There are many things that evoke Saint Valentine’s Day in my mind, and many of these are especially common in poetry — here are some of my favourite examples! ;^)

1. Gladys McKee - Prayer For Saint Valentine

Symbol: St Valentine

This symbol may be the most obvious, but it is often forgotten that this day is a Christian feast. This poem is a joyful celebration of both the religious and the romantic aspects of Valentines. I cannot find it online, but it is printed in the 2/15/1941 Saturday Evening Post (Vol. 213 Issue 33). A big thank-you to my grandmother’s friend Edith for showing it to me! ;^)

Good saint, I thank thee for the part Of every scarlet, lace-edged heart That goes upon its gallant way To question lovers on this day

2. Langston Hughes - Danse Africaine

Symbol: Dance

Dancing together is a highly intimate activity. Hughes’ dance here may not be a romantic tango or a tender waltz, but it captures the same kind of feeling and emotional link between people.

And the tom-toms beat, And the tom-toms beat, And the low beating of the tom-toms Stirs your blood.

3. William Butler Yeats - Never give all the Heart

Symbol: Heart

The use of hearts as a symbol for love has a long and complicated history. Still, it is the most common romantic ideograph, recognised worldwide. Yeats skillfully employs this metaphor for observations about love and, more broadly, gender.

And who could play it well enough If deaf and dumb and blind with love? He that made this knows all the cost, For he gave all his heart and lost.

4. Michael McFee - Valentine’s Afternoon

Symbol: Ballon

The propensity of balloons for flight has fascinated people for centuries, and McFee uses this in a wonderfully symbolic way in this poem. The “helium heart” inscribed with ‘LOVE’ floating away suggests a multitude of readings, and their combination and interaction gives these lines great poetic power.

Four lanes over, a plump helium heart—

slipped, maybe, from some kid’s wrist or a rushed lover's empty front seat

through a half-cracked car window—

rises like a shiny purple cloudlet

5. A. A. Milne - Teddy Bear

Symbol: Teddy Bear

The bear in this poem is the precursor to Milne’s later character of Winnie-The-Pooh. He brings a lovely message of inclusion, both queer and pro-fat, one that resonates with the all-loving theme of Saint Valentine’s Day.

But do you think it worries him To know that he is far from slim? No, just the other way about - He's proud of being short and stout.

6. Rivière - Eclair au chocolat

Symbol: Éclair

Éclairs are the most delicious of Valentines symbols, so here is a French poem to celebrate them. Pâte à choux filled with crème and topped with a luxurious glaçage of chocolat — absolument délicieux ! ;^)

Par un soir d’orage, Quel étrange présage ! Dans le ciel zébra, Un éclair au chocolat !

7. Anonymous - Roses Are Red

Symbol: Flowers

Probably the most famous Valentines poem of all time. Its cliché natures makes its poetics overlooked — not only does it use interesting alliteration and consonance, it has an unusual rhythm: it could be considered to be in iambic dimeter, but with three of the four lines using an opening inversion. The author is unknown and there is no ‘definitive’ version, but I quote the most famous variation.