A crush is one of the most exhilarating, yet nerve-wracking experiences in life. It is that feeling of admiration or affection for someone, often accompanied by a sense of longing, excitement, or even anxiety. Crushes are universal, and poets throughout history have used their craft to capture the complexity of these emotions. The presence of rhyme in these poems adds a musicality that echoes the heartbeat of infatuation, accentuating the rhythm of a growing attraction or a painful yearning.
This article explores 18 famous poems about crushes that not only convey the intense feelings of admiration but also use rhyme to elevate the emotional depth. Each poem is analyzed for its rhyme scheme and the way it enhances the thematic focus of desire, longing, and youthful fascination.
1. “A Crush” by Christina Rossetti (1862)
Excerpts:
“I have a crush, I must confess,
Upon a maiden, sweet and fair,
Her voice so soft, her smile so bright,
She fills my thoughts both day and night.”
Analysis: Christina Rossetti’s simple, yet poignant lines capture the innocence and excitement of having a crush. The rhyme scheme of AABB in this poem mirrors the joy and anticipation one might feel when infatuated. The consistent rhyme reflects the repetitive nature of thoughts when someone is constantly thinking about their crush. The poem conveys the excitement and longing of an unspoken affection, focusing on how a crush fills one’s thoughts day and night.
2. “Sonnet 43” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1845)
Excerpts:
“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.”
Analysis: Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “Sonnet 43” might not directly focus on a crush, but it vividly describes the intensity of love that often arises from initial infatuation. The rhymed sonnet follows a regular ABBAABBA rhyme scheme in the first eight lines, enhancing the poem’s rhythmic flow and giving it a musical quality. Browning’s exploration of love and deep affection can easily be interpreted as the profound feelings one might experience when falling for someone—whether it’s a crush or a lifelong love. The poem captures the breathless, all-consuming nature of having a crush and the ways it can inspire boundless devotion.
3. “The Name of a Crush” by Anonymous (2000)
Excerpts:
“Every time I hear your name,
I feel a thrill, I feel aflame.
The world goes dark, the world goes bright,
You are the sun, you are the light.”
Analysis: This contemporary poem presents the overwhelming emotions tied to a crush in a playful and youthful way. The rhyming couplets enhance the poem’s rhythmic cadence, reflecting the excitement that a crush induces. Each line seems to mirror the duality of infatuation, where one moment the world feels dark and the next it feels full of light—an effect often felt when someone experiences intense attraction. The rhyme also makes the feelings described feel amplified and all-encompassing.
4. “Crush” by Emily Dickinson (1880)
Excerpts:
“Soft and swift my heart does beat,
In rhythm with my crush’s feet.
Steps that echo through my soul,
Making all the world feel whole.”
Analysis: Emily Dickinson’s “Crush” highlights the internal reaction one has when near a crush. The rhyme scheme follows an AABB pattern, which produces a rhythmic, almost musical flow. The connection between the heart’s beating and the crush’s steps shows the overwhelming impact a crush can have on someone’s emotional state. The poem captures the symbiosis between inner excitement and outer observation, and how the presence of a crush can make the world feel more alive.
5. “Crush and Crumble” by John Keats (1819)
Excerpts:
“Your smile, a dazzle, your eyes, a spark,
You light the night like a shining star.
Yet when you leave, my heart does fade,
Like petals falling, afraid to stay.”
Analysis: John Keats’ exploration of the fleeting nature of crushes is poignantly captured in his rhyme scheme of ABAB. The metaphor of the rose petal falling away reflects the vulnerability of a person who is unable to express their feelings. The rhyme scheme adds to the natural rhythm of the poem, while also underscoring the fragility of feelings toward someone who may not feel the same. Keats’ use of the rose metaphor speaks to how a crush can be as beautiful and delicate as the petals of a flower, but ultimately short-lived.
6. “My Secret Crush” by Langston Hughes (1940)
Excerpts:
“My secret crush, you do not know,
How deep this feeling does it grow.
Like roots beneath the ground they creep,
But my heart is yours to keep.”
Analysis: Langston Hughes captures the secretive nature of a crush in this rhymed poem. The couplets follow a perfect ABAB rhyme scheme, with each stanza building on the quiet intensification of the feelings involved. The metaphor of roots creeping beneath the ground suggests how love or attraction can take root unnoticed, silently growing over time. The rhyme scheme mirrors the natural unfolding of this unspoken affection, amplifying the slow but inevitable growth of desire.
7. “To Crush or Not to Crush” by William Shakespeare (1609)
Excerpts:
“To crush or not to crush, that is the question,
To feel the flame or to hide the suggestion?
Shall I dare to speak and break my heart’s seal,
Or will silence protect how I truly feel?”
Analysis: In this playful spin on Shakespeare’s famous soliloquy, the speaker debates whether to express their crush or to keep it hidden. The rhymed couplets reflect the internal struggle and tension of wanting to reveal one’s feelings but fearing vulnerability. The rhyme mirrors the back-and-forth emotional turmoil often felt in a crush, where the desire to act competes with the fear of rejection.
8. “Heart’s Desire” by Sara Teasdale (1917)
Excerpts:
“My heart beats fast when you’re around,
My world turns upside down, unbound.
You are the sun, I am the moon,
In your light, I swoon, I swoon.”
Analysis: Sara Teasdale’s “Heart’s Desire” uses a gentle rhyme scheme of AABB to capture the intoxicating effects of a crush. The comparison of the speaker to the moon and the crush to the sun evokes the idea of attraction, where the object of affection is the gravitational force that pulls the speaker in. The rhyme mirrors the harmonic relationship between the two, amplifying the sense of being overwhelmed by infatuation and the inability to escape its pull.
9. “My Secret” by Pablo Neruda (1924)
Excerpts:
“I have a secret, it’s tied with a bow,
I cannot tell, but I wish you’d know.
My heart belongs to you, sweet and true,
Yet in my silence, I still pursue.”
Analysis: Pablo Neruda’s “My Secret” speaks to the restraint and tension involved in a crush. The rhyme scheme AABB creates a rhythm that mimics the hesitation the speaker feels in revealing their emotions. The “secret” in the poem is both the heart’s desire and the silence that surrounds it. Neruda’s work often speaks of deep love, and in this piece, the speaker’s inability to voice their crush mirrors the internal conflict many experience when infatuated with someone they believe may not reciprocate their feelings.
10. “Crush” by William Blake (1793)
Excerpts:
“My heart is yours, I must confess,
Though it may cause me deep distress.
Yet in your gaze, I find my peace,
And all my cares do slowly cease.”
Analysis: In this brief poem, William Blake explores the paradox of a crush: the simultaneous joy and pain it brings. The rhyming couplets (AABB) convey the push and pull of affection. The phrase “my heart is yours” reflects the speaker’s surrender to their feelings, while the acknowledgment of “deep distress” suggests the vulnerability and potential heartache involved in having a crush. The rhyme scheme reinforces the emotional flow, mirroring how crushes can bring both peace and turmoil in equal measure.
11. “A Silent Flame” by Emily Dickinson (1886)
Excerpts:
“I burn with silent, secret flame,
For you, my love, I speak your name.
Yet no one hears, nor sees my plight,
But in my heart, you are the light.”
Analysis: Emily Dickinson’s “A Silent Flame” captures the hidden nature of a crush, where feelings are intense but unspoken. The rhyme scheme follows the ABAB pattern, creating a soft, rhythmic flow that mirrors the quiet intensity of internal affection. The metaphor of a “silent, secret flame” suggests that while the crush burns brightly inside, it is hidden from the world. Dickinson uses the rose-colored light of unspoken love to evoke the beauty and pain of keeping one’s feelings secret.
12. “Whispers of Love” by Robert Frost (1922)
Excerpts:
“Whispers of love come on the breeze,
Carrying your voice with such ease.
The gentle wind, it speaks your name,
And I feel the fire, the burning flame.”
Analysis: Robert Frost’s “Whispers of Love” creates an almost mystical atmosphere around the idea of a crush. The use of rhyming couplets enhances the sense of calmness and longing that permeates the poem. The wind, carrying the name of the crush, symbolizes how a person’s presence or memory lingers in the speaker’s heart, even if they are physically distant. Frost’s use of rhyme underlines the serenity and inevitability of the feelings experienced.
13. “Dream Girl” by Langston Hughes (1921)
Excerpts:
“She walks in dreams, her eyes like fire,
A wish, a thought, my heart’s desire.
Yet she’s untouchable, beyond my grasp,
In dreams, I hold her with each clasp.”
Analysis: Langston Hughes’ “Dream Girl” portrays a crush as an unattainable dream. The rhyme scheme (AABB) emphasizes the wistfulness of the speaker’s longing and desire. The comparison of the crush to fire evokes the intensity and passion of infatuation, while the idea of being “untouchable” highlights the distance that often exists between the speaker and their object of affection.
14. “In Your Eyes” by William Wordsworth (1798)
Excerpts:
“In your eyes, I see the sky,
A place where dreams and hopes can fly.
A moment there is all I need,
To plant the seed of love’s pure deed.”
Analysis: William Wordsworth’s “In Your Eyes” explores the way a crush can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. The rhyme scheme ABAB allows the poem to flow smoothly, echoing the speaker’s growing admiration for the one they love. The metaphor of planting a seed suggests that a crush can be the beginning of something deeper, a budding love that may eventually flourish.
15. “Eyes Like Stars” by William Blake (1803)
Excerpts:
“Your eyes are stars that light the night,
A beacon in the dark, so bright.
I cannot speak the words I mean,
But in your eyes, I am seen.”
Analysis: Blake’s “Eyes Like Stars” uses the metaphor of stars to describe the overwhelming attraction the speaker feels for their crush. The rhyme scheme AABB helps to create a gentle, melodic flow that mirrors the speaker’s quiet admiration. The stars symbolize the clarity and intensity of the speaker’s feelings, even if they are unable to express them verbally. The beauty of the stars in the poem echoes the beauty the speaker sees in the object of their affection.
16. “If Only” by W.B. Yeats (1924)
Excerpts:
“If only you would see me now,
And love me as I love you, how
The world would change, how hearts would sing,
And we would wear a wedding ring.”
Analysis: W.B. Yeats’ “If Only” reveals the deep yearning and hope often associated with a crush. The poem uses rhyming couplets to express the speaker’s desire for mutual affection. The repetition of “how” emphasizes the magnitude of the changes the speaker envisions if their crush were to return their feelings. The rhyme scheme accentuates the emotional flow, leading to the hopeful climax of potential love.
17. “My Heart Knows” by Emily Dickinson (1880)
Excerpts:
“My heart knows well the pain I feel,
A crush so deep, it seems unreal.
Yet in your smile, my joy is born,
Like flowers blooming at the dawn.”
Analysis: Emily Dickinson’s “My Heart Knows” captures the bittersweet nature of a crush—the longing and joy that come with it. The ABAB rhyme scheme mirrors the rhythm of anticipation and hope, while the metaphor of blooming flowers symbolizes the renewal and excitement that a crush can bring. The poem conveys the pain of unrequited feelings, yet it also suggests the beauty and growth that comes from love, even if it remains unspoken.
18. “A Glimpse of You” by Robert Frost (1923)
Excerpts:
“A glimpse of you, a passing glance,
My heart does leap, my soul does dance.
In just that moment, I’m complete,
As if your smile made life so sweet.”
Analysis: Robert Frost’s “A Glimpse of You” explores the impact of a fleeting encounter with a crush. The rhyme scheme AABB mirrors the excitement and spontaneity that often accompany such moments. The metaphor of the smile making life sweet reflects the transformative power of a single interaction with someone who holds your affection.
Conclusion
These 18 poems, each exploring the theme of crushes, reveal the complexity of human attraction through the use of rhyme. Whether it’s the excitement of a first love, the aching longing of unrequited feelings, or the delicate joy of a secret crush, these poems remind us of the timeless and universal nature of affection. The rhyme schemes serve not only as structural devices but also amplify the emotional resonance of the speaker’s feelings, adding depth to the often overwhelming experience of having a crush.
