This is the first study to offer an integral theory of love poetry, examining why it is that poetry, even more than other arts, is so consistently associated with romantic love. Written for non-specialists as well as for academic readers, The Art of Love Poetry delves into the rich tradition of Western love poetry, from Sappho and the Song of Songs to the present day, to consider the various qualities that make poems particularly suited to the representation and expression of love. Ranging widely across different times and traditions, this book considers such topics as the poetic kiss, lyrics of conjugal love, and the role of animals in love poetry.