{just because}

Senior year of high school we had to do a research paper and pick from a list of topics. Well mine was on Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning, I spent forever trying to come up with a topic when the week the paper was due the teacher(Hathaway) gave me a hint as to what the title should be. He simply said "The last line of a poem." That gave me the idea to name my paper "I Shall but Love Thee Better After Death" and I still think it was the best title I've ever come up with. But here you go, the two most romantic/in love/love conquers all poets I've ever read. I love them more than Shakespere, and that says a lot. I want to use a quote from one of these two sonnets somewhere in the wedding, just printed on the program or something. Any ideas?

How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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.

Here are the first few lines of Rabbi Ben Ezra...its awfully long. But the first two lines are my favorite.

106. Rabbi Ben Ezra
By Robert Browning (1812–1889)

GROW old along with me!

The best is yet to be,

The last of life, for which the first was made:

Our times are in His hand

Who saith ‘A whole I planned,
5
Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid!’