What's In It For Me?
Poetry comes nearer to vital truth than history.
--Plato
Sonnet XLIII
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 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
WOW! THAT'S WHY!