Breaking up is undeniably tough. Whether you’re the one doing the breaking or the one being broken up with, the emotional toll is the same. Your heart aches, you find solace in love poems, and the air is heavy with sorrow. If you’re looking for poetic expressions to navigate this painful time, here’s a collection of break-up poems that capture the essence of heartbreak, penned by those who have walked the same path.
“What My Lips Have Kissed, and Where, and Why” by Edna St. Vincent Millay
What lips have brushed against mine, and where, I can no longer recall. The rain tonight is filled with echoes that tap and sigh at my window, drawing forth a quiet ache in my heart for the forgotten lovers who will never return. Just as a solitary tree in winter stands without knowing which birds have flown away, I cannot remember my past loves, only that summer once sang within me, and now it is silent.
“Heavy” by Mary Oliver
Once, I believed I couldn’t approach grief without perishing. Yet, I ventured closer and survived. I owe this resilience to the divine and my friends. Despite my burden, laughter was absent. But a brave friend reminded me that it’s not just the weight we carry, but how we manage it. I practiced embracing life’s joys, and now, I occasionally find laughter escaping my lips, admiring the world’s beauty amidst its turmoil.
“The Fist” by Derek Walcott
This clenched fist around my heart loosens momentarily, allowing a glimpse of brightness, only to tighten once more. How have I loved the pain of love, even as it spirals into madness? This grip tightens like a madman’s hold on sanity, teetering on the edge before plunging into the void. Hold on, heart; at least in this struggle, you are alive.
“Sonnet 139” by William Shakespeare
Do not call upon me to justify the pain your unkindness has inflicted upon my heart. Do not wound me with your gaze; instead, use your words. If you love someone else, just tell me directly, my dear, but spare me the glance that wounds deeper. Let me excuse you; my love knows her beauty has been my enemy, turning foes against me. Yet, do not turn away; if you wish to cause me harm, do so openly, and free me from this suffering.
“Never Give All the Heart” by W. B. Yeats
Never surrender your heart entirely, for love often seems unworthy of such devotion. Passionate souls may find it fleeting, fading with each kiss. All that is lovely is but a transient delight. Do not give your heart outright; for those who speak sweetly may have long surrendered theirs to the whims of love. The creator of love understands the true cost, having given all and lost everything.
“Proud of My Broken Heart” by Emily Dickinson
I take pride in my broken heart, as you were the one who shattered it. I take pride in the pain that only surfaced because of you. I take pride in my nights, illuminated by your presence. You cannot claim to have suffered like the Nazarene, nor can you penetrate tradition as I have. Behold, I have taken your cross to honor my suffering.
“Mad Girl’s Love Song” by Sylvia Plath
I close my eyes, and the world disappears; I open them, and it all begins anew. (Did I conjure you in my imagination?) The stars dance in vibrant colors, while darkness rushes in: I shut my eyes, and everything fades away. I believed you would return as promised, but time passes, and your name slips from my memory. (Perhaps I should have loved something wild instead; at least the thunderbirds return each spring.)
“This Was Once a Love Poem” by Jane Hirschfeld
This poem was once filled with love, before it grew heavy and lost its breath. Now it finds itself awkwardly perched on the edge of a parked car, ignored by passersby. It remembers dressing for grand occasions, choosing the perfect accessories. It recalls moments of passion and beauty, yet it now sits perplexed, reminiscing about its former self.
“You Fit Into Me” by Margaret Atwood
You fit into me like a hook into an eye— a fish hook, an open eye.
“A Winter’s Tale” by D.H. Lawrence
Yesterday, the fields lay grey under a blanket of snow, now barely revealing the longest blades of grass. Her footsteps mark the snow, leading toward the pines at the hill’s edge. I cannot see her through the mist, but I know she waits, cold and anxious, stifling sobs into her breath. Why does she come, knowing what I must say? The hill is steep, and my pace is slow—why does she approach when the end is inevitable?
“Movement Song” by Audre Lord
I have studied the tight curls at the nape of your neck as you drift away from me, beyond anger and failure. Your face in the evening carries a longing, while our mornings are filled with unspoken goodbyes. Do not remember me as merely a bridge or a roof, nor as a disaster. I am just a fellow traveler, watching you leave my bed, reminding us both that time is precious, not to be wasted.
“Are All The Breakups In Your Poems Real?” by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
If by real you mean as tangible as a shark tooth in your heel, or the surprise of a thumbtack in your purse—then yes, every word is true. Yet, I have fabricated these tales, marrying each of them, creating a neighborhood of past loves. Can you imagine the number of bouquets and slices of cake? Even now, my husbands prepare a meal; one chops parsley while another stirs the pot.
“Our Many Never Endings” by Courtney Queeney
You entered the room and fell to your knees. I wait my entire life to hear you admit your mistake. Inside, a tangle; in your chest, a deflating balloon. You took the vacuum, the ironing board, leaving me with a mere iron and a chipped plate. I’d like to say we perfected our exits and entrances like actors, but that’s a fantasy. The lions usually devour the hyenas, yet sometimes, the hyenas band together. Occasionally, you’d return from the rain, and I’d be glad to see you.
“Unto a Broken Heart” by Emily Dickinson
No one may approach a broken heart without bearing the same wounds of suffering.
“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot
Let us depart, you and I, as the evening unfolds against the sky like a patient laid on a table. Let’s wander through the half-deserted streets, echoing with restless nights and cheap hotels. Streets that lead to an overwhelming question … Oh, do not ask, “What is it?” Let’s just go and visit.
“I Crave Your Mouth, Your Voice, Your Hair” by Pablo Neruda
I yearn for your lips, your voice, your hair. Starving, I roam the streets. Bread does not sustain me; dawn disrupts my thoughts, as I search for the rhythm of your steps. I am hungry for your laughter, for the warmth of your hands, and I pace, craving your essence like a predator stalking its prey in the twilight.
“I Loved You…” by Aleksander Pushkin
I loved you: and perhaps this love will never fade. But do not let it bring you sorrow; I have no desire to cause you pain. I loved you quietly, without hope, fully, through jealousy and anguish; I loved you sincerely and tenderly, as I wished for you to be loved by another.
If you’re navigating the emotional challenges of break-ups or seeking insights into relationships, explore further on topics like pregnancy and home insemination for additional support.