Sonnets from the Portuguese: XLIII
Sonnets from the Portuguese: XLIII
Original Text
A Selection from the Poetry of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. First Series. New Edition. London: Smith, Elder, & Co., 1886. 1: 181-202.
1How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
2I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
3My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
4For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
5I love thee to the level of everyday’s
6Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
7I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
8I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
9I love thee with the passion put to use
10In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
11I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
12With my lost saints,—I love thee with the breath,
13Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if God choose,
14I shall but love thee better after death.
Publication Start Year
1850
RPO poem Editors
Marc R. Plamondon
RPO Edition
2007
Form