The given text is a poem titled “How Do I Love Thee?” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
The poem expresses the poet’s profound and extensive love for someone, which she enumerates in many ways.
She loves the person to the extent of her soul’s reach, even when she cannot see them.
She loves them in their everyday needs and in moments of quiet peace.
The love she feels is free and pure, devoid of any materialistic desires or expectations.
She loves them with a passion that she has put to use in her old sorrows, and with the same faith she had in her childhood.
The poet loves the person with the breath, smiles, and tears of all her life, and even after death, she will continue to love them better.
HOW DO I LOVE THEE?
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
The quietest need, by sun ancandlelightht
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.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Original intention @peacewriter51
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