Love, the word in itself is a universe just devoted to two lovers. It’s a world made with extreme care and devotion of two soulmates. Be it him or her, they both make the journey sweet together. The following poems reflect the essence of love and present a poetess’ feelings for her beloved boyfriend or husband.
Best Love Poems for Him
Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy
In our list of “best love poems for him”, ‘Valentine’ by Carol Ann Duffy is funny to read at first sight. A lover is offering her beloved an onion! Is it a joke? Wait, there are layers of meanings just like an onion. This “onion” in the poem is a metaphor for the poet’s love in the poem. The poet uses the theme of “addled in love” to refer to its long-lasting nature. There is also a sensation of something different. That is not new, is the underlying reference in this poem.
I am trying to be truthful
Not a cute card or a kissogram.
I give you an onion.
(…)
Its scent will cling to your fingers,
cling to your knife.
Wandering about the literary significance of onions? You can know more about the importance of onions in modern literary works after reading ‘Peeling Onions’ by Adrienne Rich.
How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43) by Elizabeth Barret Browning
In our “best love poems for him” list, we can’t miss this poem! The famous wife of a famous lover in English Literature, Elizabeth Barret Browning wrote this poem for his loving husband Robert Browning. ‘How Do I Love Thee?’ by Elizabeth Barret Browning is a question of all the ladies who want to write a poem for him. This beautiful poem talks about the poet’s feelings when she thinks about her husband. According to the poem, she loves him like a day. Her love is free like the individual rights of men. Her love is not half-hearted. It’s full of passion that will sustain until her old age. There is an eternal quality of her love reflected in the last few lines of the poem.
I love thee with a love 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.
Why Do I Love You, Sir by Emily Dickinson
Our “best poems for him” list contains a heartfelt piece from Emily Dickinson’s world. ‘Why Do I love You Sir’ by Emily Dickinson is a poem telling the reasons why the poet loves that “sir” so much. She needs not to answer the question as it is a feeling of something sublime. A person in love cannot actually tell about her thoughts behind such a “foolish” decision. Love makes us “fools” as well as gives us the heavenly sensation of a lifetime! That’s why the poet says, her love “cannot speak”. She can only say to the sir in the poem,
The Sunrise–Sire–compelleth Me–
Because He’s Sunrise–and I see–
Therefore–Then–
I love Thee–
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? (Sonnet 18) by William Shakespeare
This immortal sonnet cannot miss one top spot in our list of “best poems for him”. William Shakespeare actually wrote this poem for “him”. Who’s that him? It’s a mystery. Or it can be Shakespeare’s exploration of gender roles. None can tell surely. However, ‘Shall I compare to a summer’s day?’ by William Shakespeare presents a heavenly quality of his love to that person. In his sonnet, there is a tone of missing someone. The friend of the poet might not be there in the world while he was penning down her thoughts about him. The last two lines of the poem reflect the intention of the poet behind writing this poem.
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
Love’s Language by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
In our list of “best love poems for him”, ‘Love’s Language’ by Ella Wheeler Wilcox will help you think about the concept of love as a whole. While writing a card or a wish, often a person gropes for thoughts to write about love in general. This poem will definitely help one, for sure! The poet expresses how the feeling of love gets actually expressed. There’s not any direct outlet of love. It has different manifestations inside the body of a person. According to the poet, she expresses her love in the following way.
How does Love speak?
In the wild words that uttered seem so weak
They shrink ashamed in silence; in the fire
Glance strikes with glance, swift flashing high and higher,
Like lightnings that precede the mighty storm;
To My Dear and Loving Husband by Anne Bradstreet
Our “best love poems for him” list contains a love poem written by a poet to her husband. It is ‘To My Dear and Loving Husband’ by Anne Bradstreet. In this poem, the poet presents her gratitude and love for her husband. She feels that she cannot repay or compensate for the love her husband has given to her. The craze for each other is the essence of the poem. The first few lines of the poem will reflect that.
If ever two were one, then surely we
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
“If thou must love me…” (Sonnet 14) by Elizabeth Barret Browning
Elizabeth Barret Browning is not leaving our “best love poem for him” list too early. She wrote so many poems for her beloved husband. Every poem is unique in its diction, lively imagery, beautiful metaphors, and thought-provoking symbols. Likewise, ‘If thou must love me…’ by Elizabeth Barret Browning presents some eternal lines to the readers. It also defines her world of love. The last four lines of the poem can reflect her innovative and touching feelings on love’s theme.
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love’s sake, that evermore
Thou mayst love on, through love’s eternity.
“Love me for love’s sake”, what a beautiful line this is!
You’re by Sylvia Plath
‘You’re’ by Sylvia Plath is not definitely going to miss our “best poems for him” list. It’s a modern poem. That’s why the metaphors and symbols are also modern in sense. But, the main thing about love is the same. The poet feels just like Elizabeth Browning and Emily Dickinson while writing this poem. It is written for her beloved Ted Hughes.
Clownlike, happiest on your hands,
Feet to the stars, and moon-skulled,
Gilled like a fish.
Heart, we will forget him! by Emily Dickinson
‘Heart, we will forget him!’ by Emily Dickinson grabs a position in our “best poem for him” list for its spontaneity of thoughts and liveliness of feelings. The beloved in this case has marooned the poet. The lovelorn poet talks about him in the poem. The poem tells readers about the poet’s emotions and longing for him who has done wrong with her love. She is true and wants to remain until the end. But, she has to move on that’s why the poem begins like this,
Heart, we will forget him!
You and I, to-night!
You may forget the warmth he gave,
I will forget the light.
I Love You by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
With ‘I Love You’ by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, our list of “best love poems for him” is about to bid adieu. In this poem, the poet is passionate about the heart, body, and mind of her beloved. She needs her physical touch to rejuvenate her soul. The poet does not seek “the cold, calm kiss” of her lover. What she needs from him, is expressed in the following lines of the poem.
So kiss me sweet with your warm wet mouth,
Still fragrant with ruby wine,
And say with a fervor born of the South
That your body and soul are mine.
