my heart burns there, too

14 love poems for valentine's day

I love love.

And I love Valentine’s Day.

Last year was my first Valentine’s Day in a relationship, which made me appreciate the holiday in a new way. But up until then, I had always spent the day single. Luckily, I never saw that as an issue.

I’ve never associated Valentine’s Day with only romantic love. I think that’s because, in kindergarten, we were each assigned a Valentine and had to piece together a goodie bag with things they liked. I remember the thrill of opening a crinkled bag to find paper hearts, ring pops, and temporary tattoos. Of course, I’ve always been aware that the holiday is for romance between lovers, but I saw that as something that would come much later in my life. It’s funny how a ritual that started in kindergarten influenced my entire understanding of the holiday. Since then, I’ve seen Valentine’s Day as a celebration of friendship, the color pink, and love poems.

Here are some of my favorite poems and quotes about love. They’re all different but align in the promise that, one day, you’ll find someone who made the waiting worth it.

14 love poems:

IT by Stephen King

How is this beautiful little love poem from a horror novel? Well, the schoolboys in It discover that love, both romantic and friendly, is fear’s kryptonite. This 3-sentence note is written anonymously to Beverley M by Ben H. He doesn’t know how to say it, nor can he admit that it is him saying it, but Ben falls deeply for the red chaos of Bev’s life and yearns to sit in it with her.

Confessional by Sue Zhao

Zhao brilliantly articulates the meaning of love in this poem. To love someone is to love them despite it all. Keep searching for that person who says, ‘Yes, I will love you anyway.’

You Are There by Nikki Giovanni

*this picture only shows part of the poem*

You can’t talk about love or poems without talking about Giovanni; may she rest in peace. I recently picked up this collection titled Love Poems, and I highly, highly recommend it. This collection is fun, flirty, and touching. ‘You Are There’ is one of my favorites because it’s about the many forms that love can take. Love can be soft, protective, and guiding. Some loves are deeper than others and hover over us years later.

and so i can say it by Wanda Coleman

I love this expression of romantic love. How wonderful it is to know that your partner and their name are a mantra that you can call on to protect you. Find a love that does not dissipate or dissolve against force. One that is everlasting and bright.

Sleeping With You by Ellen Bass

‘I bind myself to you, like otters wrapped in kelp’ is a line that has stuck with me for years. What a perfect metaphor for wanting—needing to be skin-to-skin with your person. It’s not a decision but an instinct. We turn together, face the current together, and view life's troubles as a form to ‘polish’ us rather than wound us.

I love you by Pentti Saarikoski translated by Herbert Lomas

Translated poetry is tricky; however, the message here reminds me of the red string theory. It’s the idea that since birth, or even before, an invisible string connects us to our soulmate. Every day, we’re slowly being pulled towards that person. I love this theory; honestly, I think it’s how my boyfriend and I found each other.

Your Breast is Enough by Pablo Neruda

If I had to pick one poet to be my favorite, it would be Pablo Neruda. His poetry has appeared through various stages of my life, and despite my usual avoidance of poetry, Neruda’s words always strike me. He has published so many gems, but here is one I came across recently. My favorite line is, ‘What was sleeping above your soul will rise / out of my mouth to heaven.’ It’s a testament to how your partner can see aspects of you that you might not recognize yourself. And if they are a good partner, they will help you let it out and evolve into the person you’re meant to become.

all about love by bell hooks

At this point, if you haven’t heard of or read this book, you must live under a rock. I don’t care about the recent takes that this book is cringe and mainstream, there is real wisdom in here. As a young woman in therapy for ten years, there wasn’t much that surprised me in this book, but reading it alongside my boyfriend was eye-opening. GIFT THIS BOOK TO THE MEN IN YOUR LIFE; they probably need it more than you do. Here are two quotes I love:

We can find the love our hearts long for, but not until we let go of grief about the love we lost long ago (x)

Read this line and read it again. It’s not just about past romantic loves but the grief from lost friendships, arguments with parents, and even from leaving your childhood home or city. You must let go of the old stuff to make room for the new stuff.

Many men, especially, often turn away from true love and choose relationships in which they can be emotionally withholding when they feel like it but still receive love from someone else. Ultimately, they choose power over love. To know and keep true love we have to be willing to surrender the will to power (187)

These lines (and this whole chapter on romantic love) should be required reading for anyone in a relationship! This chapter debunks the fantasy that romantic love is easy. If you’re choosing the girl or guy that makes life ‘easy,’ consider whether it’s just a relationship in which you have power. Do you love them, or do you love that you can control them and/or be a controlled version of yourself around them?

Strawberries by Sue Zhao

I love this simple and sweet poem. It asks: can past loves ever really leave us? Are you the strawberry girl or the new girl? Can love, alone, sustain us?

Simple Passion by Annie Ernaux

This is not a poem but the last lines of Ernaux’s novella Simple Passion. The story details the internal monologue of a woman who has grown obsessed with the man she’s seeing. He is unavailable, toxic, and not that into her, and yet she devotes her time and brain power to him. You can certainly describe the woman’s mindset as akin to insanity, but I think these last few sentences humanize her. To be consumed by love, yearn for it, or sacrifice it all for it, is quite beautiful. Love is a luxury, even when it’s delusional.

The Light of the World by Elizabeth Alexander

If I could recommend one love story, it’d be this one, and it’s a true story. Alexander’s memoir is a testament to the existence of soul mates and true love. Just thinking about this quote makes me want to re-read the whole story.

Morning Love Song by Marge Piercy

This poem feels like summer and dancing and kissing and blushing. Though she uses melons as a simile, it’s true that you can detect the imprint of love on a stranger’s face. Its sweet juices leak from the cheeks, fingers, and lips. Seeing someone in love is impactful and contagious.

Tonight I Can Write by Pablo Neruda

*this picture only shows part of the poem*

I’m ending this essay with my favorite love poem. In typical Elle style, it’s a ‘sad’ poem about love that has escaped us, but I’ve found that it’s also about the emotions that inspire us to write. This poem is translated into English, so you must keep that in mind as you read. However, the word ‘can’ is worthy of analysis. In Spanish, the word is ‘puedo,’ so the translation into English is pretty spot on. It sticks out to me because it implies that Neruda could not write before this moment. Tonight, he can, symbolizing a level of freedom that comes with heartbreak. Tonight, as he dwells on her absence, he can freely write down the saddest of feelings. And the last line is like a release, in which he immortalizes his love for her in this poem but lets her physical presence in his mind go. If you’re feeling heartbroken this Valentine’s Day or are caught in a loop of reminiscing, maybe tonight is the night you write about it.

A New Romance by Alexandra Strèliski

This is a bonus inclusion! It’s a song, not a poem, so there are no words, but Strèliski perfectly conveyed the feeling of falling in love. This classical piece sounds like the early days of romance when warm pink fuzziness blankets you. Life is lighter; nothing is a burden; it’s like you’ve finally exhaled after holding your breath for years. The notes are soft and whimsical, but the bridge-passage is a reminder of its realness. Listen here.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love, Elle