Poetry Snippets

Sometimes I like to live in my own little world of romantic poetry and fantasies. Below is a beautiful one.

She Walks in Beauty

Lord Byron

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 impair'd 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!

This poem was published in 1815 as part of Byron's volume Hebrew Melodies. There are a few theories regarding who the subject of the poem is. It may be about a beautiful woman Byron met at a ball or about his half-sister, Augusta. Either way this is an elaborate compliment, and I think that guys should bring back the art of romantic poetry writing. No one would mind receiving a poem like this.

I did some research about the poem and learned that when the first line of a poem is presented with no punctuation but is followed by a line that will clarify the previous statement, it is referred to as an "enjambment." Byron used this tool to emphasize the word "meet" which is the premise of the entire poem. Opposites "meet" in this woman (light and dark). Her face contains alabaster skin, yet she has raven hair. Her eyes are a meeting of white iris with dark eyes. 

Byron notes that her thoughts are pure and good, which makes her even more desirable. Uma Kuthakas notes that the reference to her angelic looks gives the reader a window into her morality as a person, and enhances her beauty all the more. The contrast of light and dark is used to convey the soft beauty of the woman, without overdoing it.