XIV
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, 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 lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity.
What a beautiful poem this is and I think the poet is saying you should love unconditionally for all the other things looks, sweet nothings and material things are superficial and are empty and are conditional those things. Unconditional love is the deeper love that endures all the vissitudes of life and not dependent on looks or material wealth. Childish you may think it Mr Straw but its the only kind worth having.
Elizabeth believed in true love. Robert believed in Elizabeth. They had so much love between the two of them. The power and force of pure love created from them both, can be found in their poetry. Elizabeth captured Robert's heart with her writing. He loved her before he ever even met her. This poem and these words are incredible.
'If thou must love me, let it be for nought....' amazing...tohching
A beautiful and powerful poem of love. Great closure lines.
Love for Love's sake! Marvellous Sonnet by Elizabeth Browning!
When I gave this poem 5 Stars again, the automat said that I had given once 5 Stars
Rereading this poem full of passion by the greatest Victorian era Poetess makes me still adore her poems and her personality. One has to live especially for the one he/she loves, as mirrored in this most beautiful poem
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
This is a pretty meaningless poem. It is a poem of one who is extremely doubful of her self-worth. Unconditional love is only given to babies - we love them whatever. Adult love is always conditional, and should be. If you love someone for no reason, then there is no reason for them to do anything to earn that love. Even God's love is conditional in the end.
Most worst retarded take