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. Each poem records its source and display decision.
- 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