Sunday, January 18, 2009

Sunday Sonnet

XIV
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning


If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say
"I love her for her smile--her look--her way
Of speaking gently,--for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day"--
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee,--and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry,--
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity.

2 comments:

purplefugue said...

One of my favourite sonnets by Browning.

With all the sonnets you share, is there an author or a sonnet that's a favourite?

Bibliolatrist said...

Not really, I just bumble along and choose whatever tickles my fancy on any given day. I like "Sonnet Reversed" a lot, and of course Shakespeare's sonnets are unparalleled, but I can't say that I have a favorite of them all.

Although, now that you mention it, I should ponder this one more carefully. I'm sure I can find a favorite somewhere...