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 candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love 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.
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
I stumbled upon this poem after watching the dvd 'Shadowlands'; a movie about the life of C.S.Lewis, and felt that it portrayed the love that Lewis shared with his wife beautifully.
Here was a man who devoted his life to the pursuit of knowledge, to attaining wisdom, who would eventually meet a woman that would change him, would challenge him, would cause him to step out of his own comfort zone, and in return he would experience a depth of love that he had only ever knew from the numerous books that lined his shelves. It was an absolutely beautiful movie about a man that I have always greatly admired. A must see for all you romantics.
Comments