Thomas Lovell Beddoes (1803-1849)

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Song

How many times do I love thee, dear?     
  Tell me how many thoughts there be     
          In the atmosphere    
          Of a new-fall’n year, 
Whose white and sable hours appear                
  The latest flake of Eternity:                    
So many times do I love thee, dear.          

How many times do I love again?            
  Tell me how many beads there are         
          In a silver chain          
          Of evening rain,       
Unravell’d from the tumbling main,         
  And threading the eye of a yellow star:   
So many times do I love again.