Poetry plays a huge part of the romantic journey my husband and I travel, especially the poetry of Elizabeth and Robert Browning. You'll find the words from the Browning's poems not only in our pockets but other places too.

<a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/step-stone.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-472 alignleft" title="Grow Old with step stone" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/step-stone.jpg?w=150" alt="" width="150" height="100" /></a>

Around our garden, on stepping stones.

In framed silhouettes of us done at Montmartre Art Colony in Paris with the words of <em>Rabbi Ben Ezra</em> by <a href="http://bit.ly/aEGLrf" target="_blank">Robert Browning</a> between our figures. <a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/silhouette-poem2.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-473" title="Silhouette" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/silhouette-poem2.jpg?w=150" alt="" width="150" height="96" /></a>

On a  special cross-stitched picture which hangs above his dresser. <a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/crossstitch1.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-477 alignleft" title="O" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/crossstitch1.jpg?w=118" alt="" width="118" height="150" /></a>

In case you can't read the small print, the first line of Rabbi Ben Ezra says, "Grow old along with me, The Best is Yet to Be."

My pocket poem today is a love poem <a href="http://bit.ly/4ygP8g" target="_blank">Elizabeth Barrett Browning</a> wrote to Robert in 1845 that carries extra special meaning for my husband and me.

Listen as I read  Sonnet XLIII from <em><a title="Sonnets From the Portuguese" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnets_From_the_Portuguese">Sonnets From the Portuguese</a></em> to Jerry and you from my porch swing.
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, Monaco;">How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.</span>
<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, Monaco;">I love thee to the depth and breadth and height</span>
<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, Monaco;">My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight</span>
<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, Monaco;">For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.</span>
<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, Monaco;">I love thee to the level of everyday's</span>
<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, Monaco;">Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.</span>
<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, Monaco;">I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;</span>
<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, Monaco;">I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.</span>
<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, Monaco;">I love thee with a passion put to use</span>
<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, Monaco;">In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.</span>
<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, Monaco;">I love thee with a love I seemed to lose</span>
<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, Monaco;">With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,</span>
<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, Monaco;">Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,</span>
<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, Monaco;">I shall but love thee better after death.</span> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Now go find a love poem to put in your pocket and read it to someone special yourself...</p>