How Do I Love Thee

今天读了Elizabeth Barrett Browning最著名的十四行诗“How do I love thee", 附带着了解了一下她的生平和爱情故事，内心激荡难忍。

一个缠绵病榻的残疾人，居然成为跋山涉水探幽访胜的游者，爱情的魔力，可见一斑。

15年的幸福生活，须臾不曾分离；偎依在挚爱的人怀抱安然而逝，有美满爱情的结晶延续她的生命，更有智慧艺术的果实流传见证她的才气纵横。这样的人生，何憾之有？38年的漫漫等待，上帝终于听见她寂寞的心声。于是，“除了爱，什么都不再是爱的对手。”

一如既往，每次看类似的情比金坚伉俪情深的爱情故事，我的心头总难免泛起又悔又妒又苦又涩的滋味，悔为你而生，妒因Ta而起，苦涩为自己深藏。想像，在此刻成为折磨。在疯狂边缘徘徊，于是会喃喃自念若干时间以前看到的一句“情人当若金岳霖”来稳定心性激励自己。

Do you know, how do I love you? If God would have given me a chance!

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 every day'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.

But we can't control the cards we're dealt, just how we play the hand......

Allow me, please, sing my love to you!

Allow me, please, watch you, listen to you, feel you, quietly!