To My Dear and Loving Husband

Background.

I found this poem during my eleventh grade English Lit class.  There is nothing else I remember from that class except maybe that my teacher seemed rather strange to get so excited about poetry.  Funny thing,  I LOVE poetry now.  I especially love this poem that I kept for my future husband. I’m not sure I quite understood the language and why the author said what she did back in that English class.  But now, as I have been married to the best husband for almost 23 years, I feel the soul of this poem even more.

It is my sweet hubby’s birthday today and this is my tribute to him, my “bestest” friend.

EB, you are so good to me and the children and we are blessed beyond reason with having you in our lives.  Please know I am striving to be the kind of companion you deserve.  Someday I’ll write a poem for you and wrap it up with a big huge red bow, but today, I’ll just use what I saved from years and years ago.  Happy Birthday Honey!

To My Dear and Loving Husband     

by Anne Bradstreet

If ever two were one, then surely we.

If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;

If ever wife was happy in a man,

compare with me, ye women, if you can.

I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold

Or all the riches that the East doth hold.

My love is such that rivers cannot quench,

Nor ought but love from thee, give recompense.

Thy love is such I can no way repay,

The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.

Then while we live, in love let’s so persevere

That when we live no more, we may live ever.