Best Love

Krishna is a major deity in Hinduism, widely revered as the eighth avatar of the god Vishnu. He plays a central role in the ancient Sanskrit epic the Mahabharata, where he serves as the charioteer and guide to Prince Arjuna. It is within this epic that Krishna delivers the Bhagavad Gita, a foundatio...

Aphrodite is the ancient Greek goddess of love, beauty, passion, and procreation. According to Hesiod's Theogony, she was born from the white foam produced by the severed genitals of Uranus after they were thrown into the sea. An alternate tradition, outlined in Homer, portrays her as the daughter o...

Symposium is a dialogue by Plato, likely composed between 385 and 370 BCE, in which several Athenian guests at a banquet deliver speeches on the nature of love (eros). The participants include historical figures such as Agathon, Aristophanes, and Socrates. Socrates's speech recounts teachings attrib...

The City in Which I Love You is Li-Young Lee's second poetry collection, published in 1990 by BOA Editions. It received the Lamont Poetry Selection prize from the Academy of American Poets. The collection continues Lee's exploration of exile, family memory, and the immigrant experience established i...

Inanna is the ancient Sumerian goddess of love, beauty, sexuality, war, and political power, revered as the Queen of Heaven. She was the patron deity of the city-state of Uruk, where her primary temple served as a major religious and economic center. She was later syncretized with the Akkadian and B...

Freya is a major figure in Norse mythology, revered as a goddess of love, beauty, fertility, and war. She belongs to the Vanir tribe of gods but was sent to live among the Aesir as part of a peace treaty. As a practitioner of seiðr, a form of magic associated with fate and prophecy, she was a figure...

Cupid is the Roman god of love, desire, and erotic attraction, perfectly synonymous with the Greek god Eros. He is typically portrayed as a winged infant or young boy armed with a bow and a quiver of arrows. According to mythology, a person struck by Cupid's arrow would be filled with uncontrollable...

Pablo Neruda’s *Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair* is a foundational work of modern poetry. Published in 1924, it showcases Neruda's early exploration of passionate love and loss through intensely personal verse. The collection propelled him to international recognition and remains notable for...

Parvati is a principal Hindu goddess revered as the deity of power, love, devotion, and fertility. She is the consort of the destroyer god Shiva and the mother of major deities Ganesha and Kartikeya. Considered the benevolent and nurturing manifestation of the supreme divine mother, Shakti, she bala...

“Postcolonial Love Poem” is a poetry collection by Solange Le Fur that explores themes of Indigenous identity and relationships through an American lens. The work garnered significant attention including a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. It’s notable for its nuanced examination of love, loss, and cultura...

Philip Sidney’s *Astrophil and Stella* is a collection of love sonnets written during the English Renaissance. The work gained significant influence by popularizing Petrarchan forms within British literature. It explores themes of passionate love and devotion through meticulously crafted verse. Prim...

Hathor was an ancient Egyptian goddess associated with love, beauty, music, dance, joy, and maternal care. She was commonly depicted either as a cow or as a woman adorned with cow horns cradling a solar disk. Recognized as a protective and benevolent deity, she served as a divine mother figure and t...

Eros was the ancient Greek god of love, sexual desire, and physical attraction, whose Roman counterpart was Cupid. In early Greek mythology, such as Hesiod's Theogony, he was described as a primordial god present at the creation of the universe. Later traditions reimagined him as a playful, winged y...

Once is a 2007 Irish romantic musical drama directed by John Carney. The story centers on two Dublin musicians, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, who meet and develop a connection through their shared passion for music. The film features original songs composed and performed by the actors, previousl...

Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On,” released in 1973, is a defining soul ballad recognized for its smooth instrumentation and intensely intimate lyrics exploring desire and connection. The song dramatically altered Gaye's musical direction, establishing him as a prominent voice in romantic R&B. Primari...

Queen’s “Love of My Life” is a significant piano-driven ballad from their 1975 album A Night at the Opera. The song showcases Brian May's complex acoustic guitar arrangements and features soaring vocals that explore themes of intense devotion. It remains a beloved classic within the rock genre, part...

Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” is a timeless country ballad released in 1961. Written by Willie Nelson, it showcases Cline's remarkable vocal technique and profound emotional delivery, establishing itself as her most enduring hit. The song resonates with listeners experiencing heartbreak or reflecting on los...

Oshun is a major orisha in the Yoruba religion, governing rivers, fresh water, love, fertility, and wealth. Often associated with the Osun River in Nigeria, she is typically depicted wearing yellow or gold and is known for her connection to mirrors, honey, and peacock feathers. She is highly venerat...

100 Love Sonnets, originally published in Spanish as Cien sonetos de amor in 1959, is a renowned poetry collection by the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. The sequence is dedicated to his third wife, Matilde Urrutia, and is structurally divided into four sections representing the parts of the day: morning...

The Real Thing is a 1982 play by Tom Stoppard about Henry, a successful playwright whose intellectual confidence about love and fidelity is tested by his own relationships. The drama contrasts scenes from Henry's writing with events in his marriage and affair, repeatedly questioning whether polished...

Nizar Qabbani was a prominent Syrian poet who achieved international recognition through his politically charged verses and evocative explorations of love. His work, often written in Arabic, addressed themes of social justice, human rights, and romantic relationships with distinctive passion. He is...

Radha is a Hindu goddess and the principal consort of the deity Krishna within the traditions of Vaishnavism. She is revered as the supreme goddess of love, compassion, and devotion, and her relationship with Krishna serves as the theological foundation for many devotional movements. Central to the...

Paul Éluard was a prominent French poet known for his exploration of love, surrealism, and resistance during World War II. His work, including the impactful poem "Liberté," became a significant symbol of defiance against Nazi occupation. Éluard’s writings resonate with readers interested in 20th-cen...

George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” is a hugely influential pop ballad released in 1984. The song's distinctive saxophone melody, crafted by Steve Gregory, became instantly recognizable and propelled it to global success. It topped charts worldwide and remains one of the most popular songs of the 19...

Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s *Sonnets from the Portuguese* offers a series of love poems written between 1842 and 1850. The collection explores themes of passionate devotion and romantic longing through exquisitely crafted sonnets. Notable for its intimate portrayal of a relationship, it remains a s...

Barbra Streisand’s “The Way We Were” is a significant 1973 pop ballad featured in the film of the same name. The song achieved substantial commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It also garnered critical acclaim, winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song. This track...

Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle” is a poignant folk ballad reflecting on the wish to preserve cherished moments with someone you love. Released after his death in 1973, the song's simple acoustic arrangement and heartfelt lyrics resonate deeply with listeners who value relationships and the fleeting n...

Astarte is an ancient Near Eastern goddess whose worship originated among the Phoenicians and Canaanites before spreading throughout the Mediterranean basin. She was associated with war, love, fertility, and sovereignty, serving as the counterpart to the Mesopotamian deity Ishtar. Historical records...

Edmund Spenser’s Amoretti is a collection of 1595 sonnets detailing his romantic relationship with Elizabeth Boyle. The sequence established the highly structured Spenserian sonnet—characterized by interlocking rhymes and three quatrains followed by a couplet—a significant development in British poe...