A great TDC today – to write or change a poem so it contains instructions about how to do it. I don’t think I quite did that, but I had a lot of fun changing the words to Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43. Here it is:
How Do I Love Thee?
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 but love thee better after death.
And here’s my version
How do I complete thee (the TDC)?
How do I complete thee? Let me count the ways.
I complete 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 complete thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by phone and laptop light.
I complete thee freely, as others strive for right.
I complete thee openly, as they turn from praise.
I complete thee with the passion put to use
In my remix play, and with my bricoleur’s faith.
I complete thee with a love I seemed to lose
When other websites died. I love thee in every way,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if the Rev and Cogdog choose,
I shall but complete thee better day by day.
