How Do I Love Thee Contest - Response

Here is the poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1806 - 1861 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. My Response (for the challenge of Mystic Rose) You love me quite profoundly. That I know From this sweet poetry I now have read. So many things are running through my head, Like how I might with equal measure show My love for thee as splendidly, but oh! I stumble with my meager words instead. My quill runs dry; all eloquence has fled. I call upon my muse that verse might flow. My love for thee is beautiful and strong. With trepidation I confess to thee Although I never want to do thee wrong, Can I love as well and as steadfastly? Please bear with me; one day my words a song Will be to echo words thou wrote for me! Written Feb. 20, 2016