To My Valentines

How Do I Love You?

by Marion Dane Bauer

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

I love you as the sun loves the bright blue days.

I love you as the bee loves a fragrant flower.

I love you as the thirsty duck loves a sudden shower.

I love you as the bird loves a song to sing.

I love you as the waking bear loves the smell of spring.

I love you as the cat loves a sunny sill.

And as the dancing snowflakes love the winter’s chill.

How do I love you? Let me tell you how.

I love you as the nest loves a sturdy bough.

I love you as the sea loves the sandy shore.

And as the ancient world loved the dinosaur.

I love you as the wind loves it’s own sweet sound.

And as God’s friendly Earth loves to spin around.

I love you as the moon loves each shining star.

I love all that you will be and everything you are.