Sonnet 14 - If thou must love me, let it be for nought - A poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Elizabeth Barrett Browning - Sonnet 14 - If thou must love me, let it be for nought

XIV

If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say
'I love her for her smile—her look—her way
Of speaking gently,—for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day'—
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee,—and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry,—
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity.

Added: on October 3rd, 2005 at 9:26 PM | Viewed: 14363 times | Comments (5)

Sonnet 14 - If thou must love me, let it be for nought - Comments and Information
Poet: Elizabeth Barrett Browning Poem: Sonnet 14 - If thou must love me, let it be for nought Volume: Sonnets from the Portuguese Year: Published/Written in 1850 Comment 5 of 5, added on July 18th, 2006 at 1:46 PM. The poem is saying that once you have decided you were in love with someone, that love should be the motivator and driving force...thus letting go of the physical, mental and emotional conflicts that evolve and just going froward...BLINDLY and having faith in LOVE jim from United States Comment 4 of 5, added on July 6th, 2006 at 10:01 PM. In the poem she is telling him she dosent want him to love her for her looks or for her mind because those things change and when they do would he still love her? She is telling him to love her just because he love's her because true love dosent chang and is forever. Christine Comment 3 of 5, added on October 3rd, 2005 at 9:26 PM. This poem talks about the ever lasting nature of ture love; which the poet defines as not being based on any other thing but love. She is also suggesting that true love can remove all pains and leave only happiness as she writes,"....a creature might forget to weep, who bore thy comfort long." soni from Canada More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Sonnet 14 - If thou must love me, let it be for nought, has received 5 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!

Poem Info
Sonnet 14 - If thou must love me, let it be for nought Volume: Sonnets from the Portuguese Year: Published/Written in 1850 Last read: 2009-07-03 12:13:03 Viewed 14363 times. Added on October 3rd, 2005 at 9:26 PM.

Browning Info
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