Guwahati, Feb. 13 -- Shannon McHugh, UMass Boston

As poets have demonstrated for centuries, a sonnet for your beloved never goes out of style. The gift of verse may carry extra cachet this Valentine's Day, on the heels of Taylor Swift's announcement that her next album is poetry-themed.

But in carrying out my research on Renaissance literature and gender, I've been struck by how many of that period's love poems were not for lovers.

These sonnets, composed for friends and family, are not just beautiful; they're also a reminder that love and Valentine's Day aren't exclusively for couples.

The sonnet was invented in 12th century Italy as a 14-line poem with 11 beats per line and various rhyming patterns. Its originator, Giacomo da Lentin...