How do I love thee?

XLIII

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 everyday'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

I have a book called Sonnets from the Portuguese and Other Love Poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, which I have been reading lately. I didn't start it to conincide with Valentine's Day, but it is a happy coincidence. I *love* the love story of Elizabeth and Robert Browning- another version here.

I confess the above poem is one of my favorites because of the movie Roger Rabbit - "Dear Jessice: How do I love thee? let me count the ways. One one-thousand. Two one-thousand. Three one-thousand. Four one-thousand. Five . . . "