10 Tips on How to Write a Love Poem

February is the month of love and the perfect time to consider writing a poem to someone you love or have loved. Poems are the voice of the soul and help us make sense of the world. The writing and reading of love poetry can make both poet and reader feel good. For the poet, it’s a way to get in touch with their deepest feelings and sensibilities. For the reader, it’s a way to hear words that reflect the essence of a relationship. Crafting a poem is a way to get down to your real emotional truth.

Often, the first line of a poem sets the mood and tone. First lines are often what we remember and also what inspire us to read on.

Here are some first lines from some of my favorite collected love poems:

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” — Elizabeth Barrett Browning

“Love one another, but make not a bond of love” — Khalil Gibran

“Wild nights — Wild nights!” — Emily Dickinson

“I am not yours, not lost in you” — Sara Teasdale

“What was said to the rose that made it open was said to me here in my chest.” — Rumi

“In silence the heart raves.” — Robert Penn Warren

“Lay your sleeping head, my love” — W. H. Auden