Lin Lane Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

Seeker's Octaves of Love Contest ~ 5/10/26

Octaves of Love

Line of inquiry: 

“joy, empathy, compassion
on an upward arc
an effervescence eternal
causes bliss ignition to start”

~With apologies to Elizabeth Barett Browning for using her, 
"How Do I Love Thee" line that shines in comparison to mine.
                       ~ ~ ~

You asked how much I love you.
That is something I simply cannot do.
I cannot count the compassionate ways,
through years, months, and the days
when love has carried us through.

I cannot measure the depth, breadth or height
of joy that burns in us; a flame in the night,
brighter than the glow of any comet's tail,
stronger than any windblown canvas sail.
We are the threads that hold our seam tight.

For you my heart has ever the urgent need.
Some would label my love as a sinful greed,
but without you I would feel only great grief
from which the bane of death would be a relief.
In lonely empathy, tears will spill as if I bleed.

Both body and soul without you, I would lose
if from me you were taken, if God should choose.
I would call your name with my last winded breath
aware that I "... I shall love thee better after death."*
Measure my love for you? I must refuse.

Writing about effervescent romance in past tense
creates a malaise in my heart, dismally immense.
There is a restless haunting when I lay sleeping,
an abysmal ache that wakes me with eyes weeping.
It's a loneliness against which there is no defense.

Some things in life cannot be counted; shining stars,
how many sad love songs were played on guitars.
Blissful love should never be attempted to be measured. 
It's a scintillating gift to be most ardently treasured.
Never should it be caged or imprisoned behind bars.


*Quote from 'How Do I Love Thee' by EBB.

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Ink Empress May 17, 2026 at 1:46 AM Oh look at you on winners list linnersz!!! You deserve it! You know love like no other! Congratulations!!! Sending you light always

Christuraj Alex May 17, 2026 at 1:28 AM "Blissful love should never be attempted to be measured." - Beautiful! Congratulations!

Sara Kendrick May 12, 2026 at 10:06 AM Great take on the poem. I was quoting part of that poem yesterday to my grandson. It reads like a good contender to me for the contest. Way to go. Sara K Lin Lane May 12, 2026 at 11:18 AM Thank you for your welcomed remarks, Sara. I appreciate your thoughts of it being worthy of consideration.

Abdullah Alhemaidy May 11, 2026 at 5:41 AM Very lovely read dear poetess! Have a wonderful day ~ AA Lin Lane May 11, 2026 at 5:43 AM Thank you very much for your fine review, AA.

Beryl Edmonds May 10, 2026 at 8:29 AM Lovely poetry Lin. Love can be measured in words, and in the time love spends on earth… Beryl Lin Lane May 10, 2026 at 8:59 AM Thank you very kindly for your lovely comments, Beryl.

Ink Empress May 10, 2026 at 8:26 AM Awwn the timeless devotion that flows her throughout is absolutely gorgeous and so very eloquently expressed and phrased dear Linners, i especially felt these words so deeply "but without you I would feel only great grief from which the bane of death would be a relief. In lonely empathy, tears will spill as if I bleed." Ah you are such a romantic, I think in so many years of your writing journey, you must have been told this many times! Its a pleasure reading this gem. Sending you light, always Lin Lane May 10, 2026 at 8:57 AM Oh,Ink. I will let you imagine your romantic notions of me for you know me well and how well those emotions can bring both ecstasy and turmoil. Thank you for your gracious thoughts. Neither can they be measured. ;-)