Beautiful Lyrics

I love classics!

This week, I have received 2 emails with a difference: they both came with a poem attached! One was from Lenny Schmolka arising from his class ramblings in Mergers and Acquisitions. The other was from a wonderful, old friend. And impressive poems they were too - one of my old favorites by Elizabeth Browning, and the other by John Donne; a poem that I so believe in.

So, in celebration of beautiful lyrics, I have reproduced the poem by Elizabeth Browning below. I couple Mrs. Browning's poem with another of my old favorites. I will save the poem by John Donne until my next post. This other poem below is by Christina Rossetti. I include it because it shares similarities with Mrs. Browning's depth, elegance, grace, and love-theme writing created with such sensitivity that only women can encapsulate in words.

I think you may find a chance to reassess your meaning of love going forward.

SONNET XLIII

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

- Elizabeth Barret Browning (1806 - 1861)

SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE

REMEMBER

Remember me when I am gone away,

Gone far away into the silent land;

When you can no more hold me by the hand,

Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.

Remember me when no more day by day

You tell me of our future that you plann'd:

Only remember me; you understand

It will be late to counsel then or pray.

Yet if you should forget me for a while

And afterwards remember, do not grieve;

For if darkness and corruption leave

A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,

Better by far you should forget and smile

Than that you should remember and be sad.

- Christina Rossetti (1830 - 1894)