The verses in these self love poems remind us to cherish ourselves

Self love forms the foundation of personal growth, resilience, and happiness. Throughout history, celebrated poets have beautifully captured the essence of self love in their verses, offering inspiration and encouragement to readers worldwide through their self love poems.

This collection of 19 poems about self love is filled with my favorite works from renowned authors. They were penned by ancient Sufi poets, modern Instagram poets, and everything in between, illuminating the timelessness of fostering self love. Their verses remind us of the importance of cherishing ourselves, embracing our worth, and fostering a deep sense of love from within.

When you think about romance, what comes to mind? For me, it’s chocolate, flowers, and poetry. However, this poetry is about the love you hold for yourself, the most important relationship you have in your life.

I hope these poems inspire you to embrace all the beautiful parts of yourself. Just as a lover would see you as perfection, I hope you will start to see yourself in the same light. You are the only you, and you have a unique imprint to make on the world!

Be sure to also check out my posts about self love affirmations, self-love journal prompts, and my interview with a self love expert! And check out this page for all things self-love.

And if you want more, these are my favorite self love poetry books:

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
Self Love Poetry For Thinkers & Feelers by Melody Godfred
Loving Yourself Into Being: Poems on Self-Love & Compassion by Karina Hsieh

reading poems about self love — Here I am, diving into some beautiful poems about self love

HERE ARE 19 INSPIRATIONAL SELF LOVE POEMS:

1. Invictus by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.

This poem is a powerful anthem of resilience that was a favorite of Nelson Mandela. Henley's poem reminds us that regardless of life's challenges, with belief in ourselves, we have the power to control our own destiny and rise above adversity.

2. poem ABOUT SELF WORTH by melody godfred

Of all the
things I own,
my worth is my
favorite possession.

One of my all-time favorite poems about self worth, this short poem packs a big punch. The author conveys so much with so little, and reminds us to cherish ourselves.

3. irreplaceable by rupi kaur

the universe took its time on you
crafted you to offer the world
something different from everyone else
when you doubt
how you were created
you doubt an energy greater than us both

I am such a Rupi Kaur fangirl! I’ve been to 2 of her live shows and own her book. She sends such a powerful message about embracing our uniqueness in this beautiful self love poem.

4. Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need for my care.
’Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Celebrating the uniqueness and power of womanhood, Angelou's poem about self love emphasizes the inherent beauty and strength found within every woman.

5. Love After Love by Derek Walcott

The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

Walcott's poignant verse invites us to rediscover ourselves and find solace in self-acceptance, encouraging us to love ourselves wholeheartedly.

6. SELF CONFIDENCE POEM BY MELODY GODFRED

Fear of confrontation used to silence me.
Self love raised my voice.
Fear of failure used to immobilize me.
Self love emboldened me.
Fear of judgement used to consume me.
Self love made me whole.
Fear of abandonment used to anchor me.
Self love helped me set sail.

This powerful self confidence poem illustrates how self love can help us overcome our fears, find our voice, and achieve our fullest potential.

7. Wild Geese by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

In her gentle yet profound style, Oliver invites us to embrace our authentic selves, encouraging us to be at peace with who we are and to find joy in nature's embrace.

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8. acceptance by rupi kaur

if i am the longest relationship
of my life
isn’t it time to
nurture intimacy
and love
with the person
i lie in bed with each night

Another love yourself poem by the incredibly talented Rupi Kaur, these words help us come back home to ourselves.

9. The Journey by Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice -
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voice behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do -
determined to save
the only life that you could save.

In this reflective poem about self worth, Oliver explores the transformative power of self-discovery and encourages us to embark on our personal journeys of growth and self-acceptance.

10. MY MUSE by Nikki Giovanni

I am my own
Muse

I delight me
With my words
Of both Wisdom
And wit

I teach myself
So much
Such insight
Into the human
soul
Such compassion
For the weak and weary
Such utter contempt
For the self-satisfied

I think
What a wonderful world
It would be
If only people
Would listen
To me

I look at the full moon
And bay
Come
Come
Come to me
Let’s explore
A new world

Giovanni's poem serves as a love letter to oneself, emphasizing the significance of self-care, self-compassion, and the pursuit of personal happiness.

11. The Guest House by Rumi

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Rumi was the father of all Sufi poets. This mystical self love poem invites us to welcome and embrace all aspects of ourselves, including our struggles and pain, as they serve as catalysts for growth.

12. Self Love By Lang Leav

Once when I was running,
from all that haunted me;
to the dark I was succumbing -
to what hurt unbearably.

Searching for the one thing,
that would set my sad soul free.

In time I stumbled upon it,
an inner calm and peace;
and now I am beginning,
to see and to believe,
in who I am becoming -
and all I’ve yet to be.

Leav's evocative verse encourages us to appreciate the beauty in the everyday, find joy in self-reflection, and embrace the path of self-discovery.

13. FROM MILK AND HONEY By rUPI kAUR

how you love yourself is
how you teach others
to love you

Kaur's heartfelt poem about self worth encourages us to understand the connection between our relationship with ourselves and others.

14. HOMAGE TO MY HIPS BY LUCILLE CLIFTON

these hips are big hips
they need space to
move around in.
they don't fit into little
petty places. these hips
are free hips.
they don't like to be held back.
these hips have never been enslaved,
they go where they want to go
they do what they want to do.
these hips are mighty hips.
these hips are magic hips.
i have known them
to put a spell on a man and
spin him like a top!

I just love this poem on self esteem. It evokes so much body confidence and appreciation for all that you bring into the room.

15. Today I Asked My Body What She Needed By Hollie Holden

Today I asked my body what she needed,
Which is a big deal
Considering my journey of
Not Really Asking That Much.

I thought she might need more water.
Or protein.
Or greens.
Or yoga.
Or supplements.
Or movement.

But as I stood in the shower
Reflecting on her stretch marks
Her roundness where I would like flatness,
Her softness where I would like firmness,
All those conditioned wishes
That form a bundle of
Never-Quite-Right-Ness,
She whispered very gently:

Could you just love me like this?

This moving love yourself poem nearly brings me to tears each time I read it. It can be so painful to reflect on our self-talk when we understand its implications. What if our bodies were people? Would we be as unkind as we are to ourselves? Speak to yourself like someone you love.

16. My Brilliant Image by hafiz

One day the sun admitted,
I am just a shadow.
I wish I could show you
The Infinite Incandescence
That has cast my brilliant image!

I wish I could show you,
When you are lonely or in darkness,
The astonishing Light
Of your own Being!

This is a beautiful self worth poem that shows us how mighty we truly are. (Note: This translation of Hafiz is by Daniel Ladinsky. Whether it is an accurate translation remains unclear, but either way, these words are beautiful).

17. Home by Rupi kaur

i dive into the well of my body
and end up in another world
everything i need
already exists in me
there’s no need
to look anywhere else

A short poem about self love that is an invitation to look inward for whatever it is we seek.

18. On Joy and Sorrow BY KAHLIL GIBRAN

Then a woman said, Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow.
And he answered:
Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some of you say, “Joy is greater than sorrow,” and others say, “Nay, sorrow is the greater.”
But I say unto you, they are inseparable.
Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.
Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.
When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.

Self love means loving all the parts of ourselves, including the darker emotions like sadness along with the better parts of us. It’s all welcome and worthy of reverence. This self love poem explains how the full spectrum of who we are is interwoven together - one cannot exist without the other.

19. poem about loving yourself by Nayyirah Waheed

be softer with you.
you are a breathing thing.
a memory to someone.
a home to a life.

I love this poet, and her words are so effective in reminding us to be gentler with ourselves.

*******

These evocative poems about self-love penned by revered authors carry profound messages of embracing our worth, celebrating our uniqueness, and fostering self-compassion. They serve as gentle reminders that self-love is not merely a luxury, but a necessity for personal growth and well-being. By exploring the wisdom within these verses, we are inspired to cultivate a deep sense of love and appreciation for ourselves, nurturing our souls and embracing the beauty that resides within each of us.

Be sure to also check out my posts about self love affirmations, self-love journal prompts, and my interview with a self love expert! And check out this page for all things self-love.

Are you inspired by this moving self love poetry? I’d love to hear in the comments! This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. I donate 10% of all proceeds made from this blog to charity. Find out more about the charity I am supporting here.