22 Famous Love Poems

The Gesture of Love

Oh the comfort,
the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person,
having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words,
but to pour them all out, just as they are,
chaff and grain together,
knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them,
keep what is worth keeping,
and then with the breath of kindness,
blow the rest away.

Time And Love

Time flies. The swift hours hurry by
And speed us on to untried ways;
New seasons ripen, perish, die,
And yet love stays.
The old, old love — like sweet at first,
At last like bitter wine —
I know not if it blest or curst,
Thy life and mine.
Read the complete poem, Time And Love

To My Dear and Loving Husband

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.

I Never Knew

I never knew a night so black
Light failed to follow on its track.

I never knew a storm so gray
It failed to have its clearing day.

I never knew such bleak despair
That there was not a rift, somewhere.

I never knew an hour so drear
Love could not fill it full of cheer!

Life in a Love

Escape me?
Never—
Beloved!
While I am I, and you are you,
So long as the world contains us both,
Me the loving and you the loth,
While the one eludes, must the other pursue.

My life is a fault at last, I fear:
It seems too much like a fate, indeed!
Though I do my best I shall scarce succeed.
But what if I fail of my purpose here?
It is but to keep the nerves at strain,
To dry one's eyes and laugh at a fall,
And baffled, get up to begin again,-
So the chase takes up one's life, that's all.

While, look but once from your farthest bound,
At me so deep in the dust and dark,
No sooner the old hope drops to ground
Than a new one, straight to the selfsame mark,
I shape me—
Ever
Removed!

What Can Love Do?

Love can make the eyes shine bright,
Love can brighten darkest night;
Love can make the lover gush,
Love can make the maiden blush.
Read the complete poem, What Can Love Do?

Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill went up the hill—the Hill of Life—together.
And luck was good and luck was ill, and fair and foul the weather.
It happened sometimes Jack fell down; but they were parted never,
For Jill with love would mend his crown—ah, Jill was very clever!

Oh, Jack and Jill went up the hill—the Hill of Life—together;
The smooth, the rough, each dale and vale, and they were parted never.
It happened sometimes they would spill the bread and water life demands.
Then Jack would smile, and so would Jill, and clasp in love each other's hands.

When both were old and both were grey, they reached the summit of Life's hill.
Said they, “Life's been both work and play; and must be so for Jack and Jill."
And thus I read the dear old rhyme of Jack and Jill and water pail:
The hurt is healed, yes, every time, if love betwixt them never fail.

She Walks in Beauty

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;
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

Live to Love

Love is life's end; an end but never ending;
All joys, all sweets, all happiness awarding;
Love is life's wealth (ne'er spent but ever spending).
Love's life's reward, rewarded in rewarding:
Then from thy wretched heart fond care remove.
Ah! shouldst thou live but once love's sweets to prove,
Thou wilt not love to live, unless thou live to love.

The Price Of Love

I sought the world over, my darling,
To find you, the joy of my heart;
I could not rest now or forever,
If aught were to drive us apart.

There's nothing in earth or in heaven.
There's nothing beyond the dark tomb,
Can change the fond love that I bear you,
Or cover its brightness with gloom.

My soul to your soul is united
By love-ties which nothing can break;
I'd give up the world and its treasures,
Or heaven itself, for your sake.

Loved

Because I had loved so deeply,
Because I had loved so long,
God in His great compassion
Gave me the gift of song.

Fairer Than Lilies

Fairer than lilies in bloom,
Fraught with the sparkling dew,
Brighter than dancing sunbeams
On the waters blue,
Sweeter than nightingale songs
In the stilly night,
Is the idol of my heart,
Its joy and delight. . . .
Read the complete poem, Fairer Than Lilies

Impatience

How can I wait until you come to me?
The once fleet mornings linger by the way;
Their sunny smiles touched with malicious glee
At my unrest, they seem to pause, and play
Like truant children, while I sigh and say,
How can I wait. . . .
Read the complete poem, Impatience

What Love Is

Love is the centre and circumference;
The cause and aim of all things — 'tis the key
To joy and sorrow, and the recompense
For all the ills that have been, or may be. . . .
Read the complete poem, What Love Is

The Golden Wedding

Just fifty years ago this day
Two hearts were joined in one!
They asked their God to guide their way,
Through Jesus Christ, the Son. . . .
Read the complete poem, The Golden Wedding

Send Her a Valentine

Send her a valentine to say
You love her in the same old way.
Just drop the long familiar ways
And live again the old-time days
When love was new and youth was bright
And all was laughter and delight,
And treat her as you would if she
Were still the girl that used to be. . . .
Read the complete poem, Send Her a Valentine

A Bride To Her Husband

Now, confidingly I place my hand in thine,
(May it be a helping hand,)
And pledge myself by thee to stand.
Whether clouds are dark or the sun does shine;
So thou art e'er unfaltering true to me.
Fidelity's hand shall ne'er be withdrawn from thee. . . .
Read the complete poem, A Bride To Her Husband

Heart Questioning

What stirs an emotion
As deep as' the ocean,
And strong as the hills that tower above?
'Tis the sound of a sigh,
As the zephyrs go by,
That tells in a breath the presence of Love. . . .
Read the complete poem, Heart Questioning

True Love

'Tis a magic spell,
Which lovers know well,
In sunshine and shower the same;
Ever old, yet new,
Both constant and true,
And seeks neither self nor fame. . . .
Read the complete poem, True Love

Love Is

A life without the bonds of love.
Its pleasure would be none;
'Tis that warm and tender spirit,
That joins two hearts as one. . . .
Read the complete poem, Love Is

Let Me But Love

Let me but love my love without disguise,
Nor wear a mask of fashion old or new,
Nor wait to speak till I can hear a clue,
Nor play a part to shine in others' eyes,
Nor bow my knees to what my heart denies;
But what I am, to that let me be true,
And let me worship where my love is due,
And so through love and worship let me rise. . . .
Read the complete poem, Let Me But Love

Broken Romance

You told me your story -
A picture in words -
A garden with roses and sweet-singing birds -
And two lovers dreaming the moments away -
Bewitched by the spell of the blue Summer's day. . . .
Read the complete poem, Broken Romance