How Do I Love Thee- By Elizabeth Barrett 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.

From Sonnet 43

Thanks to poets.org Visit them at: http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/how-do-i-love-thee-sonnet-43

This is such a beautiful poem. If you ever acquire a love like that, cherish it like you would a tender plant that needs sunshine and water to nurture into a full blooming force inside you. I cannot say I have been in love like this. I have hope that I will some day.