Infamous Love

"How do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)" by Elizabeth Barrette Browning

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 candle-light.

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.

This is a powerful sonnet. As I read; this poem evokes childhood memories of innocence and puppy love. I can feel the soft velvet daisy pedals on my fingertips sever them from their life stem. I whisper, "he loves me, he loves me not...he loves me".

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