On Love and Loss

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 every day'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 the 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 love thee better after death.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning, born March 6, 1806, most known for her famous poem “How do I Love Thee” campaigned for the abolition of slavery and her work helped influence reform in the child labor legislation. 

Elizabeth's work had a major influence on prominent writers of the day, including the American poets Edgar Allan Poe and Emily Dickinson.

In her personal life, she suffered from frail health throughout her life. At 15, she became ill, suffering intense head and spinal pain for the rest of her life. Later in life, she also developed lung problems, likely tuberculosis.

After bravely making the choice to leave his homeland in search of a future free from AI control, Adam was fortunate enough to meet Tariana — a love such as Browning speaks of in her poem — and we are fortunate to witness the development of this love through various trials through the pages of Adam in Taoland and Homeland Rescued. 

Later Adam will face the grief of losing this love of his life to similar physical suffering as that of Browning’s own life. But like Adam we must see through the pain of loss and embrace the beauty in all things, grasping onto the precious moments we have with those we love.