Search results
Poets throughout the ages have recognized and celebrated the complexities of imperfect love, crafting verses that resonate with readers' hearts. In this article, we will explore a few exquisite poems that beautifully capture the essence of love's imperfections.
‘Love poetry’ is a wide and varied thing, but perhaps of all the loves in the world, the purest and most valuable is unconditional love: love given without expectation of reciprocity, love that will endure no matter what. But what are the best poems about this unconditional love which age cannot wither?
People also ask
What are some poems about love?
What are the most beautiful love poems?
What is the most famous love poem ever written?
What is a good poem for a romantic relationship?
Love isn’t all roses and candlelight. Love is complicated, and poetry has a unique ability to express the power and pain of that mess of feeling. This selection of poems shows love’s less idealistic side in all its difficulty, humor, grief, and possibility. For more poems about love, explore our archive. ANTI-LOVE.
In the vast world of poetry, hidden beneath the shadows of famous works, lie countless unknown poems that explore love in all its nuances. These poems offer fresh perspectives, capturing the elusive essence, the contrasting emotions, and the imperfect beauty of love.
In echoes of imperfect love that touched by grace, Our story unfolds, leaving an indelible trace. To others who face their trials and strife, May our journey inspire, kindle hope in life. For love, forgiveness, and faith in each other, Can build a foundation, resilient as a mother.
- “Come, and Be My Baby” by Maya Angelou
- "Bird-Understander" by Craig Arnold
- "Habitation" by Margaret Atwood
- "Variations on The Word Love" by Margaret Atwood
- "The More Loving One" by W.H. Auden
- "To My Dear and Loving Husband" by Anne Bradstreet
- "Always For The First Time" by André Breton
- "Love and Friendship" by Emily Brontë
- "To Be in Love" by Gwendolyn Brooks
- "How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Maya Angelou was one of America’s most acclaimed poets and storytellers, as well as a celebrated educator and civil rights activist. In ‘Come, And Be My Baby’, Angelou beautifully captures how overwhelming modern life can be and the comfort that love can provide during times of hardship — even if only for a moment.
The raw honesty of Craig Arnold’s poetry makes ‘Bird-Understander’ an easy pick for our list of the most beautiful love poems. In this piece, Arnold recounts a moment with his partner that makes his love grow even stronger. The language is simple yet evocative, putting a strong metaphor in the reader’s mind and facilitating a deeper understanding o...
Best known for her alarmingly realistic dystopian novelThe Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood demonstrates similar strengths in this poem: ‘Habitation’ is strikingly real. For context, Atwood here admits to the challenges of marriage and acknowledges the work needed to overcome them. It is this candor which makes the poem so beautiful.
One of the most fascinating things about love is that it can come in so many different forms — platonic, passionate, or even patronizing. Margaret Atwood unflinchingly lays out some of these in her poem ‘Variations on the Word Love’.
Whilst poems about heartbreak might not be as uplifting as those about the joys of love, they can be equally as beautiful and meaningful. The celestial extended metaphorof W.H. Auden’s ‘The More Loving One’ demonstrates this — though ultimately he would rather be ‘the more loving one’ himself, Auden perfectly encapsulates the pain of loss when love...
Anne Bradstreet’s Puritan belief that marriage is a gift from God comes across strongly in ‘To My Dear and Loving Husband.’ Reading it through a modern lens, it’s easy to start the poem feeling a little skeptical; however, Bradstreet’s genuine gratitude and dedication to her husband soon manifests to make it a deeply moving assertion of true love.
‘Always For The First Time’ is André Breton’s ode to a woman he has not met, but is willing to wait every day for. Breton was the French founder of the surrealist movement, which aimed to blur the lines between dreams and reality in art — explaining the rather whimsical nature of this beautiful love poem.
Love doesn’t have to be confined to romance — love between friends can be just as strong and beautiful. In ‘Love and Friendship’, Emily Brontë compares romantic love to a rose — stunning but short-lived — and friendship to a holly tree which can endure all seasons.
Next on our list of the most beautiful poems about love is ‘To Be in Love’ by Gwendolyn Brooks. Brooks was a poet, author, and teacher — and perhaps most notably, in 1950, was also the first African-American writer to receive a Pulitzer Prize. In this powerful poem, Brooks conveys the intense emotions which come with falling in love and how it can ...
Elizabeth Barrett Browning was a renowned Victorian poet who influenced the work of many later English-language poets, including Emily Dickinson. ‘How Do I Love Thee?’ is one of Browning’s most recognizable poems, and indeed one of the most famous love poems ever written — its ardent yet clear declaration of love has resonated with readers for over...
- Reedsy
I never thought that we would fight. I never dreamed that I would fall. I'd never admit this relationship had its flaws. But I love you anyways. This love we share for all to see, this perfectly imperfect love, was made by you and me, its everything and more that I want it to be. © Jan 2009, Stormy love.
