I have spent a good portion of my morning and afternoon organizing and putting my room back together (I am in the process of redecorating it). And in doing so, I have come across a lot of old letters, cards, and books I have not read in a long time. So many memories came flooding back to me. Little notes of thanks or encouragement can really impact a person and lift their spirit.

I have also spent the last hour or so reading poems I found buried under some of my books. How I love the rhyme and passion contained in poetry. My imagination comes alive with images and scenes with each description, my heart flutters and swells with every declaration. The love, the torment, the longing and desire...poetry expresses it all in such amazing ways.

I found one particular piece of poetry that struck a cord with me. I have copied it below.


If thou must love me, let it be for naught
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 brought
...A sense of pleasant ease on such a day"-
For these things in themselves, Beloved, 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 lost thy love thereby!
But love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou may'st love on, through love's eternity."
~Elizabeth Barrett Browning