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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
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 grief's, 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 (1770-1850)
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