How do I Love Thee?
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 childhoods 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-
