Need
"How Do I Love Thee"
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"How Do I Need Thee" - Sequel
How do I need thee? Let me count the ways.
I need thee beneath the safe harbor tides.
Your ebb flow reaches my peak as I cry.
Continuum leaves need soil within,
The breadth of life needs to live, not rescind.
I need thee in silence as quiet hides.
I need thee in death, I wither in life.
I need thee without seen regret, infringed.
Allowing rising east skies, sun sets west.
I need thee to bathe, vessels deep inside,
Within opposition, entwined, bequest.
Perceived with love, continued while descried.
Songs in tune, sweet man, us dancing abreast,
I need thee til' death, together astride.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date Written: February 11, 2016
For the contest, Second Chance, Sponsor, Broken Wings
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