94 Timeless Love Poems for Every Heart

1. “A Birthday” by Christina Rossetti

Description: In this poem, Rossetti compares her joy and love to a series of rich and vibrant images, celebrating the rebirth and renewal that romantic love brings. The poem is known for its joyful tone and vivid imagery.

My heart is like a singing bird

                  Whose nest is in a water’d shoot;

My heart is like an apple-tree

                  Whose boughs are bent with thickset fruit;

My heart is like a rainbow shell

                  That paddles in a halcyon sea;

My heart is gladder than all these

                  Because my love is come to me.

2. A Drinking Song” by W.B. Yeats

Description: Yeats’ short poem equates the act of drinking wine with the experience of love, emphasizing the intoxicating and overwhelming nature of romantic emotions.

Wine comes in at the mouth

And love comes in at the eye;

That’s all we shall know for truth

Before we grow old and die.

I lift the glass to my mouth,

I look at you, and I sigh.

3. “A Glimpse” by Walt Whitman

Description: Whitman’s poem is about a brief, fleeting moment of connection with a passerby, highlighting the instant and profound impact that a mere glimpse of someone can have.

A long while amid the noises of coming and going, of drinking and oath and smutty jest,

There we two, content, happy in being together, speaking little, perhaps not a word.

4. “A Pretty Woman” by Robert Browning

Description: Browning’s poem is a contemplation on the beauty of a woman and the deeper allure that goes beyond mere physical appearance, delving into the nature of attraction and love.

To think men cannot take you, Sweet, 
And enfold you, 
Ay, and hold you, 
And so keep you what they make you, Sweet! 

5. “A Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns

Description: Burns’ poem is a declaration of enduring love. In the below quote he compares his love to a red rose and to a melody, and the poem speaks of loving his beloved until the seas dry up.

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.

6. “Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven” by W.B. Yeats

Description: This moving poem by W.B. Yeats is known for its heartfelt expression and beautiful imagery. Yeats writes about offering the heavens, embroidered with light and dark, to his beloved. The poem is celebrated for its deep emotion and the vivid imagery of offering one’s most precious dreams to a loved one. It’s a touching portrayal of selfless romantic love and the desire to give everything, even the impossible, to the person one loves.

Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

7. “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe

Description: This is a hauntingly beautiful poem that tells the story of a love so strong that not even death can diminish it. Poe’s passionate and rhythmic composition as shown in the below quote, alongside the theme of eternal love, has made “Annabel Lee” a favourite among lovers of romantic poetry.

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—

8. “Anniversary” by Louise Glück

Description: Glück’s poem explores the changes and continuities in a relationship over time. It is known for its stark honesty and the beautiful way it captures the enduring nature of love, as demonstrated by these quoted lines.

What I think is you should

keep your extremities to yourself.

9. “Atlas” by U.A. Fanthorpe

Description: Fanthorpe’s poem is a touching depiction of love shown through everyday acts of care. It’s known for its simplicity and the profound message that love is often found in small gestures.

And maintenance is the sensible side of love,
Which knows what time and weather are doing
To my brickwork; insulates my faulty wiring;

10. “Because She Would Ask Me Why I Loved Her” by Christopher Brennan

Description: Brennan’s poem delves into the ineffable nature of love, exploring the myriad reasons why one might love another. It’s celebrated for its eloquent expression of the depth and complexity of love.

Then seek not, sweet, the “If” and “Why”
I love you now until I die.

11. “Bright Star, Would I Were Stedfast as Thou Art” by John Keats

Description: Keats expresses his desire for steadfastness and unchanging love in this sonnet. The poem, believed to be inspired by his love for Fanny Brawne, is admired for its vivid imagery and emotional intensity.

Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath, 

And so live ever—or else swoon to death.

12. “Delight in Disorder” by Robert Herrick

Description: Herrick’s romantic poem finds beauty and allure in the small imperfections of his beloved’s appearance. It’s a charming celebration of the idiosyncrasies that make personal affection unique.

A careless shoe-string, in whose tie 

I see a wild civility: 

Do more bewitch me, than when art 

Is too precise in every part.

13. “Echo” by Carol Ann Duffy

Description: Duffy’s poem is a modern exploration of longing and the echo of a past love. The poem resonates with anyone who has experienced love that continues to linger.

I think I was searching for treasures or stones
in the clearest of pools
when your face…

14. “Eros” by Robert Bridges

Description: Bridges’ poem personifies the Greek god of love, exploring the dual nature of romantic love as both tender and capable of wounding, reflecting on the deep and often contradictory nature of love.

Like to his gods in thy proud dress,

Thy starry sheen of nakedness.

Surely thy body is thy mind,

For in thy face is nought to find,

15. “Every Day You Play” by Pablo Neruda

Description: This poem by Pablo Neruda, from his “Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair,” is a vivid and passionate expression of love and desire. The poem is known for its rich imagery and deep emotional intensity, capturing the intertwining of love with the beauty of nature. Neruda’s skillful use of language and metaphor creates a powerful portrayal of love’s profound impact on the human experience.

A long time I have loved the sunned mother-of-pearl of your body.
Until I even believe that you own the universe.

16. “For Anne” by Leonard Cohen

Description: “For Anne” is a lesser-known poem by Leonard Cohen that exudes a quiet, contemplative reflection on love and longing. In this poem, Cohen’s signature introspective and soulful style is evident. He explores themes of love, time, and the bittersweet nature of memories. The poem is characterized by its poignant simplicity and emotional depth, capturing the lingering feelings of a past love with a sense of both reverence and melancholy. Cohen’s ability to convey profound emotions through succinct and powerful imagery makes this romantic poem a touching and memorable piece.

With Annie gone,

whose eyes to compare

With the morning sun?

17. “Habitation” by Margaret Atwood

Description: Atwood explores the complexities of marriage and cohabitation in this poem. It’s a candid look at the realities of sharing life with another, marked by her characteristic sharp wit and insight.

Marriage is not
a house or even a tent

it is before that, and colder:

18. “Heart, We Will Forget Him” by Emily Dickinson

Description: Dickinson’s poignant poem speaks of the struggle to move on from a lost love. The simplicity of the language belies the depth of emotion in trying to forget someone deeply loved.

Heart! We will forget him!
You and I – tonight!
You may forget the warmth he gave –
I will forget the light!

When you have done, pray tell me
That I may straight begin!
Haste! lest while you’re lagging
I remember him!

19. “He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven” by W.B. Yeats

Description: This short romantic poem is a poignant expression of love and longing, where Yeats speaks of offering the heavens to his beloved. Its heartfelt sincerity and humble expression of devotion make it a deeply touching piece.

But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;

20. “Her Voice” by Oscar Wilde

Description: Wilde beautifully expresses the longing and pain of lost love in this poem. The speaker reminisces about a lost lover’s voice, capturing the enduring impact of love and loss.

Swore that two lives should be like one
    As long as the sea-gull loved the sea,
As long as the sunflower sought the sun,

21. “I Am Not Yours” by Sara Teasdale

Description: Teasdale’s poem is a lyrical expression of unrequited love and the longing to be wholly possessed by another. Its haunting beauty lies in its portrayal of love’s intensity and the pain of unfulfilled desire.

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.

You love me, and I find you still
A spirit beautiful and bright,
Yet I am I, who long to be
Lost as a light is lost in light.

Oh plunge me deep in love—put out
My senses, leave me deaf and blind,
Swept by the tempest of your love,
A taper in a rushing wind.

22. “I Do Not Love You Except Because I Love You” by Pablo Neruda

Description: This poem by Neruda captures the paradoxical nature of love, expressing the confusion and complexity of loving someone deeply. It’s celebrated for its passionate intensity and the raw honesty with which it portrays love’s contradictory emotions.

I hate you deeply, and hating you
Bend to you, and the measure of my changing love for you
Is that I do not see you but love you blindly.

23. “If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking” by Emily Dickinson

Description: Dickinson’s poem, while not romantic in the traditional sense, reflects a profound love for humanity. It speaks to the power of compassion and the impact one can have through acts of kindness.

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

24. “In Love” by Kamala Das

Description: Kamala Das’s poem “In Love” delves into the complexities of an intimate relationship. Through her candid and emotionally raw style, Das explores themes of love, longing, and the intricate dynamics of a romantic relationship. The poem stands out among romantic poetry for its honest portrayal of both the joys and pains of love, reflecting the nuanced and often contradictory feelings that come with deep emotional connections.

Where is room, excuse or even
Need for love, for, isn’t each
Embrace a complete thing a finished
Jigsaw, when mouth on mouth, i lie,

25. “If Thou Must Love Me” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Description: In this sonnet, Barrett Browning asks her lover to love her for reasons beyond superficial attractions. It’s a deeply moving romantic poem that seeks a love rooted in the essence of who she really is.

If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love’s sake only. Do not say,
“I love her for her smile—her look—her way

26. “La Belle Dame sans Merci” by John Keats

Description: This narrative poem tells the story of a knight bewitched by a mysterious and beautiful lady. Keats’ use of romantic imagery and themes of love and despair have made it a classic amongst romantic poetry.

O what can ail thee, knight-at-arms,

       Alone and palely loitering?

The sedge has withered from the lake,

       And no birds sing.

27. “Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds (Sonnet 116)” by William Shakespeare

Description: This famous sonnet explores the unchanging and steadfast nature of true love. Shakespeare’s eloquent expression of love as a constant and unyielding force has made this poem a staple in romantic literature.

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:

28. “Love After Love” by Derek Walcott

Description: Walcott’s poem is a reflective piece about self-love and recovery after the end of a relationship. Its message of hope and self-rediscovery has made it a unique and comforting piece in love poetry.

The time will come 
when, with elation 
you will greet yourself arriving 
at your own door, in your own mirror 
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,

29. “Love and Age” by Thomas Love Peacock

Description: Peacock reflects on love in the context of aging, offering a nuanced view on how love can evolve and endure over time, even as youth fades.

I play’d with you ‘mid cowslips blowing,

When I was six and you were four;

When garlands weaving, flower-balls throwing,

Were pleasures soon to please no more.

30. “Love and Friendship” by Emily Brontë

Description: Brontë compares love to a wild rosebush and friendship to a holly tree, exploring the transient nature of passion versus the steadfastness of friendship. The poem is admired for its beautiful imagery and profound message.

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?

31. “Love Is” by Nikki Giovanni

Description: In this charming poem, Nikki Giovanni explores the concept of love through a child’s eyes. Using simple language and relatable examples, “Love Is” conveys the various forms and expressions of love in a way that is both engaging and accessible to young readers. The below love quote from the poem offers a gentle reminder of the small, everyday acts that embody love.

Some people forget that love is 
tucking you in and kissing you 
“Good night” 
no matter how young or old you are

32. “Love Is a Place” by E.E. Cummings

Description: Cummings often wrote about love, and in this romantic poem, he presents love as a physical and metaphysical space. It is celebrated for its simplicity and profound depth.

love is a place
& through this place of
love move

33. “Love Is Enough” by William Morris

Description: Morris’s poem extols the sufficiency of love over wealth and ambition. The refrain “Love is enough” echoes throughout the romantic poem, emphasizing love’s power to fulfill and sustain.

Love is enough: though the World be a-waning,

And the woods have no voice but the voice of

complaining,

34. “Love Is Not All” by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Description: Millay explores the practical limitations of love in this sonnet. The below quote from the poem offers a candid and somewhat cynical look at how love, while powerful, cannot solve every problem.

Love is not all: it is not meat nor drink

Nor slumber nor a roof against the rain;

Nor yet a floating spar to men that sink

And rise and sink and rise and sink again;

35. “Love Philosophy” by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Description: In this poem, Shelley makes a philosophical argument for why his beloved should return his affection, using natural imagery. It’s celebrated among romantic poetry for its lyrical quality and romantic idealism.

The fountains mingle with the river 

   And the rivers with the ocean, 

The winds of heaven mix for ever 

   With a sweet emotion;

36. “Love Poem” by John Frederick Nims

Description: Nims’ poem is a lighthearted yet deeply affectionate ode to his imperfect yet beloved partner. It’s celebrated for its humor and the warmth of its sentiment.

Be with me, darling, early and late. Smash glasses—
I will study wry music for your sake.
For should your hands drop white and empty
All the toys of the world would break.

37. “Love’s Secret” by William Blake

Description: In this poem, Blake explores the pain of unrequited love and the irony of love remaining secret. The below quote from the poem offers a profound reflection on the nature of expressing love.

I told my love, I told my love,
  I told her all my heart,
Trembling, cold, in ghastly fears.
  Ah! she did depart!

38. “Love Song” by Dorothy Parker

Description: Parker’s poem, with its witty and somewhat cynical tone, explores the disillusionment often found in romantic relationships, reflecting on the bittersweet nature of love.

He’ll live his days where the sunbeams start,
Nor could storm or wind uproot him.
My own dear love, he is all my heart,—
And I wish somebody’d shoot him.

39. “Love Song” by Rainer Maria Rilke

Description: Rilke’s “Love Song” delves into the intimate and sometimes overwhelming experiences of love. The romantic poem is celebrated for its rich imagery and the depth of emotion it conveys.

When my soul touches yours a great chord sings!
How shall I tune it then to other things?

40. “Love Song for Lucinda” by Langston Hughes

Description: Hughes’ poem is a lyrical and rhythmic expression of love. Its simplicity and the beauty of its imagery showcase Hughes’ ability to convey deep emotions in straightforward language.

Love
Is a ripe plum
Growing on a purple tree.
Taste it once
And the spell of its enchantment
Will never let you be.

41. “Love Sonnet XI” by Pablo Neruda

Description: Neruda’s passionate and sensuous sonnets are world-renowned, and this particular poem is no exception. It expresses an intense and almost overwhelming love, using rich imagery to convey deep emotions.

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.

42. “Love Sonnet XVII” by Pablo Neruda

Description: This sonnet is one of Neruda’s most famous, expressing love in an honest and direct manner. It speaks to the deep, almost inexplicable connection shared with a loved one.

I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

43. “Love’s Philosophy” by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Description: Shelley’s poem is a romantic plea for the reciprocation of love, using natural imagery to argue that everything in nature is interconnected through love.

The fountains mingle with the river 

   And the rivers with the ocean, 

The winds of heaven mix for ever 

   With a sweet emotion;

44. “Meeting at Night” by Robert Browning

Description: This poem describes a lover’s journey to meet his beloved at night. Browning’s vivid imagery and use of sound create a palpable sense of anticipation and excitement.

A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch

And blue spurt of a lighted match,

45. “Meeting Point” by Louis MacNeice

Description: MacNeice’s poem captures a moment in time where two lovers exist in perfect harmony, oblivious to the world around them. The poem is celebrated for its evocative imagery and exploration of a timeless, shared moment.

Time was away and she was here

And life no longer what it was,

The bell was silent in the air

And all the room one glow because

Time was away and she was here.

46. “My River runs to thee” by Emily Dickinson

Description: In this poem, Dickinson compares her love to a river, an enduring, ever-flowing presence in her life. It’s a beautiful metaphor for the constant and comforting presence of love.

My River runs to thee—
Blue Sea! Wilt welcome me?
My River wait reply—
Oh Sea—look graciously—
I’ll fetch thee Brooks
From spotted nooks—
Say—Sea—Take Me!

47. “Non sum qualis eram bonae sub regno Cynarae” by Ernest Dowson

Description: This poem, known by its Latin opening line, reflects on lost love and longing. Dowson’s poignant and melancholic tone, shown in the below quote, captures the essence of nostalgia and unfulfilled love.

All night upon mine heart I felt her warm heart beat, 
Night-long within mine arms in love and sleep she lay; 
Surely the kisses of her bought red mouth were sweet;

48. “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing” by Rumi

Description: This poem from the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi speaks of a place beyond right and wrong where lovers can meet. It’s celebrated for its spiritual depth and the idea that true love transcends all worldly divisions.

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
There is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
The world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase each other
Doesn’t make any sense.

49. “Remember” by Christina Rossetti

Description: Rossetti’s poem is a moving exploration of love and loss, where the speaker contemplates her own death and asks her beloved to remember her, yet not to grieve too deeply. The poem’s tender, melancholic tone has resonated with readers for generations.

Remember me when I am gone away,

Gone far away into the silent land;

When you can no more hold me by the hand,

Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.

Remember me when no more day by day

You tell me of our future that you planned:

Only remember me; you understand

It will be late to counsel then or pray.

Yet if you should forget me for a while

And afterwards remember, do not grieve:

For if the darkness and corruption leave

A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,

Better by far you should forget and smile

Than that you should remember and be sad.

50. “Resignation” by Nikki Giovanni

Description: Giovanni’s poem expresses a deep and multifaceted love. The poem is a cascade of statements beginning with “I love you,” each revealing a different facet of her affection. Giovanni combines mundane daily acts with profound emotional insights, painting a picture of love that is both grounded in everyday reality and elevated to a near-spiritual plane.

I love you
            because no two snowflakes are alike
            and it is possible
            if you stand tippy-toe
            to walk between the raindrops

51. “Sappho 31” by Sappho, translated by Anne Carson

Description: This fragment of an ancient Greek poem captures the intensity of longing and jealousy, a powerful example of Sappho’s ability to convey deep emotions in a few words.

and laughing delightfully, which indeed
makes my heart flutter in my breast;
for when I look at you even for a short time,
it is no longer possible for me to speak

52. “She Tells Her Love” by Robert Graves

Description: Graves captures a moment of intimate, sleepy confession between lovers in this poem. It’s known for its tender and dreamlike quality.

She tells her love while half asleep,
In the dark hours,

53. “She Walks in Beauty” by Lord Byron

Description: This poem by Lord Byron is a celebration of a woman’s beaut both outside and inside. The poem is often admired for its simple yet evocative language and is considered a masterpiece of romantic poetry.

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;👀

54. “Since There’s No Help” by Michael Drayton

Description: This sonnet is about the end of a love affair. Drayton’s honest and straightforward examination of heartbreak and the possibility of moving on has resonated with many readers.

Now at the last gasp of Love’s latest breath, 

When, his pulse failing, Passion speechless lies; 

When Faith is kneeling by his bed of death, 

And Innocence is closing up his eyes—

55. “Sonnet 18” by William Shakespeare

Description: One of Shakespeare’s most famous sonnets, “Sonnet 18” is often known by its opening line, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” This poem is celebrated for its theme of eternal beauty and love. Shakespeare’s poetic skill is evident in the sonnet’s graceful expression and exploration of the nature of love and beauty, making it timeless and universally appreciated.

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,

By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm’d;

But thy eternal summer shall not fade,

Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st;

Nor shall death brag thou wander’st 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.

56. “Sonnet 29” by William Shakespeare

Description: In this sonnet, Shakespeare explores themes of envy, insecurity, and redemption through love. It’s celebrated for its relatable emotions and the transformative power of love.

Haply I think on thee, and then my state,

(Like to the lark at break of day arising

From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate;

       For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings

       That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

57. “Sonnet 43: How Do I Love Thee?” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Description: This sonnet is part of Barrett Browning’s “Sonnets from the Portuguese,” a collection of love poems written to her husband, poet Robert Browning. The poem expresses deep, unconditional love with the famous opening line, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” It remains a touchstone in romantic literature for its heartfelt expression and depth of emotion.

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.

58. “Sonnet 75: One Day I Wrote her Name” by Edmund Spenser

Description: In this sonnet, Spenser writes about immortalizing his love in verse. It’s a classic example of the poet’s desire to eternalize love through poetry.

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.

“Vain man,” said she, “that dost in vain assay,

A mortal thing so to immortalize;

For I myself shall like to this decay,

And eke my name be wiped out likewise.”

“Not so,” (quod I) “let baser things devise

To die in dust, but you shall live by fame:

My verse your vertues rare shall eternize,

And in the heavens write your glorious name:

Where whenas death shall all the world subdue,

Our love shall live, and later life renew.”

59. “Sonnet 116” by William Shakespeare

Description: “Sonnet 116” is a profound meditation on the nature of love, famously beginning with, “Let me not to the marriage of true minds / Admit impediments.” The poem is revered among romantic poetry for its deep insight into the enduring, unchangeable nature of true love.

Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks 

Within his bending sickle’s compass come; 

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, 

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

60. “Sonnet 130” by William Shakespeare

Description: This sonnet humorously subverts traditional romantic poetry that idealize the beloved’s beauty. Shakespeare’s frank and loving acceptance of his mistress’s imperfections makes it a beloved and realistic portrayal of love.

And in some perfumes is there more delight

Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.

I love to hear her speak, yet well I know

That music hath a far more pleasing sound;

61. “Sonnets to Orpheus, Part One, XII” by Rainer Maria Rilke

Description: In this sonnet, Rilke addresses the mythical figure Orpheus and the transformative power of his music, which can be seen as a metaphor for the transformative power of love.

Though we do not know our exact location,
we are held in place by what links us.
Across trackless distances
antennas sense each other.

62. “Sonnet XVII: I Do Not Love You” by Pablo Neruda

Description: Neruda explores the complexities of love in this sonnet, conveying the depth and intensity of his feelings. It’s a striking expression of love that defies simple definition.

I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

63. “The Blue Booby” by James Tate

Description: Tate’s poem uses the imagery of a blue booby bird to explore themes of love and the unexpected ways it can manifest. The poem, quoted below, is known among romantic poetry for its humour and whimsical approach to the subject of love.

she sees he has found her   

a new shred of blue foil:   

for this she rewards him   

with her dark body,

64. “The Definition of Love” by Andrew Marvell

Description: Marvell’s metaphysical poem delves into the paradoxes of love, portraying it as the inevitable clash of fate and circumstance, a mixture of despair and hope.

My love is of a birth as rare

As ’tis for object strange and high;

It was begotten by Despair

Upon Impossibility.

65. “The Dream” by John Donne

Description: Donne’s poem is a lyrical account of a dream about a lost love, filled with rich imagery and the ache of love that continues even in sleep.

Dear love, for nothing less than thee

Would I have broke this happy dream;

66. “The Flea” by John Donne

Description: Donne uses the unusual metaphor of a flea to discuss physical love. The quote below is known for its witty argumentative style and is a fine example of metaphysical romantic love poetry.

Oh stay, three lives in one flea spare,

Where we almost, nay more than married are.   

This flea is you and I, and this

Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is;  

67. “The Garden of Love” by William Blake

Description: In this poem, Blake explores the loss of innocence and the restrictions of conventional morality on love. The garden, once a symbol of natural and free love, becomes a place of rules and repression in this romantic poem, reflecting Blake’s often critical view of societal norms.

I went to the Garden of Love,

And saw what I never had seen:

A Chapel was built in the midst,

Where I used to play on the green.

68. “The Good-Morrow” by John Donne

Description: This is a metaphysical love poem where Donne reflects on how love has transformed his life. It combines intellectual depth with passionate feeling, a hallmark of Donne’s best romantic poetry.

I wonder, by my troth, what thou and I

Did, till we loved? Were we not weaned till then?

But sucked on country pleasures, childishly?

Or snorted we in the Seven Sleepers’ den?

’Twas so; but this, all pleasures fancies be.

If ever any beauty I did see,

Which I desired, and got, ’twas but a dream of thee.

69. “The Highwayman” by Alfred Noyes

Description: This narrative poem tells a tragic love story set against a backdrop of theft and betrayal. Its lyrical quality and dramatic story have made it a memorable and enduring piece among romantic poetry aficionados.

He turned. He spurred to the west; he did not know who stood   

Bowed, with her head o’er the musket, drenched with her own blood!   

Not till the dawn he heard it, and his face grew grey to hear   

How Bess, the landlord’s daughter,

         The landlord’s black-eyed daughter,

Had watched for her love in the moonlight, and died in the darkness there.

70. “The Look” by Sara Teasdale

Description: Teasdale’s poem succinctly captures the moment of realization when one understands the depth of their love for another, marked by a simple, yet profound, exchange of looks.

But the kiss in Colin’s eyes

Haunts me night and day.

71. “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot

Description: Eliot’s poem is a modernist exploration of unrequited love and the complexities of the modern psyche. The protagonist’s internal monologue, filled with self-doubt and existential angst, offers a deep dive into the nature of love and isolation in the modern world.

Let us go then, you and I,
When the evening is spread out against the sky
Like a patient etherized upon a table;
Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets,
The muttering retreats
Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels

72. “The More Loving One” by W.H. Auden

Description: Auden contemplates the imbalance of emotions in a relationship, musing on the pain and beauty of loving more than one is loved in return. The poem is admired for its philosophical depth and emotional honesty.

How should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.

73. “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd” by Sir Walter Raleigh

Description: This poem is a response to Christopher Marlowe’s “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love.” Raleigh’s nymph offers a realistic, somewhat skeptical view of the shepherd’s promises, adding depth to the theme of pastoral love.

Thy gowns, thy shoes, thy beds of Roses,

Thy cap, thy kirtle, and thy posies

Soon break, soon wither, soon forgotten:

In folly ripe, in reason rotten.

74. “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” by Christopher Marlowe

Description: This pastoral poem is one of the most famous love poems in the English language. Marlowe’s idealized and romanticized vision of rural life as a setting for courtship has influenced countless other love poems and works of literature.

Come live with me and be my love,

And we will all the pleasures prove,

That Valleys, groves, hills, and fields,

Woods, or steepy mountain yields.

75. “The Promise” by Jane Hirshfield

Description: Hirshfield’s poem is a meditation on the nature of commitment and the enduring aspects of love. The poem elegantly captures the essence of a promise in a relationship, highlighting the importance of presence and attentiveness over time. Hirshfield’s use of simple yet powerful language in the below quote conveys deep emotional truths about love and the continuous, often quiet work it entails.

Stay, to the earth

of riverine valley meadows,

of fossiled escarpments,

of limestone and sandstone.

It looked back

with a changing expression, in silence.

76. “The Quiet World” by Jeffrey McDaniel

Description: In this contemporary poem, McDaniel imagines a world where people are limited to a few words each day, highlighting the importance and weight of words in expressing love.

After that, we just sit on the line   

and listen to each other breathe.

77. “The Owl and the Pussycat” by Edward Lear

Description: This delightful children’s poem tells the story of love and adventure between an unlikely pair, an owl and a pussycat. Its whimsical narrative and charming verses have made it a beloved classic in children’s literature.

And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.

78. “The Sun Rising” by John Donne

Description: This metaphysical poem by Donne is a playful yet profound exploration of love’s power to transcend time and space. In the below quoted passage, the speaker rebukes the sun for interrupting a romantic morning, showcasing Donne’s characteristic wit and deep insight into human emotion.

Shine here to us, and thou art everywhere;

This bed thy center is, these walls, thy sphere.

79. “The White Rose” by John Boyle O’Reilly

Description: O’Reilly’s poem contrasts the fleeting nature of passion (the red rose) with the enduring quality of true love (the white rose), celebrating the purity and depth of sincere affection.

But I send you a cream-white rosebud
With a flush on its petal tips;
For the love that is purest and sweetest
Has a kiss of desire on the lips.

80. “Though I Go to You” by Ono no Komachi

Description: Ono no Komachi is famed for her deeply emotional and poignant poetry, particularly her tanka, which often delve into themes of love, longing, and the fleeting nature of life and beauty. This tanka captures the intense longing and the pain of separation, a recurring theme in Ono no Komachi’s poetry. Her ability to express profound emotional depth within the concise structure of a tanka has solidified her status as one of Japan’s most distinguished poets in the realm of love poetry.

Though I go to you
ceaselessly along dream paths,
the sum of those trysts is less than a single
glimpse granted in the waking world.

81. “To Anthea, Who May Command Him Anything” by Robert Herrick

Description: This poem expresses the poet’s devotion to Anthea, promising to do anything for her love. The below quote is a playful yet sincere declaration of love and loyalty.

Bid me to live, and I will live

Thy protestant to be;

Or bid me love, and I will give

A loving heart to thee.

82. “To Celia” by Ben Jonson

Description: Jonson’s poem is a tender plea for reciprocal love. Famous for the quote “Drink to me only with thine eyes,” this love poem is a classic example of Renaissance courtly romantic poetry.

Drink to me only with thine eyes,

         And I will pledge with mine;

Or leave a kiss but in the cup,

         And I’ll not look for wine.

83. “To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell

Description: Marvell’s famous carpe diem poem is a persuasive and eloquent argument for making the most of the time we have for love. Its combination of intellectual wit and sensual imagery makes it a classic in romantic poetry.

Now let us sport us while we may,

And now, like amorous birds of prey,

Rather at once our time devour

Than languish in his slow-chapped power.

84. “To My Dear and Loving Husband” by Anne Bradstreet

Description: This poem is one of the earliest American poems, and the below quote illustrates a candid and sincere expression of deep and enduring love between Bradstreet and her husband. The poem stands out in romantic poetry circles for its warmth and genuine affection.

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.

85. “To My Valentine” by Ogden Nash

Description: Nash’s light-hearted poem offers a humorous and charming take on Valentine’s Day, celebrating the quirks and idiosyncrasies of a loved one in his uniquely whimsical style.

As a shipwrecked sailor hates the sea,
Or a juggler hates a shove,
As a hostess detests unexpected guests,
That’s how much you I love.

86. “Unending Love” by Rabindranath Tagore

Description: Tagore, a Bengali polymath, in this poem, captures the eternal and transcendent nature of love. The poem is known for its spiritual depth and the beautiful portrayal of love that surpasses time and form.

I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times…
In life after life, in age after age, forever.
My spellbound heart has made and remade the necklace of songs,
That you take as a gift, wear round your neck in your many forms,
In life after life, in age after age, forever.

87. “Valentine” by Carol Ann Duffy

Description: Duffy offers a unique and realistic perspective on love, using an onion as a metaphor for love’s complexity and depth in the below quoted passage. The poem is known by romantic poetry lovers for challenging traditional symbols of love and for its honest, unconventional portrayal of love’s multifaceted nature.

Not a red rose or a satin heart.

I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.

88. “Valentine” by Wendy Cope

Description: This playful poem explores the routine and comfort of a long-term relationship. Cope’s wit and the relatable depiction of enduring love make this quote a charming read.

My heart has made its mind up
And I’m afraid it’s you.

89. “Variation on the Word Sleep” by Margaret Atwood

Description: Atwood’s poem is a lyrical journey through the intimate landscape of a loved one’s dreams. It’s known among romantic poetry for its vivid imagery and the depth of care and connection it expresses.

I would like to be the air
that inhabits you for a moment
only. I would like to be that unnoticed
& that necessary.

90. “When I Too Long Have Looked Upon Your Face” by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Description: This poem captures the intensity of longing and the pain of separation in love. Millay’s candid expression of love’s vulnerability in this quote is both touching and relatable.

I turn away reluctant from your light,
And stand irresolute, a mind undone,
A silly, dazzled thing deprived of sight
From having looked too long upon the sun.

91. “When Love Arrives” by Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye

Description: This modern spoken word poem talks about the unpredictable nature of love and its various incarnations throughout one’s life. It’s celebrated for its relatable depiction of love’s evolution.

If love leaves, ask her to leave the door open behind her
Turn off the music, listen to the quiet, whisper
Thank you for stopping by

92. “When You Are Old” by W.B. Yeats

Description: Yeats reflects on unrequited love in this poem, addressing an old lover and contemplating how things might have been. The poem is cherished in romantic poetry circles for its lyrical beauty and poignant expression of longing and regret.

How many loved your moments of glad grace,

And loved your beauty with love false or true,

But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,

And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

93. “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver

Description: Unlike traditional love poems, “Wild Geese” speaks to the concept of self-love and the acceptance of one’s true nature. Oliver encourages readers to embrace their place in the world without guilt or fear. The quoted lines are revered for their gentle, reassuring tone and message of belonging and self-compassion.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.

94. “Your Feet” by Pablo Neruda

Description: In this poem, Neruda expresses love and admiration for his beloved’s feet, symbolizing his journey alongside her. It’s known for its unique focus and the intimate, tender love it portrays.

When I cannot look at your face
I look at your feet.
Your feet of arched bone,
your hard little feet.