{FRIENDSHIP by Elizabeth Barrett Browning}

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (6 March 1806 – 29 June 1861) was one of the most prominent poets of the Victorian era.

On March 6, I was surprised to find a post about Elizabeth Barrett Browning at one of my favorite bloggers: 'Rosabella ~ la vie en rose'
Also Lorraine from Little House in the Hudson Valley wrote about Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

In our Rose Suite we do have a framed poem from Elizabeth Barrett Browning and that has a  very special meaning to me as I received it, framed and all, from a writer friend who adopted me as his 'favorite niece'. Hence he became my Uncl Bo Whaley. He gave me this poem with the original glued to the back of the frame just as he'd found it in his Dad's bible. The Dad was a Preacher. The scan of this framed poem is not the greatest, but better than any photo.

So I'd love to share it with you:

THIS IS FRIENDSHIP

I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.

I love you for the part of me that you bring out.

I love you for putting your hand into my heaped-up heart and passing over all the frivolous and weak things that you cannot help seeing there, and drawing out into the light all the beautiful, radiant things that no one else has looked quite far enough to find.

I love you for closing your eyes to the discords in me, and for adding

 to the music in my soul by worshipful listening.

I love you because you are helping me to make of the lumber of my life, not a tavern but a temple, and from the words of my every day, not a reproach but a song.

I love you because you have done more than any creed could have done to make me happy.

And you have done it without a touch, without a word, without a sign.

You have done it just being yourself.

After all, perhaps that is what being a friend means.

…Elizabeth Barrett Browning  

♥♥

Both, Pieter and I are blessed with great FRIENDS!