Since Today is Valentine’s Day, I thought that I would share my favorite love song of all time…and my favorite poem about love.  First the song.  Funny thing about it, the song was on an old mix that my high school boyfriend had made for me…he made me a lot of mixes; it was the thing to do back in high school, or at least when I was in high school.  I don’t think teenagers do that anymore these days, and that’s kind of sad.  I didn’t love every song that was given to me, but it takes a certain amount of effort to sit down and put thought into choosing songs for someone.

It wasn’t until years later that I discovered this song.  I had been going through all of my cds one day, for no reason in particular, when this song came on: Lifehouse’s “Everything.”  The word love does not actually make an appearance, but the song doesn’t need it; it’s perfect (in my opinion).  It’s the way that love should be.

You are the strength that keeps my walking

You are the hope that keeps me trusting

You are the light to my soul

You are my purpose, you’re everything.

 

My favorite poem about love is a sonnet by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “How Do I Love Thee?”  I would not be shocked if not everyone knows the Lifehouse song (which, if you don’t, you must listen to it immediately), but everyone should know this poem.  I am including it below.  I just think that it’s so beautiful.

How Do I Love Thee? by Elizabeth Barrett Brown

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 the 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.