"by sun and candle-light"
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways... by Elizabeth Barret Browning 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 candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with a 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. Written in the mid 1800's Browning's words of love still echo for millions of ears. If you havn't heard of the author or most of the poem it is almost impossible to not recognize the first line, "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways". The "ways" have been counted again and again in this sonnet. Notice the anaphora used six times, " I love thee". Usually in a typical sonnet the meaning of the entire poem is in the ryme couplet at the end. However in this poem it is the repetetion of those three words that define this poem. This poem is saying the words most people want to hear and say in their lives. "I love you". This poem is being spoken lover to lover. It could be a man saying it. It could be a woman saying it. Their are no gender specific word in this poem. Also, another thing to be noticed is the last line, "I shall but love thee better after death.". This line clearly states that the love may grow stronger after death, but the question is; whose death? Is it the narrator that will die and somehow love the recipient stronger, or is it the recipient's death that brings the narrator to love deeper still. Some may argue one way or another, but it is my interpretation that Elizabeth Barret Browning meant both. The lover is saying that no matter what (he/she) will always love their soulmate. In conclusion, this is a good poem to memorize for your loved one because this poem says, "I love you" in a way so beautiful and simple it is much better than a Valentines day card.
