How many ways are there to say, "I love you"? You better find an effective way because Valentine’s Day is just a heartbeat away and your sweetheart is waiting for the precise words to blossom from your lips.  Now is the time to develop the skill of saying the world’s most important words.   It's helpful to have a hundred different methods available, especially as the years pass, love evolves, and you become as creative with your love as you do with poetry.  Try saying, "I love you" by using each of the following techniques and patterns.

 

Techniques for saying “I Love You”

 

Examples

With a simile

 

O my luve’s like a red, red rose (Burns)

Through metaphor

 

My love is the wild horse…

Using personification

 

My love jumps…dances…swings…

Create a symbol

 

A single red rose by the open window…

Use words that alliterate with “L”

 

Love looks like lilies…

Use words that alliterate with “V”

 

Waves of love above the violet…

Use stressed syllables in the following pattern: Strong, weak, weak;

Strong, weak, weak;

Love is a blessing of You upon Me

 

 

Use stressed syllables in the following pattern: Weak, weak, strong;

Weak, weak, strong;

When I see that your love has arrived at my door

 

State your love backwards

You love I that know must you silence in even

Say “I Love You” upside down

 

 

Say “I Love You” with colours

 

Emulate the style of Percy Shelley

She breathes her beauty like the wind

Mimic the style of e.e. cummings

Love does up at me

Leap piggling wiggling our toes

Say “I Love You” to every person you love

 

 

Genuine and Authentic Love

 

Writing a love poem for your beloved requires more than simply making sweet comparisons and using clever techniques.  A great love poem includes genuine details about your beloved and your relationship.  Genuine details make the poem much more authentic, memorable and unique. 

 

Using genuine, actual details in a love poem makes every poem special and fresh (and impossible to write the same love poem for several different lovers).  Authentic details help you demonstrate your appreciation and faithfulness to your truly beloved.

 

While there is still time before Valentines Day, or before your loved one’s next birthday, brainstorm details from your experience together.

 

Authentic Memories

Place, Time, Description

The best holiday

 

The most enjoyable meal

 

The most unique place visited

 

The scariest moment

 

The craziest laugh

 

The darkest cry

 

What makes you proud of your beloved?

 

Describe your usual meeting place

 

Best feature of your beloved

 

Most exciting adventure

 

Where did you meet?

 

Describe your beloved’s hands

 

Describe your beloved’s smile

 

 

 

Constructing the Poem

 

The construction of a poem requires careful and creative blending of authentic details with poetic devices.  The exercises above help you collect the raw materials for your poem.  Now put the elements of the poem together.  Review your examples from above.  Select and revise the best lines for your poem.

 

There are several options in constructing your love poem. 

 

  1. Write the poem in a sonnet of fourteen lines.  Decide whether or not you want to rhyme the poem.
  2. Create a “shape” poem.  This could be done in the shape of a heart, your hand, or some other interesting shape that your beloved would appreciate.
  3. Make a collage of items from recent dates together.  Arrange various movie tickets, photos, brochures, etc. into a card and write your poem among these items.  This will be much more personal and effective than pre-printed verses of love from the greeting card shop.
  4. Some people send mass-produced greetings of love via electronic mail.  Nice, but not very special.  Design your own electronic card with your own authentic verse to send to your loved ones.
  5. Read the poem aloud to your sweetheart.  This is not an option, but a requirement.  There is nothing more loving than the voice itself.  This can also be done via Internet by attaching a voice file.

 

I Poetry You

 

“I Poetry You” translates as “I Love You.”   Both expressions are deep within the heart of the poet.  These suggestions should help you express your love towards the special people in your life.