Love's Eternity
Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at 7:32 AM 
I own a lovely little book called Sonnets from the Portuguese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning purchased at a delightful oasis in Post, Texas called Ruby Lane Books. (Ruby Lane is a whole story by itself better left for another day.)
Anyway...sometimes this little book calls to me which was the case a couple of weeks ago when I ran across the following sonnet (Number XIV). The "spirit" of this poem has stayed with me (I say "spirit" because I am not one to be able to recall anything word for word) and so today I wanted to share it with you and also capture it for myself. So, without further ado...Sonnet XIV
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 ever-
more
Thou may’st love on, through love’s
eternity.
My very simple analysis of this work is that it speaks of unconditional love. In other words, love me for me. Nothing else. Simple. Pure. Everything else may change, but unconditional love will hold "through love's eternity."
Many thoughts are stirred for me, so this could be a series in the making...or possibly not.
Love on.
Journey, Love, Other Poets
Reader Comments (3)
I await the "series" with interest. Poetry often leaves me in the dust - I get the points but I seem to have little patience for the time and meter required for poetry reading.....
ss--we have much in common re: poetry :-) (along with other things)
You have said everything so beautiful! And you really have a good taste for poems. I really wish love is such a thing because I haven't met for now... Maybe because I am just entering the world of maturity...