^{mascarpone cheese tart from me} 

 ______________________

How do I Love Thee? Let me count the ways

I Love Thee to the Depth and Breadth

and Height I can reach

then I get The Ladder

For I Love Thee and Thy House

Sufficiently to wash Thy windows

And vacuum Thy drapes

But only a Couple of Times a Year

(For More Frequency Would Suffer My Poor Heart Greatly)

I love Thee to the Depths of SuperBowl Sunday

Which I endure for the Sake of You 

Yes, For the Sake of You and Your Kind Heart

For You will often Sit With Me

Watching Chick Fliks

Only One Eye on Zombie Madden Football

For Your Love

(and To Acheive a Mildness about Your Person)

I endure the Bitter Stench of Vinegars

 The harshness of Bleach and Detergents

For I love Thee but not Thy Dirty Socks

Nor Thy Misplaced Darks and Whites

For You are Blind when it comes

To Tossing Thy Colors in the Correct Bin.

Alas! 

In Everyday's Tedium and Chores

Your Jalapenos Chopped and Cilantro Sought and Found

Even Out of Season

In this Living, I love Thee freely, but not too Hotly

Thy Salsa Will Be in Perfect Harmony

Unlike Thy Road Discontent but We shall not Speak of This now

I love Thee as Purely as I can for I am Complicated

And There are Moments My Heart Fills Lopsidedly

Much like You fill the Dishwasher 

But as You Will

 Always, Always When it Counts

Such as When I am Weary and Worn

And Stagger to the Kitchen to Gaze Upon Your Kindness

Your Heart Greatly Touching My Heart

I Love Thee with Immense Passion,

Critical and Chatty and Annoying as I am

For I know Thee and Thy Quiet Ways

 I Love Thy Dearness even as I Abhor Thy Darkness

And as You Love and Abhor mine

We Two are a Pesky Lot

Demanding, Damaged Goods Rattling Around in Our Boxes

Endlessly Changing the Bandages from Wounds

Of Long Finished Battles.

But with Childhood's Faith We have learned to Love and Trust

And Live Side by Side, Cheek to Ample Cheek

Warm and Safe in Shared Curmudgery. 

I love Thee with a Love I had Not Believed Possible

In the Wake of Trial and Human Error

For I love Thee with the Breath, Smiles, Tears,

Of All My Life! ---

And, when that Sad Day comes to Claim me

I Will Love You So Dearly

I Shall Return to Haunt Thy Next Wife.

You Betcha!

^{elegant white roses from him} 

we got lucky