The Most Famous Love Poems from the Last 500 Years

For as long as humans have been alive, we have been writing about love. Love, just like any emotion, is extremely difficult to capture in words. Throughout most of history, we have left it up to the poets and artists to try and recreate these feelings. That’s why we’ve collected these quotes from the most famous love poems of all time.

Quotes From the Most Famous Love Poems of All Time

While we don’t have enough space to quote these poems in their entirety, we’ve selected quotes from some of the world’s most famous love poems.

Quotes from Old-Time Love Poems

These quotes are from timeless love poems that were written many hundreds of years ago.

Now at the last gasp of Love’s latest breath,
When, his pulse failing, Passion speechless lies,
When Faith is kneeling by his bed of death,
And Innocence is closing up his eyes,
Now if thou wouldst, when all have given him over,
From death to life thou mightst him yet recover.
–Since There’s No Help, Michael Drayton (1563-1631)
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.
-How Do I Love Thee – Elizabeth Barret Browning (1806-1861)
O my Luve is like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve is like the melody
That’s sweetly played in tune.
–A Red, Red Rose – Robert Burns (1759-1796)

Quotes from More Modern Love Poems

While not necessarily new, these quotes are from poems written in the last couple centuries.

But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we—
Of many far wiser than we—
And neither the laughter in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.
–Annabell Lee – Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)
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;

When You Are Old -W.B. Yeats (1865-1939)
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 carry your heart with me(i carry it in) – E.E. Cummings (1894-1962)
The highway is full of big cars going nowhere fast
And folks is smoking anything that’ll burn
Some people wrap their lives around a cocktail glass
And you sit wondering
where you’re going to turn.
I got it.
Come. And be my baby.
Come, and Be My Baby – Maya Angelou (1951-2014)

Conclusion

Love is one of the quintessential parts of being human. Despite its prevalence, it remains an elusive emotion in regards to being described. That said, these incredible poets have done a pretty good job.

On the topic of love, check out these amazing love quotes that can help inspire your relationships. Or take a gander at these heartwarming and inspiring true love quotes to remind yourself of how incredible love can be.