Love Poem Redux

Sonnets from the Portuguese 43: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways

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 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.

Rewrite

How do I love you? Let me count the ways.

I love you 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 you to the level of every day’s

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love you freely, as they strive for right;

I love you purely, as they turn from praise.

I love you with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

I love you with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints. I love you with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,

I shall but love you even better after death.

I rewrote the poem replacing the word “thee” and made a few more small changes to modernize this poem. This poem is great and I feel even after the rewrite it still is a great poem when modernized.