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 candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a 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.
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 candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a 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.
Reflection of the power and depth of love and how it can overcome nature and even the tragedy of death.
‘I shall but love thee better after death’ – perhaps mentioning the immense grief that would be felt and how this would show on another level the intensity of love as it can still be felt after death and throughout this unknown barrier. Even death cannot end her love. Love is all powerful and overcomes all obstacles. Love is everlasting. It cannot die.
Loving her partner is the way the writer can tell they even exist. Their whole world and existence is love.
Metaphorical language.
Repetition of ‘th’ sounds giving poem soft and tender tone.
The sun and candle-light could be metaphors of love, too. The sun could be representative of the good times in life where love is blossoming and flourishing and the world seems carefree. The candle-light could show how love is there as a pillar of support when the world around seems dark and unfamiliar, perhaps even threatening. This could be reflective of Browning’s life where she chose to elope with her lover to Italy, leaving her strict father, but also family stability behind for a new uncertain future in an alien place. At this time in her life all Elizabeth had was love to support her, something which may be represented within this poem. She is reliant on love not just for emotional reasons but for survival.
