Many of you are familiar with Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poem, "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways ..."

She lived from the beginning of the 1800's to just before a time when so many hearts were torn to shreds ...by the Civil War.

By reading her poem here, much can be revealed about probable views she likely had ...and it can serve us well also to realize that things are often fought for, that have great value for our future.  

And those things usually come at a high cost through the courage and bravery of soldiers, to work for and preserve what we believe in.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of everyday's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with a passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.

Now that you've had an example of good poetry ...it's my turn. 

I also believe in love, but let me also give a bit of background of my life.  What we don't usually think too much about, is that our life kind of begins before we actually consider it our life. 

My friend 'Wiki' says: "Subsidies originated during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl catastrophe of the 1930s, when there was a genuine fear that the nation's agricultural sector was on the brink of collapse. At that time, about a quarter of the country's population lived in rural areas, and tens of thousands of American families found themselves literally in danger of "losing the farm." So President Roosevelt pushed through the Agricultural Adjustment Act, which pegged crop prices to their historic highs and introduced the policy of paying farmers not to produce. It was supposed to be a "temporary solution to deal with an emergency."  

But, this policy continued on.  It seemed most of the people where Dad grew up, were farmers.  Where Mom grew up, there were some miners ...and later, a different sort that I'm thankful for.  I remember as a child, that my Uncle got money from the government for not growing corn.  I wonder how much money the government would give me for not writing 'corny' poetry??

Let's give it a try, here it is: "How do I offend thee? Let me count the ways ..."

I didn't vote for Obama because I was afraid I'd be ...
Voting for four more years of policy with which I didn't agree

I won't vote for Hillary, and don't say that's a war on women
If I wanted to fight the other gender, I'm married to one of 'em

Difference is, I love the one who cared enough to marry me
And she doesn't mind a bit if I say I don't like Hillary

She'd only think I'm crazy if I ran for President
She knows I don't like crowds, so it wouldn't make much sense

But, what if I like French fries, instead of plain ole mashed?
It wouldn't make me a 'hater' of taters, and I say that unabashed

And if Obama was living next door we'd be good neighbors; with our differences I'd not persist
But, I don't agree what he does as President, and that doesn't make me a racist

I'd no more be a vegetablist if I failed to vote for Brussel sprouts
Favoring anchovies on pizza with beer, & ending up getting gout

So, I didn't vote for Obama, neither would I for Hillary, Pelosi, or Reid
They are all people like you and me, but they live by a different Creed

It's absurd to use gender and race, or bring it up at all
I believe the fact we have a Creator, and we're all created equal

But, that does not mean equal ideals are growing in our heads;
Nor does it mean I dislike the person ...only what is said.

How about simplicity, a box of chocolates & conversation with Forrest Gump
"You never know what you're gonna get." ---we may end up with Trump

Some people may try to judge us by the company that we keep;
Or how we vote, what we wrote, or what we mumble in our sleep

But, the thing that really makes a difference is what's hidden inside
And some who have it, shouldn't hide it; and others, well, perhaps should hide

It's no use to try to continue to hide behind fig leaves, we've all done some wrong
The difference is whether we do more than admit just some, as life moves along

We all should try to be humble, modest, and honest ...as we go through this life
And we should look to solid guidance to do our best to avoid unnecessary strife

But, the most important question is: Do we accept Jesus, or do we just make it up ourself?
Do we look to the Bible for our guidance, or do we simply ignore it and leave it on the shelf?

When I was just a young child, I didn't always quite understand Mom and Dad
I just knew they loved me, and I learned ...sometimes the hard way ...the good and bad

Our Heavenly Father also loves us, And He sent His only Son
One thing for sure, we must realize, is the Two of them are One

There's also the Holy Spirit, who makes for One being Three
But, though I don't quite understand, it's plenty good for me

Now, just like a child, we all need to learn the way in life we need to go
And God gave us the Bible, so we'd not have to wonder ...we would surely know

There's good and evil, not hard to find, I think we all can see
And we should know where we've come from ...it's not a chimpanzee

Each one of us have to learn, to be tested, and then to make a choice
Listen to the quiet voice that beckons, not all that negative noise

And to follow Jesus, is more than just to say He exists
Believe what He says, what He tells us, and say, "Yes!"

So, if I've offended you ...it's because we all fall short of His love
Or because we mix opinions, while not looking to the truth from above.

For occasions of my ignorance, I apologize, so please give me a chance to rephrase,
Forgive me for my wrongs, and about my offending ...please don't count the ways.

(For the record, in 2016, in the Michigan Primaries, I voted for Ben Carson.  I wasn't called a racist, but I was laughed at.  Ben came from Detroit, I read his book ...and he is a wonderful success story.  Yet, he is somehow not considered the race that he is ...as the Presidential race, is more about ideology.  So many things are used divisively ...and a platform of hate and revenge creates a catalyst for those who are lawless and proud of it.  Yes, there are those who are quite conniving ...and they prey on the ignorant, which includes me.  But, I try to avoid being part of the prey by opting instead to pray.  It doesn't make my judgment perfect ---as I am human ---but, it helps me to regroup and focus quicker on life, and what I feel is most important.)

(It's perhaps an offence to some ...but it's 'true love' when you let God govern your affairs. It's only ugly politics when the aim is to prevent that from happening.)

Think about it ...it's true.