«How do I love thee?»

Encontrei há dias este poema de Elizabeth Barrett Browning e fiquei imediatamente a adorá-lo. Criados sob a influência da sua relação com Robert Browning, os poemas de amor desta autora foram considerados dos melhores alguma vez escritos em língua inglesa.

«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 candlelight.
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.»