Love is one of the most universal and powerful emotions, and throughout history, poets have sought to capture its depth and beauty through words. Among the many forms of love poetry, famous short love poems hold a special place.
They express deep emotions and profound sentiments in just a few lines, making them perfect for conveying the intensity of love in a concise, impactful way. Whether through short love poems by famous poets or more personal verses, these poems often pack a powerful emotional punch, evoking strong feelings with just a few carefully chosen words. From famous love poems for him to famous short love poems for her, these timeless expressions continue to resonate with readers, offering a beautiful way to express love across generations.
In this article, we explore ten such poems that have captured hearts throughout history.
“Sonnet 18”
-by William Shakespeare
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.
“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.
“How Do I Love Thee?”
-by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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.
“Love”
– by Emily Dickinson
Love is anterior to life,
Posterior to death,
Initial of creation, and
The exponent of breath.
“The Sun Rising”
– by John Donne
She’s all states, and all princes, I,
Nothing else is.
Princess, do not rise
Till I labour to admit you,
I am not worthy to be called
But a man.
“A Red, Red Rose”
– by Robert Burns
O, my Luve’s like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June:
O, my Luve’s like the melodie
That’s sweetly played in tune.
“A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning”
– by John Donne
So let us melt, and make no noise,
No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move,
’Twere profanation of our joys
To tell the laity our love.
“This Is My Letter to the World”
– by Emily Dickinson
This is my letter to the world
That never wrote to me,
The simple news that Nature told,
With tender majesty.
“Meeting at Night”
– by Robert Browning
The gray sea and the long black land;
And the yellow half-moon large and low;
And the startled little waves that leap
In fiery ringlets from their bed,
As I gain the cove with pushing prow,
And quench its speed i’ the slushy sand.
“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:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
Looking for more? Explore our short love poems. Or maybe you’re interested in the love of friendship? Check out our short poems about friendship.
Short love poems have a unique ability to capture the essence of romantic affection in just a few lines. Whether it’s the timeless beauty of Shakespeare’s sonnet, the passionate longing of Robert Browning, or the mystical qualities of Emily Dickinson’s verse, these poems resonate deeply, transcending time and culture.
Their brevity enhances their impact, allowing emotions to shine through with both clarity and depth. From famous short love poems for him to famous short poems about love and marriage, these verses express the complexity of love in a way that remains relevant today.
Short poems on love by famous poets continue to inspire us, reminding us of love’s purest form and giving us a voice to express what words alone sometimes cannot.
For more inspiration, check out our short wedding poems or our best short poems.
Is it that time of year again? Celebrate with a short poem for Valentine’s Day.
