She Walks in Beauty

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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 mellowed 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!

Author's Notes/Comments:

By Lord Byron (George Gordon) 1788–1824"She Walks in Beauty" was one of the most influential writers of his time. Byron was born on January 22, 1788, to Captain “Mad Jack” Byron and Catherine Gordon. After losing his father at a young age and inheriting the family title and estate, he went on to Harrow school, followed by an attendance to Cambridge. After leaving Cambridge, Byron went on to have many travels and to develop a career that was very successful. Byron died of malaria in April 1824.

"She Walks in Beauty" is one of Byron’s most famous works. It was published in 1815 as a part of his volume Hebrew Melodies, which was set to music.The poem was inspired by actual events in Byron’s life. Once, while at a ball, Byron happened upon a beautiful woman as she walked by. That woman was Byron’s cousin by marriage, Mrs. John Wilmot, and the next morning the poem was written.She was in mourning, wearing a black dress set with spangles, which would explain the opening lines;
“
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies
”
However, the subject of the poem may have been Byron's half-sister, Augusta. "She Walks in Beauty" is considered to have been Byron’s tribute to the beauty of art. The poem begins with the image of a woman who “walks in beauty like the night” (poem), which would lead the reader to ask how she could be found. That question is answered in the next line when the speaker says that the night is cloudless and that the stars illuminate the sky, bringing into focus the imagery of light and darkness.

Lord Byron is among times immortal poets...