Poems of love to love
Poetry is popular around Valentine’s Day. I am not a poetry writer, but I do have favorite love poems.In this picture, you see poetry and sayings that have special meaning for my husband and me. They hang in our bedroom along with our original wedding invitation.
The first is a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, written in 1845 to her husband, Robert. On a trip to Paris, I had silhouettes done at Montmartre Art Colony then framed with the poem penned in calligraphy.
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 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.
~Sonnet XLIII found in Sonnets From the Portuguese by Elizabeth B. Browning
On the left of the Browning poem is an anniversary gift plaque with words from First Corinthians 13. Wise words on love written around 56 A.D. by Paul to the Christians at Corinth.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
The last plaque in the wall grouping, though not a poem, always brings a smile and giggle for the truth it shares about married life.
This marriage was made in heaven,
but so was thunder and lightning.
What about you? Do you have a special love poem or a saying on love you’d share in the comments section?