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 candlelight.
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 love thee better after death.
- Elizabeth Barrett Browning
I Love You
I love you not only for what you are
but for what I am when I am with you.
I love you not only for what you have
made of yourself but for what you are
making of me. I love you for the part
of me that you bring out.
- Elizabeth Barrett Browning
First time he kissed me, he but only kissed.
The fingers of this hand where with I write:
And, ever since, it grew more clean and white.
- Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Books are masters who instruct us without
rods or ferules, without words or anger,
without bread or money. If you approach them,
they are not asleep; if you seek them,
they do not hide; if you blunder, they
do not scold; if you are ignorant, they
do not laugh at you.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Other Elizabeth Barrett Browning Poems
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways
I Thought Once How Theocritus Had Sung
The Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers
A Musical Instrument
Sonnets from the Portuguese
To Flush, My Dog, The Young Queen,
The Runaway Slave at Pilgrim's Point
