How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count The Ways...

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 a 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.

 

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

 

I think this is one of the greatest poems of all time. My favorite part is this: “I love thee to the level of everyday’s most quiet need by sun and candle light”. While it has multiple meanings, for me it makes me feel humble to love and be loved as I am blessed to be. It is not so much about the grand gestures, though we have those moments too. Thinking of this poem again after some time, and still knowing it "by heart", I realize the romantic soul that I am.

 

I love this shot! After much ado (including poetry), that is the point! I say this with all due modesty, but this shot sincerely scratches a place in my heart and mind, and I would dearly love to hear if it touches you in some way and why.

 

Hugs and thanks for viewing! ***All rights to my images are STRICTLY reserved. Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing my images or if you are an educator or non-profit interested in use. copyright KathleenJacksonPhotography 2009***

 

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