Everyone appreciates a little romance in their lives — even uber macho men.

They may not be into public displays of affection, but a dash of private mushiness is almost always A-OK. 

Sometimes, making him shed a tear can bring you closer together.

To that end, we’ve written 17 love poems that will make your boyfriend cry.

Feel free to use them for yourself — or tailor some tweaks to suit your man. 

How Do I Write a Love Poem to My Boyfriend? 

Writing a love poem to your boyfriend should be enjoyable — not stressful.

Here are a few tips on getting it done, making it fun, and not embarrassing yourself if you decide to write one of your own.

• Timing: Did you just start dating? If so, you may want to hold off. Coming on too strongly is rarely, if ever, a good look.
• Topic: Are you in the first month of the relationship? Then stick to something funnier or light-hearted. There’s no need to send messages about love, soulmates, or marriage so soon.
• Relationship: Be honest with yourself about the type of relationship it is. If it’s more of a “situationship,” you may want to hold off on the love poems.
• Embarrassment Factor: How well do you know this guy? Will he blast your poem to everyone on his social media, or will he keep it private? 
• Authenticity: Send a poem that fits your personality and his. Don’t try to be someone you’re not.
• Thoughtfulness: Be thoughtful about what you write. For example, don’t say something that will trigger a bad memory. 

17 Love Poems for Your Boyfriend That Will Make Him Cry

You’ve thought about it and are in the market for boyfriend poems that will make him cry – or at least feel the pangs of love.

We’ve curated 17 famous love poems to inspire you.

Use them for ideas to write a poem yourself, or just send him one of these as is to let him know how you feel.

1. Untitled by Christopher Poindexter

His eyes were like 
clocks that stopped
spinning the moment
she stared into
them. The universe
halted. All things
began to breathe
each others stillness.
To her: it was
a simple, blue,
Eternity.

2. I Am Not Yours by Sara Teasdale

I am not yours, not lost in you,
Not lost, although I long to be
Lost as a candle lit at noon,
Lost as a snowflake in the sea.
You love me, and I find you still
A spirit beautiful and bright,
Yet I am I, who long to be
Lost as a light is lost in light.
Oh plunge me deep in love—put out
My senses, leave me deaf and blind,
Swept by the tempest of your love,
A taper in a rushing wind.

3. Love Comes Quietly by Robert Creeley

Love comes quietly,
finally, drops
about me, on me,
in the old ways.
What did I know
thinking myself
able to go
alone all the way.

4. The Floating Poem by Adrienne Rich

Whatever happens with us, your body
will haunt mine—tender, delicate
your lovemaking, like the half-curled frond
of the fiddlehead fern in forests
just washed by sun. Your traveled, generous thighs
between which my whole face has come and come—
the innocence and wisdom of the place my tongue has found there—
the live, insatiate dance of your nipples in my mouth—
your touch on me, firm, protective, searching
me out, your strong tongue and slender fingers
reaching where I had been waiting years for you
in my rose-wet cave—whatever happens, this is.

4. Defeated by Love by Rumi

The sky was lit
by the splendor of the moon
So powerful
I fell to the ground
Your love
has made me sure
I am ready to forsake
this worldly life
And surrender
to the magnificence
of your Being

5. I Love You by Harry Boslem

I can’t talk to you without feeling honor.
I can’t see you without feeling wonder.
I can’t touch you without feeling pure.
I can’t feel you without wanting more.
I can’t hold you without feeling safe.
I can’t kiss you without feeling great.
I can’t miss you without feeling pain.
I can’t meet you without wanting to again.
I can’t watch you without feeling awe.
I can’t love you without feeling loved.
I can’t lay with you without feeling passion.
I can’t stay away without feeling rationed.
I can’t dream of you without sleeping soundly.
I can’t cope without you around me.
I can’t sleep without you in the bed.
I can’t be alive without feeling your breath.
I can’t think without you on my mind.
I can’t leave without feeling unkind.
But most of all,
I can’t exist without you in my life

6. It’s Your Flaws I Want to Taste by Lora Mathis

It’s your flaws
I want to taste.
Your crooked mouth.
The way you smell after
being out all day.
The lump in your throat.
Your shaky hands.
Your morning breath.
Your prickly legs.
Your pimpled politeness.
Your tangled hair.
I don’t want to be able to
run my fingers through you
easily. It’s no fun writing
about perfections.
I want to talk about you-
flawed,
crooked,
endless
you.

7. Poem for My Love by June Jordon

How do we come to be here next to each other
in the night
Where are the stars that show us to our love
inevitable
Outside the leaves flame usual in darkness
and the rain
falls cool and blessed on the holy flesh
the black men waiting on the corner for
a womanly mirage
I am amazed by peace
It is this possibility of you
asleep
and breathing in the quiet air

8. I Love You by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

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.

9. I loved you first: but afterwards your love by Christina Rossetti

I loved you first: but afterwards your love
Outsoaring mine, sang such a loftier song
As drowned the friendly cooings of my dove.
Which owes the other most? my love was long,
And yours one moment seemed to wax more strong;
I loved and guessed at you, you construed me
And loved me for what might or might not be –
Nay, weights and measures do us both a wrong.
For verily love knows not ‘mine’ or ‘thine;’
With separate ‘I’ and ‘thou’ free love has done,
For one is both and both are one in love:
Rich love knows nought of ‘thine that is not mine;’
Both have the strength and both the length thereof,
Both of us, of the love which makes us one.

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10. Love’s Coming by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

She had looked for his coming as warriors come,
With the clash of arms and the bugle’s call;
But he came instead with a stealthy tread,
Which she did not hear at all.
She had thought how his armor would blaze in the sun,
As he rode like a prince to claim his bride:
In the sweet dim light of the falling night
She found him at her side.
She had dreamed how the gaze of his strange, bold eye
Would wake her heart to a sudden glow:
She found in his face the familiar grace
Of a friend she used to know.
She had dreamed how his coming would stir her soul,
As the ocean is stirred by the wild storm’s strife:
He brought her the balm of a heavenly calm,
And a peace which crowned her life.

11. Not Anyone Who Says by Mary Oliver

Not anyone who says, “I’m going to be
careful and smart in matters of love,”
who says, “I’m going to choose slowly,”
but only those lovers who didn’t choose at all
but were, as it were, chosen
by something invisible and powerful and uncontrollable
and beautiful and possibly even
unsuitable —
only those know what I’m talking about
in this talking about love.

12. I’d Be Lying by Rupi Kaur

I’d be lying if I said
you make me speechless
the truth is you make my
tongue so weak it forgets
what language to speak in.

13. The Minute I Heard My First Love Story by Rumi

The minute I heard my first love story,
I started looking for you, not knowing
how blind that was.
Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere,
they’re in each other all along.

14. How Do I Love Thee by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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 everyday’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, — I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! — and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

15. Someone to Walk with Me by Raquel Franco

I was never looking
for another half
to make me whole,
just someone
who was willing
to walk with me
no matter how far
I strayed.

16. Tonight by Sara Teasdale

The moon is a curving flower of gold,
The sky is still and blue;
The moon was made for the sky to hold,
And I for you;
The moon is a flower without a stem,
The sky is luminous;
Eternity was made for them,
To-night for us.

17. Wild Nights – Wild Nights! By Emily Dickinson

Wild nights – Wild nights!
Were I with thee
Wild nights should be
Our luxury!
Futile – the winds –
To a Heart in port –
Done with the Compass –
Done with the Chart!
Rowing in Eden –
Ah – the Sea!
Might I but moor – tonight –
In thee!

We hope our list of boyfriend love poems for him was helpful. Before pressing send, think it over, and if all signals are green — shoot one over.