Agape.

How Do I Love Thee?

by: Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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 candle-light.

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.



How Do I Love Thee?, Sonnet 43 from Sonnets from the Portuguese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning is one of my favorite poetry, ever.  It's said that she wrote it for her husband, Robert Browning, and I find it amusing because I grew up with non-romantic parents and I can't help but wonder what if they were, what would have happened then.  I discovered the poem when I was still in high school and up until now, I still love it.  It just never gets old and whether you're in a relationship or not, you can appreciate it.  It makes you, actually it makes me, believe in love every time I read it.  Real, unconditional, loyal, and forgiving love exists.  It's never gonna be easy, it's not gonna be a walk in the park finding it, or keeping it, or sustaining it, but it exists.  And sometimes that's all I need to think or hear. :)



                                                                                         Ta Ta!☺