Sherendipity Saturday: She Walks in Beauty

Note: In my English class on 19th century literature, my professor stressed the importance of memorization. Therefore, she made every person in the class (all 50 of us) recite a poem from memory. This particular one caught my attention since it was lovely and lyrical. Too bad every other person in the class memorized the same poem.

I.
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.

II.
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.

III.
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!
- Lord Byron


Photo: "Curiouser And Curiouser" (Coca Rocha, Vogue UK, Feb. 2007) - Tim Walker