Poetry Anyone? How Do I Love Thee?

                                    HOW DO I LOVE THEE

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

                      by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

My favorite love poem...ever.

When the subjects for this month came up, I was so excited! I love poetry, especially lyrical poetry. With How Do I Love Thee? you can feel the romance with only the utterance of the words. I have to admit I enjoyed my course on English literature the most in college.

Poetry moves one; makes one feel an emotion. I don't think another period of time compares to the poetry that began with the Romantic Movement. The writings of Lord Bryon, Edgar Allen Poe... As a writer, I don't believe I could write a plot as intriguing or interesting as the life of these authors. Was it because of the life they lived that they could pour their emotions into their work? Elizabeth eloped with Robert Browning to Italy to find her semblance of happiness. Did you know that Edgar Allen Poe dedicated The Raven and Other Poems to Elizabeth? Another interesting bit of information on Elizabeth. Elizabeth lived in constant pain due to 'serious illness' that was never fully diagnosed. But she took opiates for the pain which was the common medical practice at the time. Some have thought that this addiction may have been the reason for her vivid imagination.

THE RAVEN

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,

`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -

Only this, and nothing more.'

...And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted - nevermore!

                                                       By Edgar Allen Poe

I love the Romantic Movement's poetry and found the lives of these poets fascinating. I love history. I do feel Elizabeth's emotions in her poetry for whatever the reasons. I myself have never tried to write poetry seriously. Poetry is like writing a song. I lack the rhythm needed to write poetry. But I do so enjoy reading it.

THE JUDAS KISS

What I do write is historical romance and suspense. This month over on Whiskey Creek Press my book, The Judas Kiss, Tides of Charleston Series, is only $.99! This is celebration of their 9th birthday. I'm also celebrating it over on Novel Works with fellow WCP's authors including Roses, Jannine Gallant, Margaret Tanner and Jenna  Galifany next week March 5th- 9th. 

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.