How Do I Love Thee?

by Nancy Moser

  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.

  XLIV

  Belovèd, thou hast brought me many flowers

  Plucked in the garden, all the summer through,

  And winter, and it seemed as if they grew

  In this close room, nor missed the sun and showers.

  So, in the like name of that love of ours,

  Take back these thoughts which here unfolded too,

  And which on warm and cold days I withdrew

  From my heart’s ground. Indeed, those beds and bowers

  Be overgrown with bitter weeds and rue,

  And wait thy weeding; yet here’s eglantine,

  Here’s ivy!—take them, as I used to do

  Thy flowers, and keep them where they shall not pine.

  Instruct thine eyes to keep their colours true,

  And tell thy soul, their roots are left in mine.

  Table of Contents

  Cover Page

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Table of Contents

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Epilogue

  Dear Reader

  Fact or Fiction in How Do I Love Thee?

  Discussion Questions for How Do I Love Thee?

  Sonnets From the Portuguese