Love and Relationship quizzes -» How to write a love poem

Ideas for love sayings & poems: Easy to write, filled with delight!

You might not see yourself as the type who could sit down and pen a long letter that would make your love swoon and croon. That’s OK! You still have unique, heartfelt thoughts and feelings about them to share, and you might be keen on doing it in one or more poetic forms. What is your first thought when you think of romantic poetry? Maybe you're thinking of William Shakespeare - as so many would. But what if we told you that there are other poets capable of producing love poems that can melt a person's heart. And you could be one of them!

Check out this guide on love poetry and how to make it yours!

How to write a love poem without any experience?

We get it. Comparing yourself to great poets is not a good idea if you've got no prior experience with creative writing. But writing poems doesn't have to be hard. Even the greats started writing at some point. And the first draft probably wasn't as good either.

See it this way: Who are you writing your poem for? Do you want it to get published and critically acclaimed? Or do you want to show a loved one just how deep your feelings are? The most important thing to know is that the best love poems come from the heart. Nothing less, nothing more.

The first step is to read love poems! Find out what you like and what you would like to recreate! The rhyme scheme, the perspective, and how flowery you want your first poem to be are important steps to take before you pick up the pen. There are so many different kinds of poetic forms showing off different structures. There is bound to be one you can easily recreate while still sticking to the rules!

Assuming you don't intend to write poems for a family member, let's talk romantic intention. You will find that most cliches are actually absent from most love poems. You will rarely find a red rose in a sonnet. Why is that? Because that is lazy writing. Any poet - professional or casual - writes from the heart. Do get inspired by your favorite love poem, but don't copy it. Your recipient will notice. Sample love poems you like and find out what you like about them. The tone? The length? The style? Take inspiration from that but use your own words.

But this is only the beginning of learning how to write a love poem.

Writing love sayings & love poems yourself: Key tips

Love poetry doesn't have to be a full-length imitation of William Carlos Williams' poem "Asphodel, That Greeny Flower", nor do you have to channel your inner William Shakespeare. In fact, writing love poems depends on just a few key elements. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re writing your love saying or love poem:

Keep it short but sweet

Isn’t it ironic? Love is quite easy to recognize but nearly impossible to define. Trying to put those deep feelings of yearning into words can be challenging at best. If you do attempt it, you might look at what you have written and think, “This is NOT what I meant!”

But don’t give up! You don’t have to settle for cringe-worthy cheese or prattling prose that makes it seem like you’re trying too hard. You can get your point across beautifully with short love sayings of just a handful of lines, rhymed or unrhymed. These writings are not that different from a classic love poem but can vary greatly according to the lover who’s writing them.

There are endless examples of love phrases and love poems available on the internet. We’ve listed examples below. Don’t copy them word for word, though! We encourage you to use them as inspiration for your OWN words to your cherished one. Otherwise, you might sound less than authentic. Remember: a good love poem shows what you feel, not anyone else!

Less is more

If you find you enjoy creating little stories and poems for your love, well, yay! Finding wonderful new ways to express your affection is awesome. But do not dive too deep into flowery metaphors. Keep it real. To many, it makes sense to have the first line be "I can't believe I found someone like you", but you're not writing a greeting card, are you? Think of the most romantic thing they have done for you. It probably wasn't a grand gesture, right? Instead, mention specific details as a starting point. It's the little things, and so you should write about those. It's much more personal than a thousand roses in rhyme form and your partner will know, by just reading the first line, that you really do pay attention.

Timing is everything

It’s not just what you say, but when you say it, that can make all the difference. Maybe your love is feeling anxious about a job interview or an exam? What a perfect time to write a little something telling them how talented and intelligent they are!

Teach an old love new tricks!

If you’re longtime partners, a little love poem or saying could be an unexpected surprise for your sweetie. No matter what’s happened in the course of your time together, it’s never inappropriate to let them know how much you care. And if your relationship is in crisis and/or you are arguing more than usual, your thoughtful words could actually turn things around!

Get your imagination going! Whether you choose to write your partner a saying or a poem, you’ll need imagination and creativity to get started. So, lower your inhibitions and do away with any shame you might be feeling. Love is nothing to be embarrassed about! Do something that makes you feel relaxed, like play music, enjoy a drink, or both. Whatever makes you feel happy and chilled out is the way to go.

To get the ideas flowing, try brainstorming about your partner. Write down everything that comes to your mind. Think about the situations and moments in your relationship that have meant the most to you. What were some romantic times you shared? What do you appreciate most about him or her? These could be mental attributes as well as how they look. Do you have nicknames for each other? You get the idea! There is no wrong way to brainstorm. Just write down everything you can think of. Don’t overthink or edit yourself during this process. You can always go back and organize your thoughts later.

Got your list? Well done! Now you can weed through for the items most suitable for a love saying or poem.

Ready to write a love poem? Here’s how:

Look at the thoughts and ideas you jotted down while brainstorming. Delete any that leave you wondering, “What was I THINKING?” Then put the rest into similar groups (perhaps according to mood, tone, or subject). Now you’re ready to flesh out your loving/lusty thoughts!

You don’t need to try to write according to a rigid verse structure, rhyme scheme, or to use any of the rhetorical devices you learned in school unless you just want to. Give yourself permission to experiment without restrictions. Sentences can be shortened; words can go solo – it’s really up to you. Punctuate as needed to make sure your love reads your writing as you intended. Don’t be over-eager to correct grammar … you don’t even have to make rhymes if you don’t want to.

Above all, just let your heartfelt words flow. This will preserve the mood and make your writing seem more authentic - not like an advertising pitch. If you’re not sure how well you’re doing, try reciting your poem out loud to hear how it sounds. And don't compare it too much to your favorite love poems. Every single one is unique, and so is yours!

If you dare, let a third person read it first. This might help you to get rid of any hidden errors. Proofreading is absolutely necessary to ensure your poem has the desired effect.

While there are really no hard and fast rules to writing a love saying or poem, do pay attention to your words, making sure to use ones you associate with something positive. While words that can cause doubt or sorrow are not off-limits in a love poem, your partner might not delight in anything too downcast.

No rhyme, no crime. Try these love sayings!

It doesn't have to be a poem. Woo your person with one-liners:

• You are the one who stepped out of my dreams and showed me what love really means
• We fall in love by chance but stay in love by choice. Thank you for choosing to love me
• People who shine from within, like you, never need a spotlight
• I’ll never ask you to change for me - you’re perfect just the way you are.
• You’re the reason I am breathing…yet sometimes, you just take my breath away!
• I am all in and will never fold. Come with me and we will play our winning hand together
• The good things in life are greater when I am with you
• You are the source of my joy, the center of my world, and the whole of my heart
• To the world, you might be just one person...but to me, you are the world
• I like to be alone...but I would rather be alone with you
• Loved you yesterday, love you still, always have, always will
• When I tell you I love you, I am not saying it out of habit, but reminding you that you are my life
• I love my eyes when you look into them…I love my name when you say it…I love my heart when you touch it…I love my life since you are in it
• Every love story is beautiful, but ours is my favorite

6 examples of short love poems

As promised, here are some examples to take inspiration from for your own poem! Unless you’re a professional poet, it’s best to keep love poems short, so your points will be strong and easy to understand. Poems like the ones below would be great to write onto cards or the backs of photo prints. You could even write yours out and place it in a picture frame … that way, your love can always glance at it and remember you with affection and a little thrill.

Again, here are a few short love poems to inspire you. Notice that these do not all rhyme, but are still beautiful and heartfelt.

1. I used to dream of someone like you

To hold me tight and see me through

To love my eyes and love my smile

And when I’m scared, stay with me a while

But now I’ve got you, I don’t know what to do

It’s amazing, this feeling I have for you

Maybe all I need to do is say “I love you”

2. The sparkle in your eye

The warmth of your skin

Your breath on my neck

That quivers within

The fervor of your kiss

And that magic in your touch

It is for all these reasons and more

That I love you so much

3. When I found you I

became a believer

Now I believe two people were especially made

for each other

Now in my dreams, in reality and in fantasy

All I do is just love you!

4. When life is cold

I wrap myself in your warmth,

Nestled in your love

My precious refuge

5. I once thought that love

Was just a mirage of the mind

An illusion, a fake, too hard to find

But the day I met you, I began to see

That love is real

And exists in me

6. Kissing you

Is a balm for my soul

Being your love Is my favorite role

Have you found inspiration for your love poem? If so, it is time to put pen to paper! Go and get your love (poem)!