She walks in Beauty

I just rediscovered one of my favorite poems... I had discovered it in high school, and liked it so much that I memorized it. But time goes by, and you forget a lot... until something draws your memory back to it. I think one of the reasons I liked it so much was because I wanted to be that girl... I wanted to be a girl someone could write poetry about.


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!