Romantic Poetry Quotes for Anyone with a Heart

Who doesn’t need an extra dose of romance today? We don’t need to wait for our significant other to take the hint, and deliver those flowers, or those sweet nothings into our waiting ears — we can simply turn to a heart-warming dose of poetic quotes.

Words are powerful things. We can gather them like rose petals and spread them about ourselves, savoring the emotive and sensory wash of words, sweet and delicate, loving words. If you have fallen short lately on romance, or if you are just in the mood for a little tempting nudge in the right direction, consider these quotes filled with all the swoon you need.

Full disclosure: This is my favorite love poem of all time.

Now slides the silent meteor on, and leaves

A shining furrow, as thy thoughts in me.

Now folds the lily all her sweetness up,

And slips into the bosom of the lake.

So fold thyself, my dearest, thou, and slip

Into my bosom and be lost in me.

— from The Princess: Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal

By Alfred Lord Tennyson

Oh, those last two lines…see? I promised you a swoon. You can almost feel the night sky hanging cool overhead, while your lover whispers to you. I think if anyone ever quoted those lines to me, I’d be sink. Right into that bosom. Lost.

My words rained over you, stroking you.

A long time I have loved the sunned mother-of-pearl of your body.

Until I even believe that you own the universe.

I will bring you happy flowers from the mountains, bluebells, dark hazels, and rustic baskets of kisses.

I want to do with you what spring does with the cherry trees.

— Every Day You Play…. by Pablo Neruda

Oh yes, some of this, please. I could use a little blooming in my life, you? Oh, to be wanted this deeply and then showered with love as flowers gathered in a basket from the mountains. Yes. Please.

This one is rather short so I’ll share the whole thing. I’ll reverse the italics so you can see the emphasized lines as they were written.

Look back with longing eyes and know that I will follow,

Lift me up in your love as a light wind lifts a swallow,

Let our flight be far in sun or blowing rain —

But what if I heard my first love calling me again?

Hold me on your heart as the brave sea holds the foam,

Take me far away to the hills that hide your home;

Peace shall thatch the roof and love shall latch the door —

But what if I heard my first love calling me once more?

— The Flight by Sara Teasdale — 1884–1933

Well, that just got deep. So much for the new love, huh? The stunning imagery and clear passion of this poem remind us that one may never truly know the deepest longings of a woman’s heart.

One poem commonly used in weddings is How Do I Love Thee, and for good reason. I cannot imagine loving someone to the “depth and breadth and height my soul can reach” but just so the universe knows — I’m game.

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.

— How Do I Love Thee by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–1861)

John Keats reminds us of that moment — you know the moment — when you’re laying your head on the chest of someone you love dearly and listening to the air move in and out of their lungs. The steady, slow drumming of their heartbeat. That moment can feel it lasts forever, yet so brief, all simultaneously.

Pillow’d upon my fair love’s ripening breast,

To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,

Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,

Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,

And so live ever — or else swoon to death.

— Bright Star, by John Keats (1795–1821)

Have you had your fill yet of the syrupy-sweetness of romance? Have you yet filled your bathtub with warm water, petals, and the aromatic dribbles of essential oils of rose and Ylang Ylang? When love seems to sometimes be so fleeting, you still have the words to fill you until such a moment that the scent of another’s skin, the brush of their lips on your neck, the longing at the window of their return — ‘till such moments return to you, bathe yourself in the poetic words that stir up those feelings.

Here’s one last poetic gift to settle you into your bath — a poem that will surely saturate your heart in lovey-dovey goodness:

I love your lips when they’re wet with wine

And red with a wild desire;

I love your eyes when the lovelight lies

Lit with a passionate fire.

I love your arms when the warm white flesh

Touches mine in a fond embrace;

I love your hair when the strands enmesh

Your kisses against my face.

Not for me the cold, calm kiss

Of a virgin’s bloodless love;

Not for me the saint’s white bliss,

Nor the heart of a spotless dove.

But give me the love that so freely gives

And laughs at the whole world’s blame,

With your body so young and warm in my arms,

It sets my poor heart aflame.

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.

Clasp me close in your warm young arms,

While the pale stars shine above,

And we’ll live our whole young lives away

In the joys of a living love.

— I Love You,

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox More Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Deep breath*…because all that sighing and swooning can leave you a little light-headed. But, then, isn’t that what love does? Romantic endeavors that linger with you days after? Sensual moments that sweep you away in a tide of desire?

I like to think when I am old and staring into the horizon, that I’ll have enough of these moments to linger upon and smile. I wish the same for you. Thanks for reading.