Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 13 is a beautiful and poignant exploration of love and its ability to transcend time and distance. The sonnet is written in the traditional Petrarchan form, consisting of 14 lines with a rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA CDE CDE.
The sonnet begins with the speaker declaring that "And wilt thou have me fashion into speech / The love I bear thee, finding words enough, / And hold the torch out, while the winds are rough?" In other words, the speaker is asking their beloved if they want them to express the depth and intensity of their love through words, even though it may be difficult to do so.
The speaker then goes on to describe the enduring nature of their love, stating that "I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life." This line conveys the idea that the speaker's love for their beloved is all-encompassing and has shaped every aspect of their life. The speaker's love is not just a fleeting emotion, but rather a constant and enduring force that has had a profound impact on their very being.
In the next few lines, the speaker compares their love to a "sea" that is "unfathomable and still," implying that it is vast, deep, and unchanging. The speaker also compares their love to a "flower," which is "rooted in the beauty of the earth." This comparison suggests that their love is grounded in the fundamental beauty and goodness of the world, and that it is a source of nourishment and sustenance.
The final two lines of the sonnet contain a powerful and poignant declaration of the speaker's love. The speaker states that "I love thee with the breath, / Smiles, tears, of all my life." These lines convey the idea that the speaker's love is all-encompassing and has shaped every aspect of their life. The speaker's love is not just a fleeting emotion, but rather a constant and enduring force that has had a profound impact on their very being.
Overall, Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 13 is a beautiful and moving tribute to the enduring power of love. Through the use of vivid imagery and poignant language, the speaker conveys the depth and intensity of their love for their beloved, and the way in which it has shaped every aspect of their life. This sonnet is a testament to the enduring nature of love and the way in which it can transcend time and distance.