With Apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning

lillian

“How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways.”

Valentine’s Day,
definitely the time
to answer that query.

One, two, three, four . . .
forty-seven, forty-eight,
fifty-three wedded years.

Seven dogs we called our friends,
two children, nurtured and loved,
five wonderful grands.

Strolling Singapore’s orchid gardens,
admiring Japan’s cherry blossoms,
walking atop the Great Wall.

Meandering beside Lake Michigan’s shores,
through London’s fog, Alaska’s snow,
Bryce’s hoodoos, Yosemite’s trails.

From Iowa to Sweden to Australia too.
Easiest answer to that question?
So many ways over so many years.

Written for dVerse, the virtual pub for poets around the globe. Today, on Valentine’s Day, Sanaa is hosting and asks us to write “plainly” about love.

Photos top row, left to right: summer 1974, pregnant with Abbey, our first child; at the Great Wall outside of Beijing; in Japan enjoying the cherry blossoms. Bottom row: in an underground cave in Bermuda about 8 years ago; and finally, us here in San Diego just seven days ago, February 7th, celebrating our 53rd anniversary! Thankful for every day.

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways” — from Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43.

40 thoughts on “With Apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning”

  2. sanaarizvi February 14, 2023 / 3:10 pm

    You took my breath away, Lillian! 🥰🥰 I so love the twist you have given to Browning’s poem here .. speaking of love and times shared. I especially like; “Seven dogs we called our friends, two children, nurtured and loved, five wonderful grands.” Sigh .. and such lovely pictures too! You made my day!

    Thank you so much for adding your voice to the prompt. Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️❤️❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • lillian February 15, 2023 / 8:35 pm

      Thanks Sanaa. You said to speak plainly….and indeed I did 🙂 Glad you enjoyed.

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  3. kim881 February 14, 2023 / 3:16 pm

    Once again, Lill, congratulations on your anniversary, and thank you for sharing the lovely photographs this Valentine’s Day. Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43 is one of my favourites. I love that you counted years, dogs, children, etc. You’ve been around the world and then some too.

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    • lillian February 15, 2023 / 8:36 pm

      Glad you enjoyed, Kim. And thank you again for the anniversary wishes. Hope to see you at OLN LIVE!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • kim881 February 16, 2023 / 2:32 am

        See you on Saturday!

        Like

  7. Rob Kistner February 14, 2023 / 5:44 pm

    WOW! 😳 Yes, but are you sure it will last Lil. If you’re not, I am certain my friend — probably longer than that wall you two were walking on.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • lillian February 15, 2023 / 8:37 pm

      oh my yes…..last till the end of time 🙂

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  8. Joyce February 14, 2023 / 6:10 pm

    Fifty three years of wonderful memories and pictures of your life together. That is what sweet dreams are made of when we are young.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. Grace February 14, 2023 / 6:16 pm

    This is so sweet and a loving tribute to your relationship. Cheers!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • lillian February 15, 2023 / 8:38 pm

      Thank you, Grace. Hope to see you at OLN LIVE! 🙂

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  12. K.Hartless February 14, 2023 / 8:53 pm

    How lovely. Those ways and the glimpses of your long-lasting and fruitful love. Happy Valentine’s Day to you both.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
      • K.Hartless February 15, 2023 / 8:56 pm

        Thank you. Yes, maybe on the weekend. My work hours don’t make the afternoon one possible. Thanks for inviting me.

        Like

  13. Vidya Tiru February 15, 2023 / 12:01 am

    such a beautiful tribute to both Browning and to your obviously sweet relationship!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. adda February 15, 2023 / 5:14 am

    Congratulations on 53 yrs! Loved the photos and the poem

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • lillian February 15, 2023 / 8:42 pm

      Thank you, Adda! Love after 53 years….I think it’s called comfortable love 🙂 And I mean that in the most wonderful way.

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  15. Gillena Cox February 15, 2023 / 6:02 am

    Sweet poem. Thanks for sharing the family photos.

    Mucj❤love

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    • lillian February 15, 2023 / 8:42 pm

      Thank you Gillena! Hope to see you at OLN LIVE tomorrow or Saturday! Missed you in January.

      Like

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  16. Nancy Jahnke February 15, 2023 / 10:21 am

    Love your apologies…and all of its accompanying photos!  Love abounds

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • lillian February 15, 2023 / 8:42 pm

      How fortunate were we both to marry our best friends? 🙂 HUGS to you!

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  17. Helen February 15, 2023 / 1:46 pm

    I love how you honored the special man in your life … the photos make your words SING … literally!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • lillian February 15, 2023 / 8:43 pm

      Thank you, Helen! Hope to see you (literally) at OLN LIVE tomorrow or Saturday?

      Like

      Reply
  18. pvcann February 20, 2023 / 9:12 am

    “One, two, three, four …. ” just love that lovely moment that catches me – the passage of love so deep, so many shared experiences.

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  20. dbahtuoh March 10, 2023 / 2:48 pm

    Thank you for sharing your love story with us, it’s a reminder that true love really does stand the test of time.

    Like

    Reply

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