How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s.
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints - I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life ! - and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

- Elizabeth Barrett Browning ( 1806 - 1861 )

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 21st, 2002 at 0:00 and is filed under Poem. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.