Poetry and writing about love are the foundation of poetic writings. From the beginning, people have always expressed their feelings of love in words. However, because love poetry is a sculpted form of artistic expression that uses words, poets must take their time to study, meditate on, and refine how they want to express their feelings of love. It is also necessary to understand the type of love that is the motivation for poetry.
In this article on love poems and the types of love that inspire poets, we will describe love and some of the forms that this quality of virtue takes in poems. Let's examine three kinds of love that inspire writing poetry: philia, agape, and eros.
Philia: Brotherly Love
Philia is a love based on a brotherly relationship. This form of love is typically associated with a "blood "relationship. However, this type of brotherly affection (phi·la·del·phi'a, a compound word of phi'los, the Greek word for "friend," and a·del·phos', the Greek word for "brother") or fraternal friendship does not necessarily have to be associated with someone you are related to. For example, you could have a brother-like bond with someone you've been friends with for a very long time. It is as if that person is family to you; typically, this bond is stronger than a "blood" bond. Similarly, you could have a brotherly bond with someone with whom you share core values. For example, maybe you have a strong religious faith in common with someone, which binds you. Philia as an impetus for writing love poetry is not unusual.
Example of Philia Love Poetry
A great example of a famous poem that reflects philia, or brotherly love, is "The Peace of Wild Things" by Wendell Berry. In this poem (below), the speaker seemingly finds solace in nature. However, Berry personifies "the peace of wild things" referring to it as "who," thus subtly emphasizing human connections and the comforting bonds that can be found in friendship and nature.
When despair grows in me
and I wake in the middle of the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief.
I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting for their light.
For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
"The Peace of Wild Things" encapsulates the subtly of philia in love poetry by highlighting the warmth and support that can be found in meaningful relationships.
Agape: Love Based on Principle
Agape is a love based on principle. Agape love has less to do with emotion and more with one's mind. A person displaying this form of love makes it a point to form a loving bond with someone based on principle. This form of unconditional or selfless love is powerful. Motivated by Agape love, a person can even make it a point to love someone who, under normal circumstances, seems unlovable. It allows you to "love your enemies." Because of the nature of agape love, very few love poems are written or initiated based on it.
Agape is the type of love described in the Bible in 1 Corinthians 13:4–8."Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up, 5? does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. 6? It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. 7? It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.8? Love never fails..."
Example of Agape Love Poetry
An example of a famous poem that embodies agape love is "If—" by Rudyard Kipling. In the excerpt of this upbuilding poem, Rudyard Kipling reflects agape love through his theme of guidance, support, and unyielding devotion, encouraging his "son" to remain steadfast despite "men who doubt you."
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
"If—" highlights the principles of love, kindness, and determination that characterize agape, emphasizing a deep and unwavering commitment to the supportive belief in another. In this poem, Kipling "believes all things, hopes all things," and expresses not only principled love (a·ga'pe) but also tender affection (phi·li'a) and a feeling based on blood relationship (stor·ge - not discussed in this article). These combined types of love are characteristic of the bond that exists between a parent and child. However, reading this poem, one can easily see how it could be written to a close friend or associate.
Eros: Passionate or Romantic Love
Often, when one thinks of love poetry and the motivation that spurs such writings, they first think of romantic love or eros. Eros-initiated poetic love writings express passionate and/or romantic feelings. The eros type of love can also refer to sexual interest; however, poetry initiated by sexual attraction rarely produces the kind of favorable response that romantic poetry does, nor does it frequently elicit the type of response the writer planned. When writing love poetry, it is better to use passion and romance as your driving force.
Example of Eros or Romantic Love Poetry
A famous poem that illustrates eros, or romantic love, is "Sonnet 18" by William Shakespeare. This well-known poem is a classic example of romantic poetry, celebrating love's beauty and enduring nature.
In "Sonnet 18," Shakespeare starts with the famous line, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" and explores the themes of beauty, love, and the passage of time. An excerpt of the poem below emphasizes how the beloved's beauty surpasses that of nature and how true love can preserve that beauty forever through poetry.
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date;
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
This sonnet beautifully captures the essence of romantic love, expressing adoration and an everlasting commitment to the beloved. It showcases the passion and depth characteristic of eros, making it an outstanding example of love poetry.
Conclusion
Love poetry is inspired by various types of love, including brotherly love (philia), principle-based love (agape), and romantic love (eros). While this list does not cover all types of love, it provides a foundation for exploring love poetry in new and meaningful ways.