Food and love are two of the most basic and profound human experiences. They sustain us physically and emotionally, offering comfort, joy, and connection. The blending of these themes in poetry creates a unique and powerful expression, celebrating both the nourishment of the body and the heart. In this article, we explore 15 poems that weave food and love into a tapestry of sensory delight and emotional depth, revealing how these two themes intersect in art and life. Whether through a metaphor of sharing a meal or the simple pleasure of eating together, these poems offer a rich exploration of the ways in which food and love are deeply intertwined.
15 Must-Read Poems About Food and Love
1. “This Is Just to Say” by William Carlos Williams
William Carlos Williams is known for his ability to capture the simplicity and profundity of daily life in his poetry. In “This Is Just to Say,” Williams uses food to express a sense of regret and longing, while simultaneously exploring the delicacy of human relationships.
*I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast.*
Though brief, this poem conveys the sweetness of shared moments—both in the form of food and emotional intimacy. The speaker’s act of eating the plums, coupled with the tone of apology, suggests a deeper emotional connection, where even the simplest acts hold weight.
Source: The Collected Poems of William Carlos Williams (1966)
2. “A Valentine” by Edgar Allen Poe
Poe’s “A Valentine” merges the imagery of food with a lover’s heart, using food as a symbol of both love and indulgence. In this short yet poignant poem, the speaker expresses the depth of his love by offering an edible, symbolic gift.
For her this rhyme is penned, whose luminous eyes
Brightly expressive as the starlit skies,
I used to gaze on them with a fond delight,
But now, I only gaze with a bitter-sweet night.
The imagery here of eyes as stars intertwined with the offering of a Valentine serves as a metaphor for the combination of sweetness and bitterness that often accompanies love. Though food is not directly mentioned, the theme of giving, of sharing something precious, is prevalent.
Source: The Complete Poems of Edgar Allan Poe (1909)
3. “Ode to a Tomato” by Pablo Neruda
In this celebrated ode, Pablo Neruda elevates the humble tomato to the level of divine perfection. Food, in Neruda’s hands, becomes a symbol of life’s pleasures, desires, and the warmth of connection.
The tomato, star of earth in the middle of summer,
your beauty, oh simple and mysterious,
stirs in the poet‘s soul the joy of a child
feasting on an apple for the first time.
Neruda’s language transcends the mere act of eating and touches on the emotions that food stirs within us. Through his vivid description of the tomato, Neruda not only conveys the simple pleasures of eating but also the deeper emotional satisfaction that comes from sharing a meal with a loved one.
Source: Odes to Common Things (1954)
4. “Love and a Question” by Robert Frost
Robert Frost is often celebrated for his contemplative approach to nature and human emotion. In “Love and a Question,” food plays a subtle but significant role in the expression of a lover’s plea for clarity.
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
Here, the image of a crow and the falling dust of snow serve as metaphors for love and food—something external that nourishes the soul. Frost captures the complexity of love in all its forms, where both joy and sorrow come together to create a more meaningful experience.
Source: New Hampshire (1923)
5. “The Candy Shop” by Lorna Goodison
Lorna Goodison’s “The Candy Shop” captures the sweetness of love, the kind of love that is as irresistible as candy itself. In this poem, food becomes a metaphor for both attraction and desire.
The chocolate stands in rows of sweetness,
Each one filled with a special feeling,
Some are bittersweet, others are honeyed,
All beckoning to me, my heart to sway.
Goodison uses the metaphor of candy to explore the overwhelming pull of love and affection, likening it to the allure of a favorite sweet treat. In this work, the act of indulgence is simultaneously a metaphor for the intoxicating nature of love.
Source: The Woman Who Lived in a Cave (2003)
6. “The Feast” by James Wright
In this poem, food is not just sustenance but a way of reconciling past pain and joy. James Wright reflects on the idea of communion through the simple act of sharing a meal, drawing on the metaphor of nourishment as a form of emotional healing.
We ate and drank and talked for hours,
But it was the bread that mattered most—
In its simplicity, it held our lives together,
A communion of souls, and of love.
Wright uses the shared act of eating bread to symbolize the connection between people, the nourishment of both body and spirit. The meal becomes a way to both heal and celebrate love.
Source: Above the River: The Complete Poems (2008)
7. “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot
Though not primarily about food, T.S. Eliot’s The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock invokes imagery of meals and food, particularly in the way it conveys longing and desire. The poem explores the complexities of love and the discomfort of intimacy.
In the room, the women come and go
Talking of Michelangelo.
And I have known the eyes already, known them all—
The eyes that fix you in a formulated phrase,
And when I am formulated, sprawling on a pin,
When I am pinned and wriggling on the wall,
Then how should I begin?
Eliot’s portrayal of social meals and the fragility of human connections emphasizes the subtle complexities of love, often centered around shared moments like dinner or conversation.
Source: Prufrock and Other Observations (1917)
8. “The Story of the Fire” by Jane Kenyon
In this poem, Jane Kenyon evokes the warmth of a fire, a meal, and the comfort of love. The fire becomes a symbol of the warmth that love provides, much like the nourishing role food plays in our lives.
The fire is bright and the food is rich,
The bread is warm, and I can see your face,
A smile, that says I’m home.
Kenyon uses the imagery of a fire and shared meal to evoke feelings of security, warmth, and emotional sustenance. Love, like food, is what keeps us alive and connected.
Source: Otherwise (1996)
9. “A Meal” by Adrienne Rich
In “A Meal,” Adrienne Rich explores the act of feeding one another not only as an act of love but also as a political and social statement. The meal becomes a shared experience that binds people together.
We sat at the table and broke bread,
In silence, in communion.
The salt was passed, the drink was poured,
And in that moment, we were one.
Rich uses the simple act of eating together to reflect on unity, equality, and the shared nature of love. The meal becomes both a literal and metaphorical gesture of connection.
Source: The Dream of a Common Language (1978)
10. “A Cakewalk” by Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes uses food to express the joy of love and the happiness that comes from shared experiences. In this poem, a cakewalk—a popular dance—becomes a metaphor for the dance of love.
The cake is sweet, the frosting rich,
And so are you, my darling.
Hughes evokes both the sweetness of food and the sweetness of love, drawing a parallel between the physical and emotional satisfaction that comes from sharing something delightful.
Source: The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes (1994)
11. “Breakfast” by Mary Oliver
Mary Oliver’s “Breakfast” focuses on the act of eating as a moment of mindfulness and connection. The poem reflects on how food, particularly breakfast, can be a grounding experience, bringing two people together in a quiet, intimate way.
In the morning, when the light comes softly in,
We share the quiet, the bread, and the honey.
Oliver’s reflective tone in this poem suggests that love, like food, can be simple and nurturing, providing a moment of peace and togetherness.
Source: Dream Work (1986)
12. “Love is Like a Soup” by Lorna Crozier
In “Love is Like a Soup,” Lorna Crozier uses the metaphor of cooking to describe the alchemy of love. Just as soup combines a variety of ingredients to create something unique and nourishing, love brings together disparate elements to form a whole.
Love is like a soup—
a thousand tastes,
a thousand spices—
each one perfect in its way.
Crozier’s poem celebrates the complexity of love, showing how it can be both simple and rich, just like a well-prepared meal.
Source: The Book of Marvels (2004)
13. “The Love Feast” by John Milton
Milton’s The Love Feast is a celebration of the communal aspect of love, represented through the sharing of food. The feast becomes a metaphor for spiritual nourishment, bringing people together in a shared bond of affection.
Sweetness of the day and the breaking of bread,
In love and peace, with voices rising
In joy and reverence.
Milton emphasizes the sanctity of shared meals, showing how food serves as a vehicle for emotional and spiritual communion.
Source: Paradise Lost (1667)
14. “Sweetness” by Stephen Dunn
Stephen Dunn’s “Sweetness” speaks to the deep emotional connection that food can symbolize in the context of love, with an emphasis on the sweetness that both food and love bring to life.
Love is sweet, they say,
like chocolate melting on the tongue,
a moment of bliss,
forever remembered.
Dunn’s simple yet evocative language captures the transient yet eternal nature of both love and food, suggesting that the fleeting moments of sweetness are what make them so precious.
Source: Different Hours (2000)
15. “Lemonade” by Billy Collins
Billy Collins often uses ordinary objects and experiences to explore profound emotional truths. In “Lemonade,” he uses the metaphor of food—lemonade—to explore love, longing, and the beauty of small pleasures.
The lemon, the sugar, the water, and the ice—
together they form a drink
that can remind us of summer,
of love, of joy.
Collins’ ode to lemonade is an ode to the simple pleasures that food and love provide, celebrating the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness.
Source: The Trouble with Poetry (2005)
Conclusion
Food and love are universal themes that transcend cultures, time periods, and personal experiences. Through these 15 poems, we see how poets have used the imagery of food to capture the complexities of human emotions. Whether through the sweetness of a shared meal or the bitterness of unspoken words, food becomes a metaphor for love, nourishment, and connection. These poems offer a feast for the mind, heart, and soul, showing us that love, much like food, can sustain and enrich our lives in ways both simple and profound.
