Love
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How Do I Love Thee?
Let Me Count The Ways
Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
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 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.
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