pure adoration without clichés.
Excerpt:
It feels right to notice all the shiny things about you
About you there is nothing I wouldn’t want to know
With you nothing is simple yet nothing is simpler
Why It’s Beautiful: Gizzi’s clear, heartfelt tone makes this poem a refreshing ode to love’s uncomplicated beauty.
29. “Six Sonnets: Crossing the West” by Janice Gould
Janice Gould’s Six Sonnets: Crossing the West explores love through the lens of her Maidu lesbian identity. The poem mourns the temporary absence of a lover, equating her to a dream.
Excerpt:
In that communion of lovers, thick sobs
break from me as I think of my love
back home, all that I have done
and cannot say.
Why It’s Beautiful: Gould’s emotional depth and cultural context make this poem a poignant reflection of love’s longing.
30. “For Keeps” by Joy Harjo
Joy Harjo’s For Keeps uses nature’s beauty to mirror the strength of love. The poem’s imagery creates an unbreakable bond between lovers and the natural world.
Excerpt:
Sun makes the day new.
Tiny green plants emerge from earth.
Birds are singing the sky into place.
There is nowhere else I want to be but here.
Why It’s Beautiful: Harjo’s connection of love to nature’s vitality makes this poem a vibrant celebration of devotion.
31. “You Are the Penultimate Love of My Life” by Rebecca Hazelton
Rebecca Hazelton’s You Are the Penultimate Love of My Life offers a realistic take on love, acknowledging its imperfections. The poem’s focus on everyday realities makes it uniquely relatable.
Excerpt:
The garden you plant and I plant
is tunneled through by voles,
the vowels we speak aren’t vows,
but there’s something
holding me here, for now,
Why It’s Beautiful: Hazelton’s grounded perspective makes this poem a refreshing antidote to idealized love poetry.
32. “Yours” by Daniel Hoffman
Daniel Hoffman’s Yours uses carefully chosen metaphors to convey complete dedication to a lover. Comparing love to summer air and snow-capped mountains, the poem is a romantic masterpiece.
Excerpt:
I am yours as the summer air at evening is
Possessed by the scent of linden blossoms,
As the snowcap gleams with light
Lent it by the brimming moon.
Why It’s Beautiful: Hoffman’s vivid metaphors and devotion make this poem a timeless expression of love.
33. “A Love Song for Lucinda” by Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes’ A Love Song for Lucinda compares love to natural phenomena, emphasizing its exhilarating yet dangerous allure. The poem’s structure links love to the wildness of nature.
Excerpt:
Love
Is a high mountain
Stark in a windy sky.
If you
Would never lose your breath
Do not climb too high.
Why It’s Beautiful: Hughes’ natural imagery and cautionary tone create a compelling portrait of love’s intensity.
34. “Poem for My Love” by June Jordan
June Jordan’s Poem for My Love expresses spiritual awe for a partner. The poem’s passionate language conveys the transcendent nature of their connection.
Excerpt:
How do we come to be here next to each other
in the night
Where are the stars that show us to our love
inevitable
Why It’s Beautiful: Jordan’s fervent tone and spiritual imagery make this poem a powerful ode to love’s inevitability.
35. “for him” by Rupi Kaur
Rupi Kaur’s for him from milk and honey redefines love as recognition rather than a fleeting spark. Its minimalist style and emotional depth resonate with modern readers.
Excerpt:
no,
it won’t
be love at
first sight when
we meet it’ll be love
at first remembrance
‘cause i’ve recognized you
in my mother’s eyes when she tells me,
marry the type of man you’d want to raise your son to be like.
Why It’s Beautiful: Kaur’s accessible yet profound language makes this poem a modern classic for romantics.
36. Untitled by Rupi Kaur
Another untitled gem from milk and honey, this poem by Rupi Kaur takes a bittersweet look at love’s challenges, emphasizing its generous nature despite life’s hardships.
Excerpt:
love will hurt you but
love will never mean to
love will play no games
cause love knows life
has been hard enough already
Why It’s Beautiful: Kaur’s empathetic tone and simplicity make this poem a comforting reflection on love’s intentions.
37. “Poem To An Unnameable Man” by Dorothea Lasky
Dorothea Lasky’s Poem To An Unnameable Man uses celestial imagery to assert the speaker’s strength in a romantic relationship. The poem’s bold tone challenges underestimation.
Excerpt:
And I will not cry also
Although you will expect me to
I was wiser too than you had expected
For I knew all along you were mine
Why It’s Beautiful: Lasky’s confident voice and vivid imagery make this poem an empowering take on love.
38. “Movement Song” by Audre Lorde
Audre Lorde’s Movement Song reflects on the end of a relationship with both sorrow and hope. The poem’s hopeful conclusion offers a new beginning for both lovers.
Excerpt:
I have studied the tight curls on the back of your neck
moving away from me
beyond anger or failure
so we can still be together
Why It’s Beautiful: Lorde’s blend of heartbreak and optimism makes this poem a poignant exploration of love’s transitions.
39. “Camomile Tea” by Katherine Mansfield
Katherine Mansfield’s Camomile Tea paints a tranquil picture of a couple’s quiet, happy life. The poem’s simplicity highlights the joy of peaceful familiarity.
Excerpt:
We might be fifty, we might be five,
So snug, so compact, so wise are we!
Under the kitchen-table leg
My knee is pressing against his knee.
Why It’s Beautiful: Mansfield’s focus on understated moments makes this poem a beautiful ode to domestic love.
40. “Love Elegy in the Chinese Garden, with Koi” by Nathan McClain
Nathan McClain’s Love Elegy in the Chinese Garden, with Koi explores the lingering pain of past love. Inspired by a date at the Huntington Botanical Gardens, the poem captures emotional baggage.
Excerpt:
Because who hasn’t done that—
loved so intently even after everything
has gone? Love something that has washed
its hands of you?
Why It’s Beautiful: McClain’s reflective tone and vivid setting make this poem a moving meditation on love’s aftermath.
41. “I think I should have loved you presently (Sonnet IX)” by Edna St. Vincent Millay
Edna St. Vincent Millay’s Sonnet IX subverts the traditional sonnet, lamenting the speaker’s inability to fully reciprocate love. The poem’s regretful tone is deeply moving.
Excerpt:
I think I should have loved you presently,
And given in earnest words I flung in jest;
And lifted honest eyes for you to see,
And caught your hand against my cheek and breast;
Why It’s Beautiful: Millay’s honest reflection on missed opportunities makes this poem a poignant exploration of regret in love.
42. “Love Sonnet XI” by Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda’s Love Sonnet XI is a passionate expression of longing. The speaker’s obsession with his lover’s presence drives the poem’s intense emotion.
Excerpt:
I crave your mouth, your voice, your hair.
Silent and starving, I prowl through the streets.
Bread does not nourish me, dawn disrupts me, all day
I hunt for the liquid measure of your steps.
Why It’s Beautiful: Neruda’s vivid imagery and raw passion make this poem a captivating blend of romance and obsession.
43. “Your Feet” by Pablo Neruda
In Your Feet, Neruda expresses devotion to his love from head to toe, giving thanks for the forces that brought them together. The poem’s intimate focus is deeply romantic.
Excerpt:
When I cannot look at your face
I look at your feet.
But I love you entire,
From your feet to your hair.
Why It’s Beautiful: Neruda’s detailed adoration makes this poem a heartfelt tribute to complete love.
44. “Dear One Absent This Long While” by Lisa Olstein
Lisa Olstein’s Dear One Absent This Long While captures the anxious anticipation of a lover’s return. The poem’s imagery of waiting conveys raw honesty.
Excerpt:
I expect you. I thought one night it was you
at the base of the drive, you at the foot of the stairs
you in a shiver of light, but each time
leaves in wind revealed themselves,
Why It’s Beautiful: Olstein’s vivid anticipation and emotional depth make this poem a touching reflection on longing.
45. “My Lover Is a Woman” by Pat Parker
Pat Parker’s My Lover Is a Woman celebrates love amidst the struggles of being an openly queer woman of color. The poem’s warmth and safety resonate deeply.
Excerpt:
my lover is a woman
& when i hold her
feel her warmth
i feel good
feel safe
Why It’s Beautiful: Parker’s honest portrayal of love’s refuge makes this poem a powerful ode to queer love.
46. “It Is Here” by Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter’s It Is Here reflects on the timelessness of love, recalling the moment two lovers first met. The poem’s brevity amplifies its emotional impact.
Excerpt:
What is this stance we take,
To turn away and then turn back?
What did we hear?
It was the breath we took when we first met.
Listen. It is here.
Why It’s Beautiful: Pinter’s concise language and focus on love’s enduring moment make this poem profoundly moving.
47. “Untitled” by Christopher Poindexter
Christopher Poindexter’s Untitled captures the paradoxical longing of missing a lover even when they’re near. The poem’s raw honesty resonates with modern readers.
Excerpt:
I miss you even when you
are beside me.
I dream of your body
even when you are sleeping
in my arms.
The words I love you
could never be enough.
Why It’s Beautiful: Poindexter’s relatable portrayal of love’s depth makes this poem a modern classic.
48. “Love Is Not A Word” by Riyas Qurana
Riyas Qurana’s Love Is Not A Word personifies love, relating it to nature’s elemental forces. The poem’s ambiguity invites readers to ponder love’s essence.
Excerpt:
Amidst all this
I keep a falling flower in the mid-air
Not to fall on the earth
Is it not up to you who search for it
To come and sit on it
And make love?
Why It’s Beautiful: Qurana’s imaginative metaphors make this poem a thought-provoking exploration of love’s nature.
49. “[Again and again, even though we know love’s landscape]” by Rainer Maria Rilke
Rainer Maria Rilke’s Again and again celebrates the strength of everyday love despite the risk of heartbreak. The poem’s imagery of walking under ancient trees conveys resilience.
Excerpt:
Again and again, even though we know love’s landscape
and the little churchyard with its lamenting names
and the terrible reticent gorge in which the others
end: again and again the two of us walk out together
under the ancient trees, lay ourselves down again and again
among the flowers, and look up into the sky.
Why It’s Beautiful: Rilke’s focus on love’s persistence makes this poem a powerful testament to vulnerability.
50. “Echo” by Christina Rossetti
Christina Rossetti’s Echo reflects on a lost love, longing for its return like an echo. The poem’s despair and yearning create a hauntingly beautiful narrative.
Excerpt:
Come to me in the silence of the night;
Come in the speaking silence of a dream;
Come with soft rounded cheeks and eyes as bright
As sunlight on a stream;
Why It’s Beautiful: Rossetti’s melancholic tone and vivid imagery make this poem a moving exploration of lost love.
51. “I loved you first: but afterwards your love” by Christina Rossetti
Rossetti’s I loved you first explores the reciprocity of love, blending individual feelings into a greater whole. The poem’s focus on unity is deeply romantic.
Excerpt:
I loved you first: but afterwards your love
Outsoaring mine, sang such a loftier song
As drowned the friendly cooings of my dove.
Why It’s Beautiful: Rossetti’s portrayal of love’s oneness makes this poem a beautiful reflection of mutual devotion.
52. “Defeated by Love” by Rumi
Rumi’s Defeated by Love captures the overwhelming power of love through celestial imagery. The poem’s passion transcends cultural and temporal boundaries.
Excerpt:
The sky was lit
by the splendor of the moon
So powerful
I fell to the ground
Your love
has made me sure
I am ready to forsake
this worldly life
Why It’s Beautiful: Rumi’s fervent language and spiritual depth make this poem a timeless ode to love’s magnificence.
53. “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? (Sonnet 18)” by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 is perhaps the most famous love poem, comparing a lover to a perfect summer day. Its simplicity and depth keep it timeless.
Excerpt:
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date;
Why It’s Beautiful: Shakespeare’s elegant imagery and timeless appeal make this poem a cornerstone of love poetry.
54. “Let me not to the marriage of true minds (Sonnet 116)” by William Shakespeare
In Sonnet 116, Shakespeare celebrates love’s permanence, asserting that true love endures despite change. The poem’s conviction is profoundly romantic.
Excerpt:
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.
Why It’s Beautiful: Shakespeare’s unwavering belief in love’s constancy makes this poem a powerful declaration.
55. “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun (Sonnet 130)” by William Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130 challenges traditional love poetry by rejecting idealized beauty. The poem’s honest love for an imperfect partner is deeply moving.
Excerpt:
My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
Why It’s Beautiful: Shakespeare’s subversive honesty makes this poem a refreshing take on authentic love.
56. “Love’s Philosophy” by Percy Bysshe Shelley
Percy Bysshe Shelley’s Love’s Philosophy uses nature to argue for love’s inevitability. The poem’s logical yet romantic tone is uniquely compelling.
Excerpt:
The fountains mingle with the river
And the rivers with the ocean,
The winds of heaven mix forever
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single;
All things by a law divine
In one spirit meet and mingle
Why not I with thine?
Why It’s Beautiful: Shelley’s natural imagery and persuasive tone make this poem a beautiful case for love’s unity.
57. “One Day I Wrote her Name (Sonnet 75)” by Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser’s Sonnet 75 from Amoretti reflects on love’s immortality despite physical impermanence. The poem’s persistence in the face of futility is romantic.
Excerpt:
One day I wrote her name upon the strand,
But came the waves and washed it away:
Again I wrote it with a second hand,
But came the tide, and made my pains his prey.
Why It’s Beautiful: Spenser’s determination to immortalize love makes this poem a touching testament to devotion.
58. “I Am Not Yours” by Sara Teasdale
Sara Teasdale’s I Am Not Yours expresses a longing for passionate, all-encompassing love. The poem’s yearning for true connection resonates deeply.
Excerpt:
I am not yours, not lost in you,
Not lost, although I long to be
Lost as a candle lit at noon,
Lost as a snowflake in the sea.
Why It’s Beautiful: Teasdale’s vivid imagery and emotional longing make this poem a powerful cry for genuine love.
59. “Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal is a sensual poem from The Princess. Its ghazal-inspired form and lush imagery create a romantic masterpiece.
Excerpt:
Now sleeps the crimson petal, now the white;
Nor waves the cypress in the palace walk;
Nor winks the gold fin in the porphyry font.
The firefly wakens; waken thou with me.
Why It’s Beautiful: Tennyson’s sensuous language and exotic imagery make this poem a captivating ode to love.
60. “poem I wrote sitting across the table from you” by Kevin Varrone
Kevin Varrone’s poem I wrote sitting across the table from you captures a moment of procrastination turned into profound love. The poem’s intimacy is deeply relatable.
Excerpt:
I would fold myself
into the hole in my pocket and disappear
into the pocket of myself, or at least my pants
but before I did
like some ancient star
I’d grab your hand
Why It’s Beautiful: Varrone’s whimsical yet heartfelt tone makes this poem a charming reflection of love’s spontaneity.
61. “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” by Ocean Vuong
Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous explores desire and impermanence. The poem’s careful language invites readers to savor every word.
Excerpt:
Tell me it was for the hunger
& nothing less. For hunger is to give
the body what it knows
it cannot keep.
Why It’s Beautiful: Vuong’s lyrical precision and emotional depth make this poem a modern masterpiece of love.
62. “Love After Love” by Derek Walcott
Derek Walcott’s Love After Love offers reassurance after a breakup, encouraging self-love. The poem’s affirming tone is a tonic for the heartbroken.
Excerpt:
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Why It’s Beautiful: Walcott’s focus on self-love makes this poem a powerful reminder of inner strength.
63. “I Love You” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Ella Wheeler Wilcox’s I Love You celebrates the small moments that fuel passion. The poem’s juxtaposition of desired and undesired traits adds depth.
Excerpt:
I love your lips when they’re wet with wine
And red with a wild desire;
I love your eyes when the lovelight lies
Lit with a passionate fire.
Why It’s Beautiful: Wilcox’s focus on specific, passionate moments makes this poem a vibrant expression of love.
64. “We Have Not Long to Love” by Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams’ We Have Not Long to Love emphasizes cherishing fleeting moments of love. The poem’s urgency resonates with those who value time.
Excerpt:
We have not long to love.
Light does not stay.
The tender things are those
We fold away.
Why It’s Beautiful: Williams’ poignant reminder of love’s brevity makes this poem a moving call to cherish the moment.
65. “Poem to First Love” by Matthew Yeager
Matthew Yeager’s Poem to First Love reflects on the unparalleled joy of first love. The poem’s nostalgic tone and vivid metaphors capture its intensity.
Excerpt:
To have been told “I love you” by you could well be, for me,
the highlight of my life, the best feeling, the best peak
on my feeling graph, in the way that the Chrysler building
might not be the tallest building in the NY sky but is
the best, the most exquisitely spired
Why It’s Beautiful: Yeager’s bittersweet reflection on first love makes this poem a heartfelt close to our list.
Why Read Love Poems?
Love poems offer a window into the human heart, capturing emotions that are universal yet deeply personal. From the classic sonnets of Shakespeare to the modern reflections of Ocean Vuong, these 65 poems provide a rich tapestry of love’s many forms—romantic, platonic, passionate, and painful. Whether you’re celebrating a new romance, healing from heartbreak, or seeking inspiration, this collection has a poem for every moment.
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