How Do I Love Thee? Poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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 with a 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.
This is an almost idolatrous love – she equates her love with that of the soul devoted to the search for the divine. She focuses her love from several sources into a pure intense flame of total devotion. What man could stand such a flame I do not know! This is a passionate woman – she does not mention physical love yet one can infer that it is included in this love, though subject to it. This love will continue past the age of sexual desire.
Anyone who is truly in love with their spouse will take this as their own.
Probally one of my favorite poems I've ever heard before in my life. It's a really beautiful and peaceful poem. I love it. A+
The One, indispensable and blue ribbon Poem on Love. Nothing like it! When written nor ever again! Thank you, dear Elizabeth! ! !
This poem gives all the images of worldly love yet it is the spiritual impression of love that shines through.
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1/24/2025 3:22:37 PM # 1.0.0
Viewed thru the prism of our post-modern world, I see this love poem full of snark; written on a lark- it ends on a note dark enough to make my skin curl.