 > Funeral Poems > Love

Love

Author: Czeslaw Milosz

This Page Includes: Full Verses of the Poem in Text. A Recording of the Poem (Audio). A Free PDF Download for reading purposes. Free Editable Google Doc Download if you wish to make changes or to personalise the poem. The page also includes what the poem is about, structure of poem and explaining the best parts.

Love Poem Verses

Love means to learn to look at yourself
The way one looks at distant things
For you are only one thing among many.
And whoever sees that way heals his heart,
Without knowing it, from various ills
A bird and a tree say to him: Friend.
Then he wants to use himself and things
So that they stand in the glow of ripeness.
It doesn't matter whether he knows what he serves:
Who serves best doesn't always understand.

Audio Recording

Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as 'Love' can be tailored/personalised

Download Poem

Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as 'Love' can be tailored/personalised

Donwload As PDF

Personalised Poem

Would you like to customise this poem? You have the option to personalise it by accessing the provided link, which will direct you to Google Docs. From there, you can download the poem ‘Memories’ to your personal Google Docs account or Microsoft Word where you will be able to edit the poem however you want.

Personalised Poem

About the poem

This poem is about the idea of love, but it has a different take on love than what we typically think of. The poet suggests that love is about learning to look at yourself the way you look at distant things. By doing this, you realize that you are only one thing among many, and this can help heal your heart. The poem suggests that nature can help us in this process, as when we see a bird or a tree, we can feel a sense of connection and friendship. The final lines of the poem suggest that even if we don't fully understand what we are serving, the important thing is to serve with love, as this is what allows us to shine and stand in the glow of ripeness. Overall, the poem seems to be advocating for a more mindful and loving approach to life, one that values connection and service over individual achievement.

The Structure of Poem

The poem consists of one stanza made up of eight lines. The structure of the poem is free verse with no particular rhyme or meter. The poem explores the theme of love and how it requires one to look at oneself in a certain way, with a broader perspective, like how one looks at distant things. It highlights the healing power of love and the ability to connect with nature and the world around us. The poem concludes by suggesting that the best way to serve is to be in the "glow of ripeness," even if we don't fully understand what we are serving.

Best Quote from Love Poem

This is a quote from the poem Love by Czeslaw Milosz

"Love means to learn to look at yourself The way one looks at distant things"

This quote from the poem "Love Means" by Rainer Maria Rilke is a beautiful reminder of the power of self-love and self-reflection. It encourages us to view ourselves with the same kindness and perspective that we might offer to something or someone outside of ourselves, and to approach our own growth and healing with compassion and understanding.