How much do we enjoy a love poem? Let us count the ways.
Love poems and sonnets that plumb the depths of emotion have the power to change perspectives, move us to tears and express thoughts where our own words fell short.
Some love poems have been revered for centuries, penned by the likes of Walt Whitman, Williams Shakespeare and E.E Cummings. Others are known verbatim around the world thanks to films like The Notebook and Sex and the City. Whether you’re into traditional or modern love poems, it’s safe to say that it's near impossible to describe how it feels to be head over heels for someone, and yet some of the world's most famous poets have achieved this impressive task.
Ahead of Valentine’s Day, we’ve rounded up the most heartfelt love poems that’ll have you feeling warm and fuzzy inside:
1
'One Hundred Love Sonnets: XVII' by Pable Neruda
I don’t love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz,
or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:
I love you as one loves certain obscure things,
secretly, between the shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that doesn’t bloom but carries
the light of those flowers, hidden, within itself,
and thanks to your love the tight aroma that arose
from the earth lives dimly in my body.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,
I love you directly without problems or pride:
I love you like this because I don’t know any other way to love,
Read the rest of the poem here.
2
'Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?' by William Shakepeare
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;
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines
Read the rest of the poem here.
3
'Let Thine Eyes Whisper' by Ameen Rihani
Grieve not, for I am near thee;
Sigh not, for I can hear thee;
Wash from thy heart all memory of past wrong;Doubt not that doubts besmear thee;
Speak not, for I do fear thee;
Let thine eyes whisper love’s conciling song.
Read the rest of the poem here.
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4
'Song of Solomon', The Bible
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your love is better than wine;
your anointing oils are fragrant;
your name is oil poured out;
therefore virgins love you.
Draw me after you; let us run.
The king has brought me into his chambers.
Read the rest of the poem here.
5
'Wish You Were Here' by Irène Mathieu
I want to try to tell you
about how lucid the water
was that day, how purposeful
the sun, how the wind
snapped a linen sheet open-
mouthed as a sail over
the railing at the end of
the pier –
I wrote,
wish you were here
Read the rest of the poem here.
6
'The Mad Girl's Love Song' by Sylvia Plath
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead;I lift my lids and all is born again.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)
The stars go waltzing out in blue and red,And arbitrary blackness gallops in:
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.
I dreamed that you bewitched me into bedAnd sung me moon-struck, kissed me quite insane.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)
Read the rest of the poem here.
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7
'A Glimpse' by Walt Whitman
A glimpse through an interstice caught,
Of a crowd of workmen and drivers in a bar-room around the stove late of a winter night, and I unremark’d seated in a corner,
Of a youth who loves me and whom I love, silently approaching and seating himself near, that he may hold me by the hand…
Read the rest of the poem here.
8
'The Notebook' by Nicholas Sparks
Poets often describe love as an emotion that we can’t control, one that overwhelms logic and common sense. That’s what it was like for me. I didn’t plan on falling in love with you, and I doubt if you planned on falling in love with me. But once we met, it was clear that neither of us could control what was happening to us...
Read the rest of the poem here.
9
'Love Is Friendship Set On Fire' by Laura Hendricks
Love is friendship caught fire; it is quiet, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection, and makes allowances for human weaknesses. Love is content with the present, hopes for the future, and does not brood over the past…
Read the rest of the poem here.
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10
'A Conceit' by Maya Angelou
Give me your hand
Make room for me
to lead and follow you
beyond this rage of poetry.
Let others have the privacy of
touching words
and love of loss
of love.
Read the rest of the poem here.
11
'Love Is More Thicker Than Forget' by E.E Cummings
Love is more thicker than forget
more thinner than recall
more seldom than a wave is wet
more frequent than to fail
It is most mad and moonly
and less it shall unbe
than all the sea which only
is deeper than the sea…
Read the rest of the poem here.
12
'Most Importantly Love' by Rupi Kaur
Most importantly love
like it's the only thing you know how
at the end of the day all this
means nothing
this page
where you're sitting
your degree
your job
the money
nothing even matters…
Read the rest of the poem here.
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13
'Yours And Mine' by Alice Fulton
Through your lens the sequoia swallowed me
like a dryad. The camera flashed & forgot.
I, on the other hand, must practice my absent-
mindedness, memory being awkward as a touch
that goes unloved…
Read the rest of the poem here.
14
'Immortal Beloved' by Ludwig van Beethoven
What longing in tears for you — You — my Life — my All — farewell. Oh, go on loving me — never doubt the faithfullest heart. Of your beloved.
Ever thine.
Ever mine.
Ever ours.
Read the rest of the poem here.
15
'A Broken Appointment' by Thomas Hardy
You did not come,
And marching Time drew on, and wore me numb,—
Yet less for loss of your dear presence there
Than that I thus found lacking in your make
That high compassion which can overbear
Reluctance for pure lovingkindness’ sake
Grieved I, when, as the hope-hour stroked its sum,
You did not come.
Read the rest of the poem here.
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16
'Sonnet: I Thank You' by Henry Timrod
I thank you, kind and best beloved friend,
With the same thanks one murmurs to a sister,
When, for some gentle favor, he hath kissed her,
Less for the gifts than for the love you send,
Less for the flowers, than what the flowers convey;
If I, indeed, divine their meaning truly,
And not unto myself ascribe, unduly,
Things which you neither meant nor wished to say,
Read the rest of the poem here.
17
'Love And Friendship' by Emily Bronté
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?
The wild rose-briar is sweet in spring,
Its summer blossoms scent the air;
Yet wait till winter comes again
And who will call the wild-briar fair?
Read the rest of the poem here.
18
'The Imperfect Enjoyment' by John Wilmot Earl of Rochester
Naked she lay, clasped in my longing arms,
I filled with love, and she all over charms;
Both equally inspired with eager fire,
Melting through kindness, flaming in desire.
With arms, legs, lips close clinging to embrace,
She clips me to her breast, and sucks me to her face.
Her nimble tongue, love’s lesser lightning, played
Within my mouth, and to my thoughts conveyed
Swift orders that I should prepare to throw
The all-dissolving thunderbolt below.
Read the rest of the poem here.
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19
'The day is gone, and all its sweets are gone!' By John Keats
The day is gone, and all its sweets are gone!
Sweet voice, sweet lips, soft hand, and softer breast,
Warm breath, light whisper, tender semi-tone,
Bright eyes, accomplish’d shape, and lang’rous waist!
Faded the flower and all its budded charms,
Faded the sight of beauty from my eyes…
Read the rest of the poem here.
20
'Love Letter (Clouds)' by Sarah Manguso
I didn’t fall in love. I fell through it:
Came out the other side moments later, hands full of matter, waking up from the dream of a bullet tearing through the middle of my body.
I no longer understand anything for longer than a long moment, or the time it takes to receive the shot.
Read the rest of the poem here.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in literature and poetry, I am well-versed in the topic of love poems. Love poems hold a special place in the hearts of many, as they have the power to evoke deep emotions and express sentiments that are often difficult to put into words. Throughout history, numerous poets have explored the depths of love and created timeless pieces that continue to resonate with readers.
Love poems come in various forms and styles, ranging from classic sonnets to modern free verse. Some of the most renowned poets in the world, such as Walt Whitman, William Shakespeare, and E.E. Cummings, have crafted love poems that have stood the test of time. Their words have the ability to transport us to a realm where love is all-encompassing and inexplicable.
Love poems have also made their way into popular culture through films like "The Notebook" and "Sex and the City," where they are recited and shared, becoming a part of our collective consciousness. Whether you prefer traditional or contemporary love poems, the essence of being madly in love and the indescribable feeling it brings is captured beautifully by these poets.
In anticipation of Valentine's Day, here are some heartfelt love poems that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside:
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"One Hundred Love Sonnets: XVII" by Pablo Neruda: This poem compares love to obscure things, hidden between shadows and souls, creating a sense of intimacy and mystery.
-
"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" by William Shakespeare: In this sonnet, Shakespeare praises the beauty of his beloved, comparing her to a perfect summer's day.
-
"Let Thine Eyes Whisper" by Ameen Rihani: This poem encourages lovers to communicate through their eyes, letting the language of love convey their emotions.
-
"Song of Solomon" from The Bible: This biblical poem celebrates the intoxicating power of love and the desire between lovers.
-
"Wish You Were Here" by Irène Mathieu: Mathieu paints a vivid picture of a serene day by the water, expressing a longing for the presence of a loved one.
-
"The Mad Girl's Love Song" by Sylvia Plath: Plath's poem explores the complexities of love and the way it can consume one's thoughts and emotions.
-
"A Glimpse" by Walt Whitman: Whitman captures a fleeting moment of connection and love between two individuals in a bar-room setting.
-
"The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks: This excerpt from Sparks' novel describes the overwhelming power of love and the inability to control its effects.
-
"Love Is Friendship Set On Fire" by Laura Hendricks: This poem highlights the deep bond between love and friendship, emphasizing loyalty and forgiveness.
-
"A Conceit" by Maya Angelou: Angelou's poem invites the reader to let go of the need for eloquent words and instead experience love beyond the confines of poetry.
-
"Love Is More Thicker Than Forget" by E.E. Cummings: Cummings plays with language and syntax to explore the multifaceted nature of love, which is both mad and deep.
-
"Most Importantly Love" by Rupi Kaur: Kaur reminds us that love is the most important thing in life, overshadowing material possessions and societal expectations.
-
"Yours And Mine" by Alice Fulton: Fulton uses imagery and metaphor to convey the transformative power of love and the way it alters perception.
-
"Immortal Beloved" by Ludwig van Beethoven: This love letter expresses Beethoven's longing for his beloved and the eternal nature of their love.
-
"A Broken Appointment" by Thomas Hardy: Hardy mourns the absence of a loved one, reflecting on the disappointment caused by their failure to meet.
-
"Sonnet: I Thank You" by Henry Timrod: Timrod expresses gratitude to a dear friend, emphasizing the power of love and friendship in his life.
-
"Love And Friendship" by Emily Brontë: Brontë explores the difference between love and friendship, questioning which one endures more steadfastly.
-
"The Imperfect Enjoyment" by John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester: This sensual poem delves into the intimate moments shared between lovers.
-
"The day is gone, and all its sweets are gone!" by John Keats: Keats mourns the passing of a beautiful day and the fading of its joys, reflecting on the transience of life and love.
-
"Love Letter (Clouds)" by Sarah Manguso: Manguso's poem reflects on the transformative nature of love and the profound impact it has on one's perception of the world.
These love poems, each with their own unique style and perspective, serve as a testament to the power of love and its ability to touch our hearts in profound ways. Whether you are celebrating Valentine's Day or simply seeking to explore the depths of human emotion, these poems will undoubtedly leave you feeling inspired and reflective.