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'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.
Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning - 1806-1861
This poem is a declaration of the depth and breadth of the speaker's love for her beloved, Robert Browning
When You Are Old
When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;
And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.
By William Butler Yeats - 1865 – 1939
This poem speaks to the idea that true love transcends the physical beauty of youth.
Moments That Matter
Seize each moment, make each one count,
Magnify small things that amount,
See wonder and awe all around,
Watch what blooms up from the ground.
Express love, let feelings flow,
Release regrets that weigh and slow,
Bring smiles to others, watch them glow,
Kindness is a gift, let it show.
Share talents, make your voice heard,
Prioritize and share your word,
Let love and peace guide you through,
Embrace the unknown to create the new.
Make time for love, savor each delight,
Build bridges and release the fight,
Mend relationships, they're not a toy,
Make time for what brings true joy.
By SHERRIE ROSE - author on Substack
This poem is full of wonderful reminders and focuses on what matters in life.
Three more poems that are often considered to be among the most renowned:
"Sonnet 18" by William Shakespeare - This sonnet begins with the famous line, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" and goes on to describe the beauty and eternal nature of the speaker's beloved.
"Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allan Poe - This hauntingly beautiful poem tells the story of the speaker's love for a woman named Annabel Lee, who dies young but remains forever enshrined in the speaker's heart.
"She Walks in Beauty" by Lord Byron - This poem describes the beauty and grace of a woman, and the way that her outer appearance reflects the goodness and purity of her soul. It begins, "She walks in beauty, like the night."