How Do I Love Thee?

I post here three of my favorite poems and dedicate this entry to my Philip, the love of my life ...

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 shall but love thee better after death.

(Sonnet XLIII, Sonnets from the Portugese, by Elizabeth Barrett Browning)

Grow old along with me!

The best is yet to be;

The last of life, for which the first was made;

Our times are in his hands who saith,

"A whole I planned,

Youth shows but half; trust God: See all,

nor be afraid!"

(From "Rabbi Ben Ezra," by Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett Browning's husband)

Two such as you with such a master speed

Cannot be parted nor be swept away

From one another once you are agreed

That life is only life forevermore

Together wing to wing and oar to oar.

(Robert Frost)

I heartily agree with Charles Morgan when he said, "There is no surprise more magical than the surprise of being loved; it is God's finger on man's shoulder." Thank-you for finding me again after all these years, PB, and surprising me with your love!