Readin' and Dreamin'
Sonnets from the Portuguese
Christ. I don't even know what to say, here.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.
Sonnets from the Portuguese are love sonnets written by Elizabeth Barrett from 1845 through her secret marriage to Robert Browning in 1846. The title is from Browning's nickname for her 'my little Portuguese'.
The emotion and passion practically spills from the pages. This woman knew what to do with words, how to so eloquently convey her feeling so effortlessly.
Beautiful. Genius.
