Poetry Picks Based on Your Venus Sign

Astrology and poetry have a lot in common. Both are ancient and ritualistic, but have seen revived interest in recent years, as proved by poetry accounts on Instagram amassing millions of followers and the popularity of apps like Co-Star and Sanctuary Astrology. Similarly, many people turn to both poetry and astrology for insights on meaning, purpose, and love. 

While most people know their sun sign—the sign you search for when you look at a page of horoscopes, determined by your birth date alone and representing the crux of who you are—other astrological aspects offer a deeper look into the way you communicate, the way you react at your most emotional, and how you show up in romantic relationships. In particular, your Venus sign can best be understood as an indication of how you approach romantic love and intimacy, a nod to the planet Venus being the ruler of love and beauty. Venus can help guide who you’d be compatible with—so based on your Venus sign, here’s a poetry collection compatible with your outlook on love. 

Don’t know your Venus sign? Find it here. (Tip: You’ll have to know your birth time and location.)

If you have a fire sign Venus (Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius), read What Is This Thing Called Love by Kim Addonizio. 

Those with their Venus placements in a fire sign are known for impulsivity, spontaneity, and passion. Think rom com worthy big gestures and a penchant for falling in love quickly. Fire sign Venuses are known for extremes, which can mean a relationship with many ups and downs—but they’ll certainly never be bored, and can infuse daily life with a sense of adventure. Kim Addonizio’s What Is This Thing Called Love captures the eroticism and wildness of a fire sign venus, including their ability to make daily life feel like a cinematic fantasy. 

If you have a water sign Venus (Pisces, Cancer, or Scorpio), read Pillow Thoughts by Courtney Peppernell. 

Those with their Venus placements in a water sign feel deeply and have a strong intuition. Just as they’re highly self-aware about their own feelings, they bring this same receptiveness to understanding the emotions of their partner, often picking up on them without words. Water sign Venuses are also not afraid to feel all the nuances and complexities of life, using heartbreak to strengthen their belief in a loyal and enduring love. Pillow Thoughts by Courtney Peppernell takes the reader through this full arc, delving into the depths of the human experience. 

If you have an air sign Venus (Aquarius, Gemini, or Libra), read Debths by Susan Howe. 

Those with their Venus placements in an air sign are highly communicative, witty, and cerebral. While some other Venus signs rely on things unsaid, air sign venuses are the opposite—craving regular dialogue that goes on wild, meandering tangents, spanning any and every topic. The intellectual nature of air sign venuses is mirrored by the language poets, a school of poets who embraced philosophy and semiotics to inform their deeply analytical writing. Susan Howe, one of the most well-known language poets, writes about romantic love in her collection Debths, but gets there by way of examining the dictionary, constellations, the work of Yeats, and other esoteric topics. 

If you have an Earth sign Venus (Taurus, Virgo, or Capricorn), read Odes to Common Things by Pablo Neruda. 

Those with their Venus placements in an Earth sign likely won’t opt for showy, grand displays of romance, but will instead express their love in the details and actions of daily life. Best epitomized by the acts of service and quality time love languages, Earth sign venuses are present, steadfast, and reliable. They’re good at doing the regular work of maintaining and strengthening a relationship and feel their love grow stronger through rituals of commitment. Well-known love poet Pablo Neruda sinks into this grounded approach in Odes to Common Things, as within these poems he elevates simple, earthly objects—like soap, bread, and tea—to the most wondrous and significant, recognizing the subtle romance they exemplify. 

Looking for more astrological info? In addition to guiding your love life, astrology can also help you set and achieve goals. Check out our article on poetic goals to embrace based on your sun sign.