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,

since one might well forget to weep who bore

thy comfort log, and lose thy love thereby.

But love me for love's sake, that evermore

thou may'st love on through love's eternity.

- Elisabeth Barrett Browning

Thanks, Anna. It was a great evening of heart to heart talk, tears, Swedish sandwiches, Earl Grey tea, saffron bread (with and without egg spread on it), laughter with you, Ed and K, finally getting my intermediate music *after two years of waiting* and a nice stroll with you, C, and Ed (whom I shall miss dearly) to end the night with.