Inspirational Poems and Quotes

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 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

Give All to Love

Give all to love;

Obey they heart;

Friends, kindred, days,

Estate, good-fame,

Plans, credit, and the Muse -

Nothing refuse.

 

'Tis a brave master;

Let it have scope:

Follow it utterly,

Hope beyond hope:

High and more high

It dives into noon,

With wing unspent,

Untold intent;

But it is a god,

Knows its own path,

And the outlets of the sky.

 

It was not for the mean;

It requireth courage stout,

Souls above doubt,

Valor unbending;

Such 'twill reward -

They shall return

More than they were,

And ever ascending.

 

Leave all for love;

Yet, hear me, yet,

One word more thy heart behooved,

One pulse more of firm endeavor -

Keep thee today,

Tomorrow, forever,

Free as an Arab

Or thy beloved.

 

Cling with life to the maid;

But when the surprise,

First vague shadow of surmise

Flits across her bosom young

Of  joy apart from thee,

Free be she, fancy-free;

Nor thou detain her venture's hem,

Nor the palest rose she flung

From her summer diadem.

 

Though thou loved her as thyself,

As a self of purer clay,

Though her parting dims the day,

Stealing grace from all alive;

Heartily know,

When half-gods go,

The gods arrive.

Ralph Waldo Emerson