What makes a good poem? Is it the writing style or the way of words? Is it the personal touch that creates intimacy with the reader? Or the story itself? Honestly, people vary in their answers, but to us, what makes a good poem is emotion. It is the deepest part of ourselves being expressed in a literary piece in one of the most intimate ways possible. It offers an inside look into a unfamiliar world that can put us in someone else’s shoes. Here, you’ll find a few famous poems that we feel are some of the best love poems of all time.
5 Best Love Poems of All Time
1. Sonnet 40: Take all my loves, my love, yea, take them all” – by William Shakespeare
“Take all my loves, my love, yea, take them all:
What hast thou then more than thou hadst before?
No love, my love, that thou mayst true love call—
All mine was thine before thou hadst this more.
Then if for my love thou my love receivest,
I cannot blame thee for my love thou usest;
But yet be blamed if thou this self deceivest.
By wilful taste of what thyself refusest.
I do forgive thy robbery, gentle thief,
Although thou steal thee all my poverty;
And yet love knows it is greater grief.
To bear love’s wrong than hate’s known injury.
Lascivious grace, in whom all ill well shows,
Kill me with spites, yet we must not be foes.”
(Source: poetry foundation.com)
2. “To My Dear and Loving Husband” – by Anne Bradstreet
“If ever two were one, then surely we.
ever man were loved by wife, then thee.
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 persevere,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.”
(Source: poetryfoundation.com)
For more classic love poetry like this, visit “The 20 Most Romantic Love Poems of All Time” for more ideas.
3. “Poem for My Love” – by June Jordan
“How do we come to be here next to each other
in the night
Where are the stars that show us to our love
inevitable
Outside, the leaves flame usual in darkness
and the rain
falls cool and blessed on the holy flesh
the black men waiting on the corner for
a womanly mirage
I am amazed by peace
It is this possibility of you
asleep
and breathing in the quiet air.”
(Source: poetry foundation.com)
4 . “I Love You” – by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
“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.
I love your arms when the warm white flesh
Touches mine in a fond embrace;
I love your hair when the strands enmesh
Your kisses against my face.
Not for me, the cold, calm kiss
Of a virgin’s bloodless love;
Not for me the saint’s white bliss,
Nor the heart of a spotless dove.
But give me the love that so freely gives
And laughs at the whole world’s blame,
With your body so young and warm in my arms,
It sets my poor heart aflame.
So kiss me sweet with your warm wet mouth,
Still fragrant with ruby wine,
And say with a fervor born of the South
That your body and soul are mine.
Clasp me close in your warm young arms,
While the pale stars shine above,
And we’ll live our whole young lives away
In the joys of a living love.”
(Source: womansday.com)
For similar sentimental poems like this, we also have “5 Romantic Love Poems for Her” to help you win that special girls heart.
5. “I loved you first: but afterwards your love” – by Christina Rossetti
“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.”
(Source: womansday.com)
Conclusion
In conclusion, while there are millions of poetry pieces out there, these are arguably some of the best love poems known to man. Of course, all poetry is beautiful in it’s own way and should be read, loved, and respected. It is a work of art that doesn’t just come from the heart; rather, it is your heart splayed out on a piece of paper for all to see. They are intimate, raw, and so incredibly beautiful.
Interested in more love poems like this? We’ve got you covered. Check out our article, “7 Heart-warming and Tender Short Love Poems for Him and Her”, for more ideas.
