#ClassicPoetry – #ElizabethBarrettBrowning – #HowDoILoveThee?

/ Marcia Meara

Since Granny recently shared a short quote from Elizabeth Barrett Browning, I thought it would be fun to share a longer one, namely one of her best known poems. Hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I enjoyed reading it once again, myself!

How Do I Love Thee?
(Sonnet 43)
Elizabeth Barrett Browning  (1806 – 1861)

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.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (née Moulton-Barrett; March 6, 1806 –  June 29, 1861) was an English poet of the Victorian era, popular in Britain and the United States during her lifetime.

Born in County Durham, the eldest of 12 children, Elizabeth Barrett wrote poetry from the age of eleven. Her mother’s collection of her poems forms one of the largest extant collections of juvenilia by any English writer. At 15, she became ill, suffering intense head and spinal pain for the rest of her life. Later in life, she also developed lung problems, possibly tuberculosis. She took laudanum for the pain from an early age, which is likely to have contributed to her frail health.

And there you have a truly romantic sonnet from
one of the great poets of long ago.
Hope you enjoyed it!

50 thoughts on “#ClassicPoetry – #ElizabethBarrettBrowning – #HowDoILoveThee?”

    • So glad you enjoyed it, Darlene. It’s always been a favorite of mine, and I just had to share it today. Thanks for letting me know your thoughts, and have a wonderful rest of the week, too! 😀 ❤

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  3. Ahh…., I so love this Sonnet by Elisabeth Barrett Browning. It made me smile whilst reading it this morning. Thank you and your Granny. Sonnets are not so easy to write well. This is a wonderful example of the music in it.

    Miriam

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    • I agree with everything you mentioned, Miriam, and this has been a favorite of mine for many, many years. So glad you enjoyed it today, and thanks so much for taking the time to let me know! Have a super week ahead! 😀 ❤

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    • So glad you enjoyed this one, Harmony. It’s always been a huge favorite of mine, too. The beauty expressed is truly impressive, isn’t it? Lovely to have you stop by to share your thoughts, too, my friend. Hope the week ahead is a great one for you. And hugs and love right back atcha, too! 🤗❤️🤗

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    • I haven’t found anything that says she was actually addicted to laudanum, Vera, but given that she took it from an early age, it’s likely that was the case. And no doubt, “modern medicine” would have been much more effective, without that possible side effect, but alas! It wasn’t an option. Still, she managed to produced an unbelievably large volume of absolutely beautiful work, which is still read and loved today, and that’s an amazing feat.

      Thanks for stopping by this morning, and here’s to a super week ahead! 😀 ❤

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    • You’re not late at all, Sue. Just posted this today, so you’re right on time. I’m glad you enjoyed this one, and thanks so much for the Labor Day wishes. Same to you, plus a happy week ahead! 😀 ❤

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    • That wouldn’t surprise me, Sharon. Such a lovely romance between the two of them, and both so talented, too! Glad you enjoyed today’s post, and thanks for stopping by to let me know. Hope you have a wonderful week ahead! 😀 ❤

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  8. I’d forgotten just how beautiful and profound this poem is. It expresses the very real love she feels in all its many forms. Thank you so much for reminding me, Marcia. Hope the antibiotics are making a difference and that you have a lovely, peaceful, happy week. ❤ ❤ ❤

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    • I’m so glad this brought back lovely memories for you, Trish, and I agree this poem expresses her emotions beautifully. It’s always been a favorite of mine, and I was eager to share it here.

      The antibiotics have helped hugely, though I just finished the last one, and I’m not sure the infection is entirely gone. But I’ll find out soon, as my next appointment is coming up before long. I’m SO eager for this entire episode to be over and DONE with, as you can imagine. It will be wonderful to wake up each morning, once again feeling great and full of energy. And it’s a good thing I had set up a lot of blog posts WAY in advance, or it would have been pretty dead around this place in recent weeks.

      Thanks so much for stopping by to share your thoughts, and here’s to a wonderful week ahead, my friend! 😀 ❤

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    • You’re very welcome, Jennie. Glad you enjoyed this one and her backstory, as well. Thanks so much for stopping by to let me know, and here’s to a wonderful rest of the week ahead! D ❤

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    • Glad you appreciate the Romantic poets, Jeanne. I read them all in junior high and high school, and have loved them ever since, too. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and here’s to a great week ahead! 😀 ❤

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    • You’re welcome, Jan. Every now and then, it’s good to read some of these again, isn’t it? And this one has always been a fave of mine.

      Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a moment to say hello. Have a great rest of the week! 😀 ❤

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    • A thing of beauty is a joy forever, right? I first read this more than 60 years ago, and I still love it just as much, if not more. So glad you enjoyed reading it again, Carol, and thank you so much for taking the time to let me know! Hope you have a wonderful rest of the week! 😀 ❤

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  17. Pingback: Smorgasbord Blogger Spotlight – 7th September 2023 – #Review Elizabeth Gauffreau Gwen Plano, #Poetry Robbie Cheadle, #Poetry Marcia Meara, #Kindness Pete Springer, #IsleofArran Darlene Foster | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

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