How to Write Love Poems to Your Partner

Why Write Love Poems?

Writing a love poem to your significant other is a romantic idea for any special occasion. Not only does it show them you are thinking about them, it also shows that you put serious thought into your relationship and what you may love about the other person. It doesn’t have to take place on a special occasion though, like Valentine’s Day or an anniversary, but can be on any day that you feel like making them feel special.

Writing a poem is largely abstract, so you will have to get in touch with your emotions to write a poem about love. If you’re not the best at creative writing or this is your first time writing a love poem, don’t worry! The good news is, writing a love poem is easy once you have your ideas down. Below are some writing tips, suggestions and example rhyme schemes for writing a great romantic love poem.

Start Brainstorming

Start by writing a list of things you like about your girlfriend, boyfriend or partner. Writing a poem is much easier if you know what words or ideas you want to incorporate. Think about your significant other and the things that set them apart from other people in your life. Try to avoid clichés as you brainstorm ideas, as this will make the poem feel more specific and personal. This person isn’t just a family member, loved one or friend, they could be your true love, so treat them like it!

Choose a Rhyme Scheme

There are many poetic forms to choose from, so whether you want to master the art of rhyme or write freely there is one for you. From free verse, to a couplet or haiku, the best love poems just show someone that you love them. Your partner will know how much effort you put into the poem based on the quality of the rhymes and content of the poem.

You do not have to be a critically acclaimed wordsmith to make something rhyme, either. Stick to words that are easy to rhyme, like heart, love, swoon or eyes. Finding synonyms for words can also help, or searching for similes to words and phrases could be a big help as well. Do not try to get too advanced or you will tie yourself up in contradictions or phrases that do not make sense.

Review Your Poem

Read each line aloud after you write it. This will give you a better idea of the meter in your poem. If a poem is more lyrical, it will sound lovelier to the reader. Poems that are choppy and poorly structured will just look hasty and boring. Study up on the standard classics of poetry meter such as iambic pentameter or iambic tetrameter, both of which are often used in love poetry from masters such as William Shakespeare and Emily Dickenson.

Present Your Poem

Present the poem in a romantic fashion. Simply giving them the poem on a sheet of loose-leaf paper could show a general lack of concern or effort. You’d be better off to write it on a meaningful card or a piece of parchment, which you can find at any crafts store. You could even paint the poem in an artistic way on a piece of canvas.

More Tips

Your significant other will honestly know if the poem was hastily thrown together. Start writing well in advance of the date you plan to present the poem, giving yourself plenty of time to craft a lyrical poem of the highest quality. At the end of the day, they probably just want to hear “I love you” and see that love put into words or actions.

What is a Sestina?

A sestina is a short poem with a fixed verse form consisting of six stanzas of six lines each Words that end each line of the first stanza are used as line endings in the following stanzas.

Example of a Sestina:

Sestina: Altaforte BY EZRA POUND

LOQUITUR: En Betrans de Born.

Dante Alighieri put this man in hell for that he was a stirrer-up of strife.

Eccovi!

Judge ye!

Have I dug him up again?

The scene is his castle, Altaforte. “Papiols” is his jongleur. “The

Leopard,” the device of Richard (Cœur de Lion).

Damn it all! all this our South stinks peace.

You whoreson dog, Papiols, come! Let’s to music!

I have no life save when the swords clash.

But ah! when I see the standards gold, vair, purple, opposing

And the broad fields beneath them turn crimson,

Then howl I my heart nigh mad with rejoicing.

In hot summer have I great rejoicing

When the tempests kill the earth’s foul peace,

And the light’nings from black heav’n flash crimson,

And the fierce thunders roar me their music

And the winds shriek through the clouds mad, opposing,

And through all the riven skies God’s swords clash.

III

Hell grant soon we hear again the swords clash!

And the shrill neighs of destriers in battle rejoicing,

Spiked breast to spiked breast opposing!

Better one hour’s stour than a year’s peace

With fat boards, bawds, wine and frail music!

Bah! there’s no wine like the blood’s crimson!

And I love to see the sun rise blood-crimson.

And I watch his spears through the dark clash

And it fills all my heart with rejoicing

And prys wide my mouth with fast music

When I see him so scorn and defy peace,

His lone might ’gainst all darkness opposing.

The man who fears war and squats opposing

My words for stour, hath no blood of crimson

But is fit only to rot in womanish peace

Far from where worth’s won and the swords clash

For the death of such sluts I go rejoicing;

Yea, I fill all the air with my music.

Papiols, Papiols, to the music!

There’s no sound like to swords swords opposing,

No cry like the battle’s rejoicing

When our elbows and swords drip the crimson

And our charges ’gainst “The Leopard’s” rush clash.

May God damn for ever all who cry “Peace!”

VII

And let the music of the swords make them crimson

Hell grant soon we hear again the swords clash!

Hell blot black for always the thought “Peace”!

Example of Short Love Poems

Roses are red, violets are blue, and I'll never ever, ever stop loving you.

How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43) Elizabeth Barrett Browning - 1806-1861

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.

I love thee to the level of every day's

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for right.

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

A Red, Red Rose BY ROBERT BURNS

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.

So fair art thou, my bonnie lass,

So deep in luve am I;

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

Till a’ the seas gang dry.

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;

I will love thee still, my dear,

While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only luve!

And fare thee weel awhile!

And I will come again, my luve,

Though it were ten thousand mile.