So as a gift for all you hopeless romantics out there, in honor of Valentine's Day, that Holiday of Romantics the world over, I've chosen some of my very favorite romantic poetry and prose to share with you.

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 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. Elizabeth Barrett Browning Sonnets From the Portugese #XLIII

Two lovers by a moss-grown spring: They leaned soft cheeks together there, Mingled the dark and sunny hair, And heard the wooing thrushes sing. O budding time! O love's blest prime! Two wedded from the portal stept: The bells made happy carollings, The air was soft as fanning wings, White petals on the pathway slept. O pure-eyed bride! O tender pride! Two faces o'er a cradle bent: Two hands above the head were locked; These pressed each other while they rocked, Those watched a life that love had sent. O solemn hour! O hidden Power! Two parents by the evening fire: The red light fell about their knees On heads that rose by slow degrees Like buds upon the lily spire. O patient life! O tender strife! The two still sat together there, The red light shone about their knees; But all the heads by slow degrees Had gone and left that lonely pair. O voyage fast! O vanished past! The red light shone upon the floor And made the space between them wide; They drew their chairs up side by side, Their pale cheeks joined, and said, "Once more!" O memories! O past that is! George Eliot

This is my beloved and this is my friend. I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine. He has brought me to his banquet hall And his banner over me is love. For your love is better than wine. Draw me after you and let us run together You have made my heart beat faster with a single glance of your eyes. "I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys." "like a lily among the thorns, So is my darling among the maidens." For behold, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. The flowers have already appeared in the land; The time has arrived for pruning the vines. And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land. The fig tree has ripened it figs. And the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance. Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, And come along!

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