Kiss Me, Curse Me: Iconic Love Poems to Recite to Your Beloved

Hauntingly beautiful words to articulate your quickened heartbeat.

Love letters are an art. But love poems? They’re an invocation.

Whether you’re in the throes of devotion or teetering on the edge of obsession, there’s a poem for that. Throughout history, poetry has been the preferred weapon of the heartstruck and the twitterpated—used to seduce, sanctify or even scorch a former flame.

Below, we trace the evolution of love poems from parchment to plasma screen—and offer tips for crafting your own unforgettable prose.