The 100 Best Love Poems of All Time

by Leslie Pockell

Words of Love ...and seduction, heartbreak, adoration, and passion. Here in this portable treasury are the 100 most moving and memorable love poems of all time, each accompanied by an illuminating introduction. Revisit the Classics: "He Is More Than a Hero" by Sappho Sonnet 18 ("Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds") by William Shakespeare "She Walks in Beauty" by Lord Byron Enjoy Old Favorites: "To My Dear and Loving Husband" by Anne Bradstreet "The Owl and the Pussycat" by Edward Lear "When I Was One and Twenty" by A. E. Housman Make Surprising Discoveries: "Your Catfish Friend" by Richard Brautigan "To Alice B. Toklas" by Gertrude Stein "Valentine" by Donald Hall "True Love" by Judith Viorst Carry this book wherever you go. It's a perfect companion to read alone or to share with that special person in your life. The 100 Best Love Poems of all Time.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Romance, Classics, Anthologies

144 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2003

About the author

"Some may ask where I get the authority to compile such a work, and attach such lofty claims to it. I have no advanced business degrees myself, but I have labored in an assortment of metaphorical vineyards over the course of the past four decades, from entry level to senior management positions, in government and in the private sector, and I have paid attention to the commonalities and repetitive patterns around me.

In an era when hit television programs like The Office and award-winning novels like And Then We Came To The End are documenting the futility and anomie that is so often a part of our shared work experience, and the economic chaos all around us demonstrates the inadequacy of so-called professional expertise, the universal verities of business presented in MBA IN A BOOK are more relevant than ever."

“I’ve been in publishing for more than three decades, but I try to keep current.”

So wrote Les Pockell about himself for an in-house publication. Les didn’t just “keep current” – he had an encyclopedic knowledge of everything past, present and future in every field imaginable. He had an insatiable appetite for learning, and for passing along all the wisdom he’d accumulated to the editors he worked with and mentored over his many years in publishing.

His vitality was contagious; his opinions were strong; his brilliance was dazzling. He was well-loved by so many, and will be deeply missed.

Reviews

[Tamara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some great lines and some classic poems; but best of all time? I should hope not.

[Michelle Smart · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow, this was a piece of work. This was the most uninspiring collection of love poems I can imagine. On the up-side, I did find a gem about "your catfish friend," so it wasn't a total waste.

[payshens · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5★
the poems in this were predominantly hetero, and written by white men, which doesn't make for a good, representative selection of poetry. but i did find some i like:
-who ever loved by christopher marlowe
-a red, red rose by robert burns
-the mirabeau bridge by guillaume apollinaire
-the gardener by rabidranath tagore
-reprise by ogden nash
- i do not love you by pablo neruda
- the vine by james thomson
- i loved you by alexander sergeyevich pushkin
-come quickly by izumi shikibu
-to my dear and loving husband by anne bradstreet
-how do i love thee? by elizabeth barett browning
-sonnet xxx by edna st.vincent millay
- wear me by robert kogan
-moonlit night by tu fu
-reminisce by anne brontë
-funeral blues by w.h. auden

[bels · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, if you're looking for writing prompts 💙

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a lovely little book of English-language love poetry collection with a solid handful of translations from poets like Tagore, Neruda, Sappho, Rumi, and others. Each poem comes with an interesting introduction/notes from the editor, very worth the read.

Although several of my favorite poems made it to in this collection, including "The Highwayman" by Alred Noyes” and “Still I rise" by Maya Angelou and even “Lake Isle of Innisfree" by William Butler Yeats, which I was beyond thrill; I don’t think the overall assortment was very diverse as it is fairly American-centric. It’s hard to say whether these are “THE BEST” of all times.

*I would still be delighted to include it as part of my library poetry collection despite the tacky purple cover that looks almost like a Hallmark card.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This poetry collection just reinforced my standpoint that poetry and I don't mesh very well, going all the way back to when I was school and had to complete poetry assignments. This collection of poetry was just "meh." I won't remember it and I won't return to it.

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audacious, courageous and never-before compendium is an affectionate, expressive celebration of love in all its forms—romantic, fervent, unreciprocated, and eternal. The book collects works from poets across eras, cultures, and perspectives, offering readers a rich tapestry of emotion and artistry. The assemblage is dense and handy, making it a faultless gift or bedside companion. Its brevity may leave some readers longing for more depth or exploration, but its intent is to provide an evocative introduction to the world of love poetry, and it succeeds admirably in this mission. The forte of this anthology lies in its diversity. Pockell dexterously curates poems from an extensive variety of poets, including Shakespeare, Rumi, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Pablo Neruda, Emily Dickinson, and E.E. Cummings. Each poem has its matchless timbre, capturing diverse facets of love, from the aching yearning of absence to the elation of union. The juxtaposition of classical pieces with modern voices allows the reader to appreciate the universality and timelessness of love as a poetic theme. The editor’s choice to relinquish drawn-out introductions or footnotes is a double-edged sword. While it permits the poems to stand alone and speak for themselves, some readers may wish for more circumstantial background, specifically when facing poems from different cultural or historical frameworks. Nevertheless, the effortlessness of presentation keeps the focus on the raw emotional power of the works. Notable highlights include Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s iconic “How Do I Love Thee?” with its transcendent declarations of devotion, and Pablo Neruda’s sensual verses from his Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair. In the intervening time, poems like William Butler Yeats’s “When You Are Old” and Emily Dickinson’s “Wild Nights – Wild Nights!” explore the softer, reflective moments of love. As a final point, this book is a heartfelt hodge-podge that serves as a doorway to the realm of poetic romance. While seasoned poetry enthusiasts may find it familiar, its wide-ranging selection ensures there is something for everyone. Whether you are a lifelong lover of poetry or a newcomer seeking solace in verse, this book offers a poignant reminder of the enduring power of love expressed through words.

[Iulia · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul."

I liked the collection. I think it tried to include some of the most known authors and I liked that it played around with the periods and genres. I also enjoyed seeing both men and women authors included.

"The desire of the moth for the star,
Of the night for the morrow"

Surely, this is not a collection of obscure, unknown and hidden gems, however it is easy and pleasant to read and it is also an appropriate recommendation for poetry beginners. I feel like it can guide them to try out authors they enjoyed from this collection.

"The sleepers climb in silence. Gradually
They separate on paths of long ago,
Each winding on his arm the unpleasant clew
That leads, live as a nerve, to memory."

I also specifically enjoyed the author's notes here and there. They really offer great insight and also fun facts which help greatly with the context before reading certain poems, especially if you're new to this like I previously mentioned.

"Heart, are you great enough
For a love that never tires?
O heart, are you great enough for love?"

[Moahaldin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me wanting to dig deeper into poetry:
Googles ”collection of the worlds best poems”😃

No but I really enjoyed this collection, even though I realized like halfway through that it consisted of only poems about love, a theme which I sadly have a hard time relating to, yet🥲

But despite that, I found many moving poems, including this one by Robert Graves, perhaps my favorite:🥺🫶

She Tells Her Love while Half Asleep

”She tells her love while half asleep
In the dark hours,
With half-words whispered low;

As Earth stirs in her winter sleep
And puts out grass and flowers
Despite the snow,
Despite the falling snow”

- Robert Graves

[Patrick S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Partial poems collected with a lot of comparisons to "it's like a prayer". While there are a couple of introductory lines talking about each poem it doesn't really give you enough information or explanation WHY it's a great poem. The project of the book seem to focus on wanting to keep the poem on a single page and sometimes that's at the detriment of context. It also shows why the explanation needed to be longer.

If you're looking for a wide range of poets on a subject, this isn't really the book to do that with. Final Grade - D

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a bit surprised to see so many negative reviews! I'm not a big poetry fan but wanted to pick up some classic love poems as a good gateway into the genre. I found this collection to be really enjoyable and diverse (topically) for being about love, and want to grab my own copy to mark up.

I especially appreciated the editor's insight at the start of each poem, giving a basic explanation of the poem and some historical context to make it all the more impactful. It was very useful to poetry beginners like myself!

[Aneeba Afzal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughout the comforting read. It's always fascinating to observe, see and read about love according to the different perspectives of different individuals. This book contains all the love languages of the world's famous poets, who embedded love in their verses in their own ways, and a person of today can totally relate to them, feel them, praise them and ultimately they make a secret lovely place in reader's mind and heart and make the love alive. I love this book, and it always bring me back towards it. ❤️

[Odyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I can keep going back to, thanks to the index. As someone who writes poems, I have a fondness for written work that brings words to my unexplained, unrealized emotions. I try to remember (and highlight) them despite my poor memory. After finishing this book, I felt gratitude for the poets who have come before me and tackled their unintelligible nature through poems. Thanks, poets of love!

[Fiorella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best love poems, but a few were nice.

[Ify · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the book

[BB]

Poemed.

[Erika W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obviously these types of collections are subjective to the one compiling the poems, but I really enjoyed the variation is authors and styles.

[Mila Zamora · Rating 2 out of 5]

There’s better love poems in instagram and Pinterest comments

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think this book deserves to call itself the 100 Best Love Poems, especially not of all time. There were lots of classics, sure, but many that weren't about love at all or just weren't that good (Your Catfish Friend? Really?) or inadvertently hilarious (from The Owl and the Pussy Cat: " 'O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love, / what a beautiful Pussy you are!' "). I was disappointed, though I did discover a few new good ones.


On a less serious note, I want a catfish friend.

[slp · Rating 4 out of 5]

despite the purple jacket and the cover that looks like a Hallmark card, this is an admirable collection of English-language love poetry with a solid handful of translations from poets like Tagore, Neruda, Rlike, Sappho, Rumi, and others. the 20th-century American poems tend to be my favorite. really, a lovely collection, with interesting notes from the editor, very worth the read.

[Tyshawn Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

More then anything else I love to teach teenagers to appreciate fine literature. I use my copy of this book to introduce young ladies to poetry. If you want to give youth a positive view of love this is a nice book to have in your library. I recommend it for all teachers and tutors of English literature.

[Liriel27 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wide-ranging collection of poems on the topic, including depictions of sweet, drunken, angry, religious, and romantic love, this book is of limited utility to those who don't like to reread. My two favorite love poems are included in this anthology.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

In addition to including the 100 "best" poems on love, it also gives a quick history or buildup to each poem.

I'm not much for poetry, so my perception may be skewed a bit, but I didn't love this book. It was nice actually getting some poetry in my system but I just don't appreciate poetry.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Im a sap. Love it esspecially more recent poets: donald Hall, Judith Voirst, etc...Aw Jeez

[Journeywoman · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite (Shakespeare's Sonnet 29) isn't on here. It should be

[Darren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got it for a dollar at a thrift shop. I liked about five of the poems.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i carry you with me. i carry you in my heart.

[Karen Floyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting choices, though I don't necessarily agree with all of them as being the 100 Best. But it was an enjoyable read and I was introduced to some poems I'd never read before.

[Alexis]

I have to read some love poems at my friend's wedding. This was a pretty good collection. Look for more love poem collections in the next few months, as I figure out what to read.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a reasonable collection of love poems. Nothing really special, but if you're in the mood for love poetry or need something to write in a Valentine's Day card, this could be useful.