Throughout history, language in the form of metaphors, haikus, love poems, and sonnets has often been used to describe the human experience of falling in love. Sometimes, the intensity of romantic love can leave us feeling speechless and unsure of how to accurately explain our deep feelings for another. In cases like this, a little help from the best love poems might just do the trick.
The power of love poetry
A few of the most relatable and recognizable poems to consider may include “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe, “Love Sonnet XI” by Pablo Neruda, and “Come, and Be My Baby” by Maya Angelou. If you find yourself frequently having trouble communicating with your loved ones, you might consider working with a therapist online or in-person to learn helpful communication skills and address any underlying challenges associated with overwhelming modern life and love.
Historians note that the art of poetry likely predates the creation of language itself. As language has developed, poetry has grown and changed along with it. The following top ten list may include a little something for everyone. From classic and contemporary love poems to lyrical poetry and monologue-style poems, here are 19 of the most relatable poems centered on the idea of love.
1. “Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer’s Day” (Sonnet 18) by William Shakespeare
This iconic love poem compares the subject of a passionate love affair to the merciless beauty of a summer day with a rather whimsical nature. Viewed as one of the best pieces of English poetry, Shakespeare’s sonnet captures the full picture of love.
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 dimmed;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature’s changing course, untrimmed;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st,
Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to Time thou grow'st.
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
T2. “How Do I Love Thee” (Sonnet 43) by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
This quintessential love poem penned by classic poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning was written amidst her courtship with fellow renowned Victorian poet Robert Browning. This gorgeous sonnet can describe a passionate love that knows no bounds.
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.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
3. “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allen Poe
Possibly his most recognizable work aside from “The Raven,” Edgar Allen Poe explores the depths of love while maintaining his archetypal air of darkness in this classic poem.
It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.
I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea:
But we loved with a love that was more than love—
I and my Annabel Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Laughed loud at her and me.
And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsman came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea.
The angels, not half so happy in heaven,
Went laughing at her and me—
Yes!—that was the reason (as all men know,
In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.
But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we—
Of many far wiser than we—
And neither the laughter in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee:
For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling—my darling—my life and my bride,
In her sepulcher there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.
4. “Ah Moon – And Star!” by Emily Dickinson
This brief yet beautifully romantic poem by remarkable wordsmith Emily Dickinson draws a comparison between herself and her lover to that of the moon and the stars.
Ah, Moon — and Star!
You are very far —
But were no one
Farther than you —
Do you think I'd stop
For a Firmament —
Or a Cubit — or so?
I could borrow a Bonnet
Of the Lark —
And a Chamois' Silver Boot —
And a stirrup of an Antelope —
And be with you — Tonight!
But, Moon, and Star,
Though you're very far —
There is one — farther than you —
He — is more than a firmament — from Me —
So I can never go!
5. “Love Sonnet XI” by Pablo Neruda
Famed Chilean poet and diplomat Pablo Neruda dives into the intensity of longing in this beautiful piece. Neruda had numerous turbulent love affairs, and the poem explores the depths and desires of passionate or sexual love compared to romatic love.
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.
I hunger for your sleek laugh,
your hands the color of a savage harvest,
hunger for the pale stones of your fingernails,
I want to eat your skin like a whole almond.
I want to eat the sunbeam flaring in your lovely body,
the sovereign nose of your arrogant face,
I want to eat the fleeting shade of your lashes,
and I pace around hungry, sniffing the twilight,
hunting for you, for your hot heart,
like a puma in the barrens of Quitratue.
Getty/Luis Alvarez
5. "[I Carry Your Heart With Me (I Carry It In]” by E.E. Cummings
This American poet, painter, essayist, author, and playwright was a man of many talents and one of the most prolific twentieth-century poets. Cummings’ love poetry describes the miraculous feeling of being entirely intertwined with the one you love.
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)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)
6. “Come, And Be My Baby” by Maya Angelou
One of the most well-recognized poets of all time and recipient of the 2011 Presidential Medal of Honor, Maya Angelou beautifully captures a warm, comforting message to a love who has fallen on hard times.
The highway is full of big cars going nowhere fast
And folks is smoking anything that'll burn
Some people wrap their lives around a cocktail glass
And you sit wondering
where you're going to turn.
I got it.
Come. And be my baby.
Some prophets say the world is gonna end tomorrow
But others say we've got a week or two
The paper is full of every kind of blooming horror
And you sit wondering
what you're gonna do.
I got it.
Come. And be my baby.
7. “Fons” by Pura López-Colomé
Born in Mexico City, author and contemporary poet Pura López-Colomé effortlessly combines earthly elements and the wonders of love in this piece.
Reanimated, spirit restored,
reincorporated, body restored,
I contemplate between dreams
the scene I've stolen
like the one who took fire,
like the one who opened the devil box
out of curiosity,
like the one who saw her equal
and her life's love
were the same and so effortlessly
brought them together.
I took exactly
what was not mine,
with my eyes.
I saw the sea inside you:
on your surface, mud.
I kissed you like a shipwreck,
like one who insufflates the word.
With my lips I traveled
that entire continent,
Adam, from dirt, Nothing.
I knew myself in your substance,
grounded there,
emitting aromatic fumes,
an amatory banquet of ashes.
8. “Anyone But You” by Anna J. Arredondo
Pennsylvania native and self-described poet by preference, Anna J. Arredondo skillfully sums up the spirit of desire with stunning brevity.
The phone may ring;
The call will bring
Anyone but you.
The mail will come;
It will be from
Anyone but you.
A text may buzz;
I’m sure it was
Anyone but you.
Oh, this is dire;
I don’t desire
Anyone but you.
9. “My Sonnet As Texted” by Carl Kinsky
Written by a country lawyer residing in the state of Missouri, Carl Kinsky offers a short, sweet, and modern take on unattainable love through lines depicting simple happiness.
Her face, uplit as she scrolls through her phone,
no feelings shown, she wears light like a mask.
Have we two lives we discuss? Is each one’s own?
Afraid that I know, I’m too scared to ask.
I stay in shadows, silent, statue still,
and watch her phone’s glow wash across her face.
A dancing light, love alters course at will;
at whim, it changes distance, strength, and pace.
Her Facebook friends discuss their most liked new memes.
She stares intensely. She can’t know I’m here,
can’t know my fears, just theirs, their hopes, their dreams.
Remote though she appears, she stands so near.
My sonnet’s sent. She smiles. Shade turns to shine.
I’m part of her life while she’s all of mine.
10. “First Rendezvous” by Amjad Islam Amjad (translated, original in Urdu)
This poem reflects on how being in love can be seen as the most important thing in the world.
This story of the earth
is as old as the universe,
as old as the birth
of the first day and night.
This story of the sky
is included in the words we casually uttered,
you and I,
and yet it remains incomplete, till the end of sight.
This earth and all the scenes it contains
remain witnesses to the moment
when you first held my hand
as we watched the world unfolding, together.
This world
became the focus
for the first rendezvous
between us.
11. "I loved you first: but afterwards your love" by Christina Rossetti
This poem emphasizes how when two people are in love, they become two parts of the same whole.
Poca favilla gran fiamma seconda. – Dante
Ogni altra cosa, ogni pensier va fore,
E sol ivi con voi rimansi amore. – Petrarca
I loved you first: but afterwards your love
Outsoaring mine, sang such a loftier song
As drowned the friendly cooings of my dove.
Which owes the other most? my love was long,
And yours one moment seemed to wax more strong;
I loved and guessed at you, you construed me
And loved me for what might or might not be –
Nay, weights and measures do us both a wrong.
For verily love knows not ‘mine’ or ‘thine;’
With separate ‘I’ and ‘thou’ free love has done,
For one is both and both are one in love:
Rich love knows nought of ‘thine that is not mine;’
Both have the strength and both the length thereof,
Both of us, of the love which makes us one.
12. “A Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns
Robert Burns's profound love is expressed in this famous poem wherein he uses rich imagery to get across that his love will last longer than human life itself.
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.
So fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry.
Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;
I will love thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.
And fare thee weel, my only luve!
And fare thee weel awhile!
And I will come again, my luve,
Though it were ten thousand mile.
13. “To My Dear and Loving Husband” by Anne Bradstreet
As it says In this famous poem by Anne Bradstreet thy love is such I can no way repay is a sweet ode to what is surely a happy and fulfilling marriage.
If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me ye women if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.
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.
14. “Beautiful Signor” by Cyrus Cassells
This piece from the Cyrus Cassells poetry archive is set against the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic and intended to remind people of the power of romantic love.
Whenever we wake,
still joined, enraptured—
at the window,
each clear night’s finish
the black pulse of dominoes
dropping to land;
whenever we embrace,
haunted, upwelling,
I know
a reunion is taking place&mdash
Hear me when I say
our love’s not meant to be
an opiate;
helpmate,
you are the reachable mirror
that dares me to risk
the caravan back
to the apogee, the longed-for
arms of the Beloved—
Dusks of paperwhites,
dusks of jasmine,
intimate beyond belief
beautiful Signor
no dread of nakedness
beautiful Signor
my long ship,
my opulence,
my garland
beautiful Signor
extinguishing the beggar’s tin,
the wind of longing
beautiful Signor
laving the ruined country,
the heart wedded to war
beautiful Signor
the kiln-blaze
in my body,
the turning heaven
beautiful Signor
you cover me with pollen
beautiful Signor
into your sweet mouth—
This is the taproot:
against all strictures,
desecrations,
I’ll never renounce,
never relinquish
the first radiance, the first
moment you took my hand—
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,
the glimmering,
the beautiful and revealed Signor.
15. “Heart to Heart” by Rite Dove
In this poem, Rita Dove eloquently captures what it means to give your heart to someone.
It's neither red
nor sweet.
It doesn't melt
or turn over,
break or harden,
so it can't feel
pain,
yearning,
regret.
It doesn't have
a tip to spin on,
it isn't even
shapely—
just a thick clutch
of muscle,
lopsided,
mute. Still,
I feel it inside
its cage sounding
a dull tattoo:
I want, I want—
but I can't open it:
there's no key.
I can't wear it
on my sleeve,
or tell you from
the bottom of it
how I feel. Here,
it's all yours, now—
but you'll have
to take me,
Too.
16. “Bird-Understander” by Craig Arnold
In this selection from Craig Arnold's poetry, he writes about a moment that makes him fall in love even more.
Of many reasons I love you here is one
the way you write me from the gate at the airport
so I can tell you everything will be alright
so you can tell me there is a bird
trapped in the terminal all the people
ignoring it because they do not know
what to do with it except to leave it alone
until it scares itself to death
it makes you terribly terribly sad
You wish you could take the bird outside
and set it free or (failing that)
call a bird-understander
to come help the bird
All you can do is notice the bird
and feel for the bird and write
to tell me how language feels
impossibly useless
but you are wrong
You are a bird-understander
better than I could ever be
who make so many noises
and call them song
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
if only I could show you
how very useless
they are not
17. “Before You Came” by Faiz Ahmed Faiz
In this poem, Faiz writes about how his view of everything changes after falling in love and how his lover helps him see who he really is.
Before you came,
things were as they should be:
the sky was the dead-end of sight,
the road was just a road, wine merely wine.
Now everything is like my heart,
a color at the edge of blood:
the grey of your absence, the color of poison, of thorns,
the gold when we meet, the season ablaze,
the yellow of autumn, the red of flowers, of flames,
and the black when you cover the earth
with the coal of dead fires.
And the sky, the road, the glass of wine?
The sky is a shirt wet with tears,
the road a vein about to break,
and the glass of wine a mirror in which
the sky, the road, the world keep changing.
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.
18. “Sthandwa sami (my beloved, isiZulu)” by Yrsa Daley-Ward
This poem is from Daley-Ward’s collection “Bone,” which reflects on things in life pared down to their essence, allowing them to become more universal. It is a raw, honest look at love.
In the early hours of this morning it was far too hot for anyone to sleep.
You told me I was strange and kissed me
sunk your teeth into my soft bottom lip twice. So hard I thought you drew blood.
I keep getting the scary feeling that if you look at me for long enough you may see that I have a thousand fears
just like your mother who never really wanted you to leave
meanwhile mina I am catching up on the sleep that we missed and waiting patiently to feel normal again.
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
wena you make me feel like myself again.
Myself before I knew any solid reasons to be afraid
Last night you give me the space to dream bigger than the single bed
and brighter than the morning
you laughed in your sleep and I cried in mine
and this afternoon we might be tired because the sun is fierce today
and too much happened between midnight and now
But bhabha you are terrifying and brilliant so I am the kind of woman who is already teaching my body to miss yours
without craving.
I am the type of woman who is teaching my heart to miss yours without failing.
And I am quite sure that you will find this unnecessary
but I am already searching for a place to run to and hide when you say,
“Uthando lwami. I’m ready. Are you?”
You know that I would gladly drive with you to the other side of the world with only the clothes I am wearing
and the loose change and empty peanut shells in my purse.
Accurately expressing your feelings of love to a partner can be challenging. If you struggle to find the right words or to embrace vulnerability when it comes to love and relationships, a therapist may help you get to the root of the issue and learn effective communication skills – like learning to recite love poetry to a dear and loving husband, wife, or partner.
If you’re having trouble expressing yourself to the people about whom you care, you may also find it hard to open up to a therapist face-to-face about how overwhelming modern life can feel. If this is the case for you, please know that online therapy can provide an effective and, oftentimes, more flexible alternative to in-person therapy.
Effectiveness of online therapy
This study looked at the efficacy of online therapy in comparison to in-person therapy. It found that both types of therapy can be effective in treating a variety of challenges and mental health concerns. Please don’t hesitate to reach out for the help you deserve if you believe you’d benefit from working with a licensed mental health professional.
Takeaway
Though changes in language are often apparent in the progression of poetry, the intensity of the word “love” remains the same. If a simple “I love you” just won’t do the trick, you might try telling your sweetheart how much you love them with a poem, such as Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43, or even some traditional Urdu poetry. Whilst poems can help you find the words you’re trying to say, you might choose to work through any communication difficulties with a therapist for a more down to earth approach. You can connect with a licensed professional in person or online.
Frequently asked questions
Read more below for answers to questions commonly asked about this topic.
What makes a love poem good?
What makes a poem good is inherently subjective, as the qualities that resonate with individuals can vary greatly. However, several universal elements often contribute to the appeal of a romantic poem.
Authenticity: A good poem should reflect genuine emotions and feelings. Authenticity allows the reader to connect with the emotions conveyed.
Imagery and metaphor: The most famous poems often use vivid imagery and metaphors to paint a vivid picture of passion. These literary devices can elicit powerful emotions.
Sensory language: Engaging the senses through sensory language can make an intimate poem more evocative. Describing sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and touch can intensify the emotional impact.
Rhythm and flow: The poem's rhythm and flow can enhance its beauty. The choice of words and their arrangement should create a pleasing and harmonious reading experience. A beautifully romantic poem should roll off the tongue and linger in the mind.
Universal themes: The best romantic poems often touch on universal themes of love, longing, desire, and connection, making them relatable to a broad audience.
Originality: While some romance poems may draw inspiration from classic themes, an element of originality or a unique perspective can make a poem stand out.
Emotional resonance: Ultimately, what makes a romance poem good is its ability to resonate emotionally with the reader. A well-crafted poem has the power to elicit a deep emotional response and leave a lasting impression.
The quality of a love poem is determined by its ability to convey the depth of affection and passion while connecting with the reader on an emotional level. For those who struggle to express their feelings, a well-written poem can speak volumes and convey sentiments that words alone cannot.
Is poetry a good way to express love?
Yes, poetry can be a powerful and evocative means to express love. The very essence of poetry, with its nuanced use of language and vivid imagery, allows individuals to convey the complexities of love in ways that ordinary conversation often cannot capture.
So whether it's a grand gesture or a simple note, poetry can be a beautiful way to express love in all its forms. It allows us to tap into our deepest emotions and have them with our loved ones in a way that is both eloquent and heartfelt.
The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice. You should not take any action or avoid taking any action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional. For more information, please read our terms of use.
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