How Do I
Love Thee (Sonnet 43)
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.
(by Elizabeth Barrett Browning)
