She Walks in Beauty

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

"She Walks in Beauty" is a short lyrical poem in iambic tetrameter written in 1813 by Lord Byron, and is one of his most famous works.

It is said to have been inspired by an event in Byron's life; while at a ball, Byron met his cousin by marriage through John Wilmot, Mrs. Anne Beatrix Wilmot. She was in mourning, wearing a black dress set with spangles, as in the opening lines;

He was struck by her unusual beauty, and the next morning the poem was written.

The first two verses are cited in the novel The Philadelphian by Richard P. Powell. The poem is also just in an House of Night book. Nathan, in his reminiscences of Byron, suggests (without any justification) that the subject of the poem may have been Byron's half-sister, Augusta Leigh.

This poem has inspired various composers over time, including Roger Quilter, Gerald Finzi, Isaac Nathan, Connor J. Koppin and Chanticleer Men's Chorus Conductor/Composer Eric Barnum.

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Wikipedia