Not all great loves in the world have to be romantic. They can be felt through the forming of a friendship, or the adoption of a pet. But today, to simplify it somewhat, we’re going to go with a romantic theme as my late-Valentine’s Day gift to you. Now, we’re not talking about the genre of Romantic with a capital “R” poetry. That is for another day. Today we’re diving into a brief revue of love poetry through history, with an emphasis on ones that are appropriate for me to read on-air and done by European authors because jeez-louise I have to narrow it down somehow. Do you know HOW MANY love poems there are in the world? For as long as humans have been worshiping deities our species has also been expressing devotion and affection for each other.
So, I don’t know about you. I don’t know if you’re heart-broken right now, or in the most loving relationship of your life. If you’re experiencing unrequited love, or learning to love yourself. Wherever you are, whoever you are - just know that these are for you.
I don’t care what your ex said about your body, about what your faults are.
Know that in this moment, my voice will summon forth words written by someone who could have truly and unconditionally loved you and that you are worthy of them.
On this episode of Live Poet Society, host Hattie Rensberry shares readings of poetry about love. These include:
"Echo" by Carol Ann Duffy
"Don't Go Far Off" by Pablo Neruda
"It Is Here" by Harold Pinter
"How Do I Love Thee?" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
"Sonnet 130: My Mistress' Eyes Are Nothing Like The Sun" by William Shakespeare
"Sonnet 31: He's Equal With the Gods, That Man" by Sappho
Featured music is:
How Long Will I Love You by Jon Boden, Sam Sweeney, and Ben Coleman
What The World Needs Now (Is Love) by Dionne Warwick
