Here I have attempted to put together
a collection of some of my favorite poetry. It is
meant to be enjoyed. Sit back and read some of
the greatest poetry of all times. It includes many of
the great love poems. Most of them were written by
the very famous poet's of their day.I sincerely hope
you enjoy your visit here and appreciate the
wonderful talent represented in the collection I have
put together. I began with a very romantic pair. The
Brownings, Elizabeth and Robert were great poets
and their love story is well known.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning
"Sonnets from the Portuguese, 14"

If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say
'I love her for her smile—her look—her way
Of speaking gently,—for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day'—
For these things in themselves, Belovèd, may
Be changed, or change for thee,—and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry,—
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity

Elizabeth Barrett Browning
"Sonnets from the Portuguese, 43"

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 candlelight.
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.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning
"Sonnets From The Portuguese VI"

Go from me, yet I feel that I shall stand
Henceforward in thy shadow Nevermore
Alone upon the threshold of my door
of individual life, I shall command
The use of my soul, nor left my hand
Serenely in the susnshine as before
without the sense of that which I forebore- -
thy touch upon the palm, the wildest land
Doom takes to part us, leaves thy heart in mine
with pulse that beat double. What I do
and what I dream includes thee. As a wine
must taste of its own grapes, and when I sue
God for myself, He hears that name of thine
and sees within my eyes the tears of two.

Robert Browning
"Life in a Love"

Escape me?
Never—
Beloved!
While I am I, and you are you,
So long as the world contains us both,
Me the loving and you the loth,
While the one eludes, must the other pursue.
My life is a fault at last, I fear:
It seems too much like a fate, indeed!
Though I do my best I shall scarce succeed.
But what if I fail of my purpose here?
It is but to keep the nerves at strain,
To dry one's eyes and laugh at a fall,
And baffled, get up to begin again,—
So the chase takes up one's life, that's all.
While, look but once from your farthest bound,
At me so deep in the dust and dark,
No sooner the old hope drops to ground
Than a new one, straight to the selfsame mark,
I shape me—
Ever
Removed!

Elizabeth Barrett Browning
1806-1861
English poet. b. Coxhoe Hall, Durham
Wife of Robert Browning

An invalid during the greater part of her life, in 1838,
moved with her family, the Barretts, to 50 Wimpole
St., London, where Robert Browning carried on his
persistent courtship in the face of opposition from
her tyrannically jealous father. The Brownings
were married secretly in 1846 and went ot Italy to
live. In 1849 their first son was born. Her health
improved and her happy life is reflected in her
poetry.

"Casa Guidi" The Browning home in Florence was
made a memorial. Considered England greatest
woman poet, her works include "The Seraphim",
1838; "The Cry of the Children", 1844; the poems
expressive of her own love. "Sonnets form the
Portuguese" 1847." "Casa Guidi Windows," 1851.
Her collected works were published in N.Y.
in 1871.

R. Besier's play "The Barretts of Wimpole
Street," is based on the Browning's love story.