First Step

Save apart time to read

it’s the spring of wisdom.

Save apart time to laugh

it’s the music of your soul.

Save apart time to love

for your life is too short.

-Robert Browning-

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 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 cheek, 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 may’st love on, through love’s eternity.

-Elizabeth Barrett Browning-

Carper Diem