Poetry is easily one of the greatest and most common ways to express your love. Affectionate words are only necessary in any kind of relationship. You may be on your way to class and hear a girl you don’t know compliment their friend’s hair and tell them how pretty they are. You may hear the doting words of a smiling stranger to another stranger holding their hand. Affectionate and beautiful words however are only implemented by poetry. It is only through poetry can one describe the complex being that is love. For one prime and popular example, in poet and playwright William Shakespeare’s famous Sonnet 18 “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”, the writer compares the beauty of his lover to the beauty of summer, and captures the eternal passion he has for the person he loves along with their “eternal summer”. Only a good love poem can make one clearly feel the true admiration the speaker feels for a person, especially through this particular sonnet, and the amount of emotion put into the heart of each word, brought together into a thoughtful composition of genuine love, from the fiercest love to the softest.
No doubt about it, your Valentine—your friend—your family member would be absolutely delighted and thrilled to receive such a lovely poem, hold a grasp on your heart and feel what ardent love you feel for a minute or two. Let your loved one understand you, that you love them dearly and whatever happiness you possess having them in your life. That is what enhances the quality of life and human connection, showing others how much you love and appreciate them.
The following are very lovely selected poems from a few poets I highly recommend. All of which have written beautiful pieces with great depth, intellect, and skill. Reflect on your feelings during this season of love, receive inspiration from these talented and iconic artists, explore their work, find the words that convey your feelings best (and always credit the writer, if you share any of their poems with someone!)
Romantic
One Hundred Love Sonnets: XVII — Pablo Neruda
Love Letter — Sylvia Plath
My Loves — Langston Hughes
Platonic
I should not dare to leave my friend, — Emily Dickinson
Sonnet 104: To me, fair friend, you can never be old — William Shakespeare
Love and Friendship — Emily Brontë
