Poet
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
English poet · 1806–1861
How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)Sonnets from the Portuguese
Elizabeth Barrett Browning was the most famous English poet of her day — more famous than her husband Robert Browning, whom she married in secret at 40 after he wrote to her as a fan of her work.
Sonnets from the Portuguese, written during their courtship, contains Sonnet 43 — "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways" — the single most quoted love poem in English, read at weddings continuously for over 170 years.
30 poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Full text, free to read — all in the public domain.
- How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.…14 lines
- A Child AsleepHow he sleepeth! having drunken…60 lines
- A Dead RoseO Rose! who dares to name thee?…32 lines
- A Musical InstrumentWhat was he doing, the great god Pan,…42 lines
- A Thought For A Lonely Death-BedIF God compel thee to this destiny,…14 lines
- A Woman's ShortcomingsShe has laughed as softly as if she sighed,…40 lines
- Sonnet 38: First time he kissed meFirst time he kissed me, he but only kissed…14 lines
- Human Life’s MysteryWe sow the glebe, we reap the corn,…60 lines
- Lord Walter's WifeI…81 lines
- On A Portrait Of WordsworthWORDSWORTH upon Helvellyn ! Let the cloud…14 lines
- Pain In PleasureA THOUGHT ay like a flower upon mine heart,…14 lines
- Patience Taught By Nature'O DREARY life,' we cry, ' O dreary life ! '…14 lines
- Perplexed MusicEXPERIENCE, like a pale musician, holds…15 lines
- Sonnet 07 - The face of all the world is changed, I thinkThe face of all the world is changed, I think,…14 lines
- Sonnet 09 - Can it be right to give what I can give?Can it be right to give what I can give?…14 lines
- Sonnet 12 - Indeed this very love which is my boastIndeed this very love which is my boast,…14 lines
- Sonnet 16 - And yet, because thou overcomest soAnd yet, because thou overcomest so,…14 lines
- Sonnet 19 - The soul's Rialto hath its merchandiseXIX…15 lines
- Sonnet 21 - Say over again, and yet once over againSay over again, and yet once over again,…14 lines
- Sonnet 23 - Is it indeed so? If I lay here deadIs it indeed so? If I lay here dead,…14 lines
- Sonnet 30 - I see thine image through my tears to-nightI see thine image through my tears to-night,…14 lines
- Sonnet 32 - The first time that the sun rose on thine oathThe first time that the sun rose on thine oath…14 lines
- Sonnet 33 - Yes, call me by my pet-name! let me hearYes, call me by my pet-name! let me hear…14 lines
- Sonnet 34 - With the same heart, I said, I'll answer theeWith the same heart, I said, I'll answer thee…14 lines
- Sonnet 40 - Oh, yes! they love through all this world of ours!Oh, yes! they love through all this world of ours!…14 lines
- Sonnet 44 - Beloved, thou hast brought me many flowersBeloved, thou hast brought me many flowers…14 lines
- The AutumnGo, sit upon the lofty hill,…40 lines
- The Landing Of The Pilgrim FathersThe breaking waves dashed high…40 lines
- To Flush, My DogYet, my pretty sportive friend,…42 lines
- Sonnet 22: When our two souls stand up erect and strongWhen our two souls stand up erect and strong,…14 lines