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 EVERYDAY'S MOST
QUIET NEED, BY SUN
AND CANDLE-LIGHT.
I LOVE THE 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