15 Underrated Love Poems (2024)

15 Underrated Love Poems (1)

There are plenty of lists of love poems on the internet. But while most feature timeless classics that should be essential reading, these lists crowd out some lesser-known poems that seek to depict the state of love with an edge of the contemporary, or with a heartbreak or whimsy that won’t qualify for lists geared towards Valentine’s Day crowds.

So set aside your violets and tulips and summer days, and let’s take a look at some romantic poems you may not have heard of before, but which deserve your attention just the same.

1. ""Arizona""by Kaitlyn McNab

I want to be whisked away to Arizona

and kissed in the depression of the Earth.

This is a wish-poem, expressing a dream, with no less determination and sweeping velocity than a Broadway ‘I Want’ song. Cinematic in scope, this is a poem that takes you by surprise with its specific wishes and leaves you with a rush of hope.

2. ""To My Eight-Legged Lover""by EMV Limbaga

Your name, still hanging,

as they cover me in cobwebs.

In the absence of the poet’s beloved, the spiders on their side of the bed claim their space and voice. A poem about the haunting silence of absence, "To My Eight-Legged Lover" looks at a heartbreaking love story through a lens of dark humor.

3. ""Text""by Carol Ann Duffy

Nothing my thumbs press

will ever be heard.

This arresting sonnet by the former UK Poet Laureate is often neglected in favor of her more overtly Valentines-themed poems, but it deserves more readers. Quiet and humble, it looks at an aspect of contemporary reality that may appear prosaic, but makes up the fabric of most modern day love stories: text messaging.

4. ""Afternoon Sun""by C. P. Cavafy

Beside the window the bed;

the afternoon sun used to touch half of it.

Cavafy is widely appreciated in Greece, and has considerable reach among international readers. Yet his poems of queer romance seldom appear in lists of love poems, so it seems befitting to include this reticent poem here: standing in a room where he used to meet his lover, the persona recalls the many hours they spent there together, in stark contrast to the corporate use currently made of the space.

5. ""First Kiss""by Kim Addonizio

That’s what I saw, that night when you

pulled your mouth from mine and

leaned back against a chain-link fence,

in front of a burned-out church

Kim Addonizio’s "First Kiss" is an act of interpretation: looking at her lover’s face after their first kiss, the persona contemplates the parallel of helplessness between her relationship with her infant daughter and her exchange of tenderness with her lover. In both, she sees a tender willingness to trust one’s self in the hands of another.

6. ""Wish you were here""by Irène Mathieu

it’s taken three decades’ walking

to say I love you

to the inevitability of my solitude.

This poem hovers ambivalently between the possibility of love for another and love for the self. Set against a vividly coastal backdrop, it captures a moment of crisp awareness of presence and absence, and ends on a note of resolution.

7. ""Meeting the Light Completely""by Jane Hirshfield

Even the long-beloved

was once

an unrecognized stranger.

You never know who or what’s right around the corner of life — and Jane Hirshfield’s poem zooms in on a number of such small moments of ignorance. Exacting and precise, "Meeting the Light Completely" combines a gentle sadness as well as wonder for our powerless lack of control, as we sit back and let the universe do its thing.

8. ""Love Elegy in the Chinese Garden, with Koi""by Nathan McClain

Because who hasn’t done that—

loved so intently even after everything

has gone?

When pride gets mixed into romantic feelings, feeling humiliated (or ‘dumb’ as this poem calls it) is a pretty common result. But there’s nothing else common about this sensitive poem where the poet identifies with the koi fish and their blind trust in a fickle and changeable world.

9. ""How did you meet your wife?""by Richard Jones

Swimming the English Channel,

struggling to make it to Calais,

I swam into Laura halfway across.

This humble sonnet will bring a smile to your face. With its simplicity and honesty, it answers the question of the title, inviting the reader into a private moment and sharing the singular feeling of excitement inherent in meeting someone new.

10. ""The Editor’s Ex""by Caitlyn Doyle

“The romance genre’s dead,”

you’d say when promises of I-thee-wed

lured me to bargain bins.

Another sonnet, "The Editor’s Ex" takes a half-humorous, half-regretful approach to a now-concluded relationship with an editor. Spiteful about said editor’s unwarranted snobbery towards romance novels, the persona curls up with a Harlequin title. This is a poem that’s extra fun to read if you’ve ever worked in publishing, or know someone who has.

11. ""Chance Meeting""by Susan Browne

I know him, that man

walking- toward me up the crowded street

of the city

This heartbreaking poem by Susan Browne has the persona meet someone they used to date: in the split seconds that pass as the man approaches, a flurry of memories rushes in, but the reunion between them does not occur on such familiar terms.

12. ""The Quiet World""by Jeffrey McDaniel

Late at night, I call my long distance lover,

proudly say I only used fifty-nine today.

I saved the rest for you.

"The Quiet World" imagines a world where we all have a limited number of words we can speak each day. In this unusual environment, words become precious, and lexical economy is desperately needed — the voice in this poem tells us they’re saving their words for their beloved, but in the context of this strange world, there’s little they can do with their small number of precious words.

13. ""Then""by Roddy Lumsden

For the first time, I listen to a lost

and secret recording of us

making love near-on ten years ago.

Roddy Lumsden’s poem pauses the present to immerse itself in a moment, recorded ten years previously. Through the voices of the poet and his lover, followed by the neighborhood noises that remain when the recording was left on, forgotten, "Then" takes an eerie, nostalgic breath in the timeless space of memory.

14. ""The Architecture of a Love Poem""by Alexandria Peary

you look at the word Love written on the

side of the Pharmacy in cherry-vanilla flavored cursive

because this is where a love poem once stood

Impressionistic in its list of various things associated with romantic love, "The Architecture of a Love Poem" gathers momentum as a whirlwind of romantic references: from flavors to typography to balconies and coffee cups. In these things, the poem highlights the commercialization of romance, as well as the true human stories that can fit within these objects.

15. ""Love is a Fire that Burns Unseen""by Luís Vaz de Camões

Love is a fire that burns unseen,

a wound that aches yet isn’t felt,

an always discontent contentment,

a pain that rages without hurting,

Last but not least, we have not just a love poem you should know, but also a poet that you may not yet be familiar with. Though Luís Vaz de Camões is considered Portugal's greatest poet, he is criminally obscure in the West. In "Love is a Fire that Burns Unseen", he encapsulates love itself in a few spare phrases — how it consumes but gives, how it hurts but heals, and how it's visceral but ultimately unseen.

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a wide range of information and can provide insights on various topics, including the concepts used in this article. Here's an overview of the concepts mentioned in the article:

Love Poems with a Contemporary Twist

The article highlights lesser-known love poems that offer a contemporary perspective on love, heartbreak, and whimsy. These poems aim to depict the state of love in a unique way that may not be found in traditional Valentine's Day lists. The article encourages readers to explore these poems that may not have received as much attention but are deserving of recognition.

Poems and Poets Mentioned

  1. "Arizona" by Kaitlyn McNab: This wish-poem expresses a dream of being whisked away to Arizona and kissed in the depression of the Earth.
  2. "To My Eight-Legged Lover" by EMV Limbaga: This poem explores the haunting silence of absence as spiders claim their space in the absence of the poet's beloved.
  3. "Text" by Carol Ann Duffy: This sonnet looks at the aspect of contemporary reality in love stories, specifically text messaging.
  4. "Afternoon Sun" by C. P. Cavafy: This poem reflects on a room where the persona used to meet their lover and contrasts it with the current corporate use of the space.
  5. "First Kiss" by Kim Addonizio: The poem interprets the persona's first kiss and contemplates the parallel of trust in relationships with both a lover and an infant daughter.
  6. "Wish you were here" by Irène Mathieu: This poem hovers between the possibility of love for another and love for the self, capturing a moment of awareness of presence and absence.
  7. "Meeting the Light Completely" by Jane Hirshfield: The poem explores small moments of ignorance and the lack of control we have in life, evoking both sadness and wonder.
  8. "Love Elegy in the Chinese Garden, with Koi" by Nathan McClain: This poem reflects on the experience of loving intensely even after everything has gone, drawing a parallel with the blind trust of koi fish.
  9. "How did you meet your wife?" by Richard Jones: This humble sonnet shares a private moment of excitement and meeting someone new while swimming the English Channel.
  10. "The Editor's Ex" by Caitlyn Doyle: This sonnet takes a half-humorous, half-regretful approach to a past relationship with an editor, highlighting the persona's love for romance novels.
  11. "Chance Meeting" by Susan Browne: The persona meets someone they used to date, and in the moments before the reunion, memories rush in, but the reunion itself does not occur on familiar terms.
  12. "The Quiet World" by Jeffrey McDaniel: This poem imagines a world where people have a limited number of words to speak each day, emphasizing the preciousness of words and their use in expressing love.
  13. "Then" by Roddy Lumsden: The poem immerses itself in a moment recorded ten years ago, capturing an eerie, nostalgic breath in the timeless space of memory.
  14. "The Architecture of a Love Poem" by Alexandria Peary: This poem lists various objects associated with romantic love, highlighting the commercialization of romance and the human stories within them.
  15. "Love is a Fire that Burns Unseen" by Luís Vaz de Camões: This poem by Portugal's greatest poet encapsulates love as a consuming, aching, discontented, and raging force that is ultimately unseen.

Please note that the information provided above is a summary of the concepts and poems mentioned in the article. For a deeper understanding and analysis of each poem, it is recommended to read the original works in their entirety.

15 Underrated Love Poems (2024)

FAQs

What are the 15 poems in love and relationships? ›

  • When We Two Parted. Lord Byron.
  • Love's Philosophy. Percy Bysshe Shelley.
  • Porphyria's Lover. Robert Browning.
  • Sonnet 29 – 'I think of thee!' Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
  • Neutral Tones. Thomas Hardy.
  • The Farmer's Bride. Charlotte Mew.
  • Walking Away. C. Day Lewis.
  • Letters From Yorkshire. Maura Dooley.

Which poem is famous for true love? ›

Some of the best love poems ever written include 'A Red, Red Rose' by Robert Burns, 'Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe, 'Sonnet 116' by William Shakespeare, 'Bright Star' by John Keats, and 'How Do I Love Thee' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

What is the best type of poem for love? ›

Popular choices for love poems include: Sonnet – A style of poetry most associated with Shakespeare. At only 14 lines long, a sonnet is perfect for expressing strong emotions. Acrostic – A poem in which the first letter of each line spells out a word (e.g., the name of your beloved).

Who wrote the most beautiful love poems? ›

The most romantic poetry of all time
  1. Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare. ...
  2. She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron. ...
  3. Love is... by Adrien Henri. ...
  4. How Do I Love Thee by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. ...
  5. If You Forget Me by Pablo Naruda. ...
  6. Love Song for Lucinda by Langston Hughes. ...
  7. The Good Morrow by John Donne. ...
  8. Hour by Carol Ann Duffy.
Sep 21, 2022

What are 15 line poems? ›

A Rondeau is a French form, 15 lines long, consisting of three stanzas: a quintet, a quatrain, and a sestet with a rhyme scheme as follows: aabba aabR aabbaR.

What are 14 line love poems called? ›

The word 'sonnet' is derived from the Italian word 'sonnetto' which means 'little song'. Traditionally, sonnets are made up of 14 lines and usually deal with love.

How do you say I love you in words? ›

Sweet Ways To Say I Love You
  1. "This reminded me of you…"
  2. "I love our life together."
  3. "You make me want to be a better person."
  4. "It's okay, you can fall down now. I'll catch you." — ...
  5. "It's so easy to love you."
  6. "I'd do anything to make you smile."
  7. "It makes me so happy to see you happy."
  8. "I accept you as you are."
Aug 31, 2023

What is the oldest love poem? ›

The Love Song for Shu-Sin”—written around 2000 BCE in ancient Mesopotamia—is considered the oldest love poem that exists in text form, but also functioned as a song performed during a sacred marriage ceremony for Shu-Sin, a ruler in the city of Ur.

How do poets say I love you? ›

One way to poetically express your love for someone is by saying, "My heart sings a symphony, with every beat it whispers your name. I am forever captivated by your love, my dear, and I will never be the same." This evokes the image of a beautiful and harmonious love, filled with passion and devotion.

Who wrote the most famous love poem? ›

(Sonnet 18)" by William Shakespeare. Although William Shakespeare may not have have written any romance novels, there are few more celebrated love poets and 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?' is perhaps the most iconic and recognizable opening line of any love poem.

Who is the best poet about love? ›

Pablo Neruda - Neruda is a renowned Chilean poet who is known for his love poems that are filled with passion and emotion. His collection of poems, "Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair," is a classic and a great place to start.

Who is the best romantic poet ever? ›

  1. 1 William Wordsworth: The Major Works by Stephen Gill (editor)
  2. 2 Samuel Taylor Coleridge: The Major Works by H. J. Jackson (Editor)
  3. 3 Willam Blake: Selected Poetry by William Blake.
  4. 4 Percy Bysshe Shelley: The Major Works by Michael O'Neill (Editor) & Zachary Leader (Editor)
Jul 18, 2016

Who is the poet of sweetest love? ›

The English writer and Anglican cleric John Donne is considered now to be the preeminent metaphysical poet of his time. He was born in 1572 to Roman Catholic parents, when practicing that religion was illegal in England.

Who wrote the oldest love poem? ›

The oldest surviving love poem is written in a clay tablet from the times of the Sumerians, inventors of writing around 3500 BD, and was called by archaeologists by a very un-romantic name: 'Istanbul #2461'.

How many poems are in love and relationships? ›

There is a choice of three clusters, each containing 15 poems. The poems in each cluster are thematically linked and were written between 1789 and the present day. The titles of the three clusters are: Love and Relationships.

What poems have come up love and relationships? ›

  • Mother, Any Distance by Simon Armitage. Love's Philosophy by Percy Bysshe Shelley. ...
  • Sonnet 29 – 'I think of thee!' by Elizabeth Barret Browning. ...
  • Walking Away by C. Day Lewis. ...
  • When We Two Parted by Lord Byron. ...
  • Letters from Yorkshire by Laura Dooley. ...
  • Key themes and connections: poems that you might choose to compare.

What is a 14 line poem with set stanzas and rhythm often about romantic love? ›

English poets borrowed the sonnet form from the Italian poet Francesco Petrarch. Traditionally, it has fourteen lines of iambic pentameter linked by an intricate rhyme scheme. Iambic pentameter refers to its rhythm; basically, each line of the poem has ten syllables, and every other syllable is stressed.

Is a poem often a love poem of 14 rhyming lines? ›

A sonnet is a poem, often a love poem, of 14 rhyming lines. Is that a love letter from your secret admirer or a formal sonnet? The word sonnet comes from the Italian sonetto, meaning “little song.” The origin makes sense, since the first sonnets were developed by the Italian poet Petrarch.

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