How Do I Love Thee?

By Elizabeth Barrett Browning 

Photo by Kiriaki Repanidou

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 an ideal grace.

Photo by Kiriaki Repanidou

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.

Photo by Kiriaki Repanidou

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old grief’s, and with my childhood’s faith.

Photo by Kiriaki Repanidou

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.

Photo by Kiriaki Repanidou

How Do I Love Thee?

Elizabeth Barrett Browning