As Valentine’s Day approaches, finding the perfect way to express your love and appreciation for that special man in your life can be a delightful challenge. What better way to capture the depth of your feelings than through the timeless art of poetry? These 10 heartfelt Valentine’s Day poems, crafted by a diverse array of acclaimed poets, will help you convey the true essence of your love.
From the passionate declarations of Rumi to the tender musings of Maya Angelou, these carefully selected verses offer a range of perspectives on the beauty and complexity of a man’s love. Whether you’re looking to rekindle the flames of a long-lasting romance or profess your affection for a new love, these Valentine’s Day poems are sure to touch the heart of your beloved.
1. “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 and yours?”
2. “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” by Christopher Marlowe
“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.”
3. “Barter” by Sara Teasdale
“Life has loveliness to sell, All beautiful and splendid things, Blue waves whitened on a cliff, Soaring fire that sways and sings, And children’s faces looking up Holding wonder like a cup.”
4. “Love’s Philosophy” by Percy Bysshe Shelley
“The fountains mingle with the river, And the rivers with the ocean; The winds of heaven mix forever With a sweet emotion.”
5. “Love Poem” by John Frederick Nims
“My clumsiest dear, whose hands shipwreck vases, Whose eyes are as blue as disastrous seas And whose innocent, quick gestures may, at any Moment, startle baffled birds and not know it.”
6. “Ode on a Grecian Urn” by John Keats
“Thou still unravish’d bride of quietness, Thou foster-child of silence and slow time, Sylvan historian, who canst thus express A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme.”
7. “She Walks in Beauty” by 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.”
8. “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe
“But we loved with a love that was more than love— I and my Annabel Lee— With a love that the wingèd seraphs of Heaven Coveted her and me.”
9. “I Carry Your Heart With Me” by E.E. Cummings
“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)”
10. “Sonnet 116” by William Shakespeare
“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.”
These 10 heartfelt Valentine’s Day poems, crafted by a diverse array of acclaimed poets, offer a range of perspectives on the beauty and complexity of a man’s love. Whether you choose to recite them aloud or tuck them into a thoughtful card, these verses are sure to touch the heart of your beloved and make this Valentine’s Day truly special.
As you present these poems to your loved one, let the words flow from your heart, conveying the depth of your affection and admiration. The timeless beauty of these verses, combined with your heartfelt delivery, will create a moment of pure, unadulterated romance that your partner will cherish for years to come. So, let the power of poetry be your guide as you celebrate the love you share on this special day.