Sonnet XX
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Beloved, my Beloved, when I think
That thou wast in the world a year ago,
What time I sat alone here in the snow
And saw no footprint, heard the silence sink
No moment at thy voice, but, link by link,
Went counting all my chains as if that so
They never could fall off at any blow
Struck by thy possible hand,—why, thus I drink
Of life’s great cup of wonder! Wonderful,
Never to feel thee thrill the day or night
With personal act or speech,—nor ever cull
Some prescience of thee with the blossoms white
Thou sawest growing! Atheists are as dull,
Who cannot guess God’s presence out of sight.
The poem is a submission of Erica L. of Mitchell Drive.
I love this sonnet! Elizabeth Barret Browning is my favorite Victorian woman! I love her words!
Has anyone read How Do I Love Thee?, the novel by Nancy Moser? It’s a beautiful portrayal of her life and romance with her husband Robert Browning. It really shows her Christian side and the part of her that hated leaving her crazy father. It’s a very beautiful novel! I cried so many times reading it!
Also, I love the golden hues of the painting!