Sonnet 43

(by Elizabeth Barrett Browning)

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 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.

Painting (1899) by Uemura Shōen 上村 松園

to an exhausting day...

(A Sonnet by Ganessa Archival)

From a long and exhausting day

I arrived and longed for my bed

there's nothing more to say

because sleep is all I need

I rested upon my pillow

and covered myself with a blanket

It permitted me to say 'hello'

to a dream that's one way ticket

Everybody loves me

Every person I meet is admirable

Everything I see pleases me

All are just perfectly happy and colorful!

But the clock's alarm is always a dismay

as it beckons to start another exhausting day...

- December 23, 2007

Long From Now

(by Kim Sowol)

Long from now, if you should seek me,

I would tell you "I have forgotten."

If you should blame me in your heart,

I would say "Missing you so, I have forgotten."

And if you should still reprove me,

"I couldn't believe you, so I have forgotten."

Unable to forget you today, or yesterday,

but long from now "I have forgotten"

Azaleas

(by Kim Sowol) 

When you leave

weary of me

I'll bid you silent farewell.

An armful of azaleas

culled from the hill

I'll strew over your path

Step after step,

on the flowers

Tread lightly, as you walk.

When you leave,

weary of me,

I'll not shed a drop of tear.