National Poetry Month: Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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April is National Poetry Month and I have been sharing a few of my favorite poems here on my blog. If you visit The Literature Network you can find the work of several authors to read and enjoy for free, like Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

sonnets

“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….”

This poem from Sonnets from the Portuguese: A Celebration of Love is a favorite. I love how she says “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…”

What do you think? Enjoy your day and thanks for stopping in.

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disclaimer: Nothing in this post is available for download, the photo is my own.

13 thoughts on “National Poetry Month: Elizabeth Barrett Browning”

  7. Like everyone else, that is one of my favourite poems.

    I am not much of a poetry connoisseur, however I will open a poetry book from time to time, even if I only read one page at a sitting.

    I remembered reading another Barrett Browning poem I liked, some time ago and it has taken me a while to track it down. It is called ‘The Cry Of The Children’ and whilst it is more morbid and disturbing than the lovely lines you shared, it does depict the moral and social issues of the time – namely the enforced manual labour of children, in the factories and mines. Coming from the industrial north, as Barrett Browning did, I guess this was quite a personal journey for her …

    https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43725/the-cry-of-the-children

    Take a look if you get the chance, I think you will find it very moving!

    Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Yvonne
    x

    Like

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