Our Collection of Classical Poems for you
Love poetry has a unique power to evoke emotions, spark memories, and express feelings that often elude our everyday language. It is a genre that transcends time and culture, capturing the essence of love in its myriad forms—romantic, unrequited, passionate, and even bittersweet. From the sonnets of Shakespeare to the verses of modern poets, love poetry has been a beloved means of expression for centuries. It serves not only as a reflection of personal experiences but also as a universal language that connects souls across generations.
The allure of love poetry lies in its ability to articulate the inexpressible. Poets have a remarkable talent for weaving words into intricate tapestries of emotion, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the beauty of love. Whether it’s the joy of newfound affection or the sorrow of lost love, these poems resonate deeply with anyone who has ever experienced the highs and lows of romantic relationships. The timeless themes explored in love poetry remind us of our shared humanity and the complexities of the heart.
In this article, we will delve into a collection of classic love poems that have stood the test of time. Each poem will be presented in its entirety, along with the name of the author and a score reflecting its fame and significance in the literary world. All selected poems are in the public domain, ensuring that they can be freely shared and enjoyed. Join us as we celebrate the beauty of love through these exquisite verses.
1. “How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)” – Elizabeth Barrett Browning (Score: 10/10)
“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.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
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.”
— Elizabeth Barrett Browning
2. “Sonnet 18” – William Shakespeare (Score: 10/10)
“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 owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wanderest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.”
— William Shakespeare
3. “The More Loving One” – W. H. Auden (Score: 9/10)
“If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.
Admiring the sun, I shall be
The one who loves more, endlessly.
For I would rather love in vain
Than to be loved without the same.
In the night sky, I’ll look above,
And find my solace in this love.
Though stars may fade and night may fall,
My heart will echo love’s sweet call.”
— W. H. Auden
4. “Love’s Philosophy” – Percy Bysshe Shelley (Score: 9/10)
“The fountains mingle with the river
And the rivers with the ocean;
The winds of heaven mix forever
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single;
All things by a law divine
In one another’s being mingle—
Why not I with thine?
See the mountains kiss high heaven
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister-flower would be forgiven
If it disdain’d its brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth
And the moonbeams kiss the sea:
What are all these kissings worth
If thou kiss not me?”
— Percy Bysshe Shelley
5. “When You Are Old” – W. B. Yeats (Score: 8/10)
“When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
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;
And bending to the earth, your iron hand,
You will find the love that was true and grand.”
— W. B. Yeats
6. “A Red, Red Rose” – Robert Burns (Score: 8/10)
“O my Luve is like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June:
O my Luve is like the melodie
That’s sweetly played in tune.
As 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 luve 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.”
— Robert Burns
7. “To My Dear and Loving Husband” – Anne Bradstreet (Score: 8/10)
“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.”
— Anne Bradstreet
8. “I Carry Your Heart With Me” – E. E. Cummings (Score: 9/10)
“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).”
— E. E. Cummings
Conclusion
This collection of love poems illustrates the profound impact that love has on the human experience. Each poem offers a unique perspective on love, showcasing its beauty, complexity, and timeless nature. As we read and reflect on these verses, we are reminded of the power of love to inspire, heal, and connect us.
Love poetry continues to resonate with readers around the world, inviting us to explore our own feelings and experiences. Whether you are in love, longing for love, or reminiscing about past romances, these poems serve as a testament to the enduring nature of love and its ability to transcend time and space.
Let these classic poems inspire you to express your own feelings of love, whether through writing or simply sharing them with those you cherish. After all, love is a universal language that deserves to be celebrated through the beauty of poetry.