Famous Love Poems

Famous Love Poems

Classic Love Poems by Famous Poets

From the first prick of Cupid's arrow to the bitterness of heartbreak, poets throughout the ages have written on the mysteries of love. Their rhymes and allegories help us to better understand our emotions and sort the many ups and downs of love. Whether a simple crush or years of marriage, poetry throughout the centuries has helped express and illuminate the difficult sentiments of the heart. Turning to poetry can help us to put words to the passions and excitements that love inflames within us and to direct that fire to the forging and melding of two hearts together.

32 of the Best Famous Love Poems

1 - 20 of 32

  1. 1. [i Carry Your Heart With Me(i Carry It In]

    Edward Estlin Cummings (1894 - 1962) was a famous American Poet with an unusual style of writing. His name is frequently written in lowercase, e.e. cummings, and his poetry is probably best known for his unorthodox usage of both capitalization and punctuation, in which unexpected and seemingly misplaced punctuation sometimes interrupt sentences and even individual words.

    Famous Poem


    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)

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    I just heard this today and love, love, love this poem. I am not really a reader, especially poetry, though I do enjoy both and lived through that lens growing up. But I wouldn't generally be...

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  3. 2. If You Forget Me

    This poem was written while Pablo Neruda was in exile from Chile, during which time he was also having an affair with Matilde Urrutia, the woman who would become his third wife. It is presumed the poem was written with Matilde in mind, perhaps while she was in his presence. This poem shows how when an individual consumes your thoughts, everything you see, hear, touch, or experience reminds you of that person. It also shows that love can only last when a relationship is cared for and not ignored. As soon as one person does not see it as important, the relationship begins to wither.

    Famous Poem


    I want you to know
    one thing.

    You know how this is:

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    Once during the elective courses I teach - visualisation of poems by different poets- one of my students made a video artwork with her own drawings, illustrating this poem. It is one of the...

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  5. 3. I Love You

    Ella Wheeler was born in 1850 on a farm in Wisconsin, the youngest of four children. She wrote numerous poems starting when she was 7 years old. During her life, Wilcox received many rejection letters before a publisher gave her books of poetry a chance. Despite these rejections, Wilcox remained very optimistic. Her best-known poetry book was Poems of Passion (1883). In her later years she went to France during World War 1 to lecture to the soldiers, and assist with the Red Cross.

    Famous Poem


    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.

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    I love "I Love You" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. She tells it as it is when young hearts are lit with hearts on fire in the midst of desire. Love is meant to be happy and carefree. Heaven knows in...

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  6. 4. How Do I Love Thee?

    "How Do I Love Thee?" is one of the poems that make up the forty-four poems of Sonnets from the Portuguese. They were written while she was still courting her future husband, Mr. Browning, between 1845 and 1846. She writes that the love she has for him is everlasting and consumes every part of her.

    Famous Poem


    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.

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    On August 25, 2017, the love of my life and I had been chatting while he shaved. I walked away, and I was gone 12 minutes. Sometime in those stupid 12 minutes he dropped to his knees and died...

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  7. 5. On Marriage

    The poem "On Marriage" by Kahlil Gibran is a poignant exploration of the nature of love and partnership. Through the voice of the master, Gibran speaks to the eternal bond that exists between two people who choose to spend their lives together, even beyond death. However, the poem also cautions against the dangers of losing oneself completely in a relationship and emphasizes the importance of maintaining one's individuality while still cherishing and supporting their partner. Gibran's use of vivid imagery and metaphor creates a powerful and thought-provoking piece on the complexities of love and marriage.
    The poem begins with these lines:
    Then Almitra spoke again and said, And what of Marriage, master? And he answered saying:

    Famous Poem


    You were born together, and together you shall be forever more.
    You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
    Yes, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
    But let there be spaces in your togetherness.

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  8. 6. When I Die I Want Your Hands On My Eyes

    In this poem, the speaker talks about wanting his spouse to remember him after he passes, but he doesn’t want her to mourn his loss so much that she doesn’t continue living her life. Pablo Neruda was a Chilean poet who lived from 1904-1973, and his first wife did not speak his native language of Spanish. This poem is made up of quatrains (four-line poems) and tercets (three-line poems).

    Famous Poem


    When I die I want your hands on my eyes:
    I want the light and the wheat of your beloved hands
    to pass their freshness over me one more time
    to feel the smoothness that changed my destiny.

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    While I feel the love that he has for his beloved, I find the last sentence of the last stanza of the poem physically difficult to read. It just feels awkward. It is very touching and...

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  9. 7. One Hundred Love Sonnets

    Many of Pablo Neruda’s love poems helped him get known as an important Chilean poet. In this poem, he can’t fully explain his love, but he feels it deeply. It’s not one of show. Instead, it’s a love that’s simple and humble, a love that sees the beauty hidden within a person. The repetition of “I love you” brings attention to the poet’s desire to convey his feelings for the subject of this poem.

    Famous Poem


    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.

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    This poem touched my heart in ways that I didn't even know was possible. I never thought I would be able to understand my own heart as well as I do now. This poem completely captures the way...

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  10. 8. Love's Language

    Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850 - 1919) was an American author and poet. Her best-known work was Poems of Passion. Her most enduring work was "Solitude", which contains the lines: "Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone". Her autobiography, The Worlds and I, was published in 1918, a year before her death.

    Famous Poem


    How does Love speak?
    In the faint flush upon the telltale cheek,
    And in the pallor that succeeds it; by
    The quivering lid of an averted eye--

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    Beautiful, with lots of emotion by way of description. I think of the French poet Edmond Rostand's character Cyrano de Bergerac and the Russian playwright Anton Chekov, two very unique...

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  11. 9. Don't Go Far Off, Not Even For A Day

    Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) writes this poem about the intense love between two people. A man is so strongly connected to his lover that he fears what will happen if she ever decides to leave. He doesn’t want her to be away from him, even for a day, for he doesn’t know how he will survive without her. Pablo Neruda, a Chilean poet, had three wives. This poem is made up of quatrains and tercets that contain descriptive language.

    Famous Poem


    Don't go far off, not even for a day, because --
    because -- I don't know how to say it: a day is long
    and I will be waiting for you, as in an empty station
    when the trains are parked off somewhere else, asleep.

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    I really feel the same when she is away.

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  12. 10. Love Sonnet XI

    In this sensual love poem, Pablo Neruda compares a hunting puma to desiring his lover. He is starving for her touch and love, and he is seeking after her. Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) was a Chilean poet well-known for his passionate love poems. He was married three times, and his first wife did not speak Spanish.

    Famous Poem


    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.

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  13. 11. A Red, Red Rose

    In "A Red, Red Rose" by Robert Burns, the poet employs several poetic techniques to express the depth of his love and commitment. Through vivid imagery, he compares his love to a "red, red rose" that blooms freshly in June, evoking the beauty and fragility of nature. The use of simile in the opening lines enhances the romantic tone of the poem, likening his love to a sweet melody played in perfect harmony. Additionally, Burns utilizes repetition for emphasis, with the phrase "I will love thee still, my dear" recurring throughout the poem, reinforcing the everlasting nature of his affection. Through these poetic techniques, Burns eloquently conveys the enduring passion and devotion he feels for his beloved, promising to love her unconditionally until the end of time.

    Famous Poem

    • By Robert Burns

    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.

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  14. 12. She Walks In Beauty

    "She Walks in Beauty" by Lord Byron is a poem that admires the beauty of a woman. In the poem, Byron describes how the woman's appearance is both graceful and radiant. He compares her to the beauty of the night sky, praising her for her elegance and charm. Byron's words paint a picture of a woman who is both physically stunning and morally pure. The poem celebrates the idea that true beauty comes from within as well as from outward appearance. Overall, "She Walks in Beauty" is a tribute to the timeless allure of femininity.

    Famous Poem

    • By George Gordon, Lord Byron

    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;

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  15. 13. Wild Nights - Wild Nights!

    "Wild Nights - Wild Nights!" by Emily Dickinson is a passionate expression of desire and longing. In this short yet powerful poem, Dickinson uses the imagery of a wild, untamed night to symbolize intense emotions and romantic yearning. The repetition of the phrase "Wild nights" emphasizes the speaker's excitement and fervor. Dickinson employs vivid language and evocative imagery to convey the intensity of the speaker's longing for love and connection. Despite its brevity, the poem captures the overwhelming nature of romantic passion and the sense of exhilaration that comes with it. Through its lyrical beauty and emotional depth, "Wild Nights - Wild Nights!" remains a timeless exploration of the complexities of love and desire.

    Famous Poem

    Wild nights - Wild nights!
    Were I with thee
    Wild nights should be
    Our luxury!

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  16. 14. Invitation To Love

    "Invitation to Love" by Paul Laurence Dunbar is a welcoming poem that invites love to enter the speaker's life in all its forms. Whether it's during starry nights, moonlit evenings, or sunny days, love is embraced. It is described as sweet and gentle, compared to a nesting dove. The poem extends its invitation during moments of both sorrow and joy, in the changing seasons and natural beauty. The repeated refrain of "you are welcome, welcome" highlights the sincere openness to love's presence throughout life's diverse experiences.

    Famous Poem

    Come when the nights are bright with stars
    Or come when the moon is mellow;
    Come when the sun his golden bars
    Drops on the hay-field yellow.

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  17. 15. Love's Philosophy

    The poem expresses the idea that everything in nature is interconnected and harmonious, with elements like rivers, oceans, winds, mountains, and waves blending together seamlessly. The poet compares these natural unions to the longing for a romantic connection with someone they love. They wonder why, if nature itself is so unified, they cannot be united with their beloved through a kiss.

    Famous Poem

    The fountains mingle with the river
    And the rivers with the ocean,
    The winds of heaven mix for ever
    With a sweet emotion;

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  18. 16. Always Marry An April Girl

    April is a month of tumultuous weather. Some days are dry, sunny, and pristine. Others are cold, stormy, and unenjoyable. Ogden Nash compares women to the month of April. They can be unpredictable. Sometimes they’re sweet and tender. Other times they’re cruel and angry, but in the end, they are loved for who they are.

    Famous Poem

    Praise the spells and bless the charms,
    I found April in my arms.
    April golden, April cloudy,
    Gracious, cruel, tender, rowdy;

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    I was searching for a short poem that encapsulates the love I have for my wife. When I saw this, I knew. My wife's birthday is in April. The double meaning of marrying an April girl really...

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  19. 17. I Wish I Could Remember That First Day

    In "I Wish I Could Remember That First Day" by Christina Rossetti, the speaker expresses a longing to remember the details of their first meeting with someone special. The speaker reflects on the passing of that significant moment, regretting their lack of awareness and inability to foresee the importance it would hold. The poem captures the bittersweet feeling of realizing the significance of a past event that was initially overlooked or taken for granted. The speaker yearns to recollect the touch of that first encounter, emphasizing the power and significance of human connection.

    Famous Poem

    I wish I could remember that first day,
    First hour, first moment of your meeting me,
    If bright or dim the season, it might be
    Summer or winter for aught I can say;

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  20. 18. Love's Coming

    Ella Wheeler Wilcox was an American author and poet who lived from 1850-1919. Her goal was to write pieces that lifted people’s spirits. In this poem, she writes of the great expectation of falling in love--that it will be an earth shattering moment, but the girl she writes about finds that she has fallen in love with someone who has always been by her side and is considered a close friend. That love has stood the test of time. This poem is made up of quatrains, four-line stanzas, that have a rhyme scheme of ABCB. The structure is also very intentional. The first two lines of each stanza show what the speaker hopes for when it comes to love, and the second two lines of each stanza reveal her reality.

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    She had looked for his coming as warriors come,
    With the clash of arms and the bugle's call;
    But he came instead with a stealthy tread,
    Which she did not hear at all.

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    I had an old book of EWW poems when I was young that had belonged to my Grandmother, who was born in 1904, given to her by my Grandfather. Reading them brings back some memories. I didn't...

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  21. 19. Somewhere I Have Never Travelled, Gladly Beyond

    E.E. Cummings (1894-1962) was an American poet. He had his own unique writing style where he didn’t use spaces after commas or capital letters where appropriate. E.E. Cummings did not give his poems titles, so editors would generally take the first line of his poems to create titles. In this poem, the speaker is head-over-heels in love. His lover has complete control over him, and she constantly amazes him. Similes, personification, and alliteration can be found in this piece. It is made up of quatrains that do not follow a rhyme scheme.

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    somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond
    any experience,your eyes have their silence:
    in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
    or which i cannot touch because they are too near

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    This poem is the one that did it! I read this along with my class, in seventh grade, and was forever inspired by the way Cummings uses words to create this picture of love and roses. He uses...

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  22. 20. I Am Not Yours

    Sara Teasdale (1884 - 1933) was an American Poet. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri. In this poem, she writes about a longing for a passionate love which will "leave me deaf and blind."

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    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.

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