I Loved You First

When I saw the title of this poem I immediately thought of my grandson , Bobby, and the little "game" he plays...whenever I say "I love you", he replies, "I love you more", to which I reply, "I love you more-er, to which he responds, I love you more-er-est...and on and on...Here's the sweet little guy helping his Meme with an earring last week.

I like this poem...I wish that I could write poetry...I love the way it so clearly expresses some one's feelings..

Monna Innominata [I loved you first]

by Christina Rossetti 

 I loved you first: but afterwards your love,

Out soaring mine, sang such a loftier song

As drowned the friendly cooings of my dove.

Which owes the other most? My love was long,

And yours one moment seemed to wax more strong;

I loved and guessed at you, you contrued me

And loved me for what might or might not be—

Nay, weights and measures do us both a wrong.

For verily love knows not 'mine' or 'thine';

With separate 'I' and 'thou' free love has done,

For one is both and both are one in love:

Rich love knows nought of 'thine that is not mine';

Both have the strength and both the length thereof,

Both of us, of the love which makes us one.