She Walks in Beauty

The first exam of the new classes was today in Brit Lit II. We have to write an essay over our choice of one of the poems we covered in class and turn it in before each exam. This exam covered Wordsworth, Coleridge and Blake, so last night, before I did my studying, I wrote about Rime of the Ancient Mariner Coleridge's amazing imagery.

I finished the exam pretty quickly and , as I usually do when I'm confident and speedy, I made a few a couple of stupid mistakes. After the exam I had about two hours until class ended so I read poems for the next class. The new poets are Byron, Shelley and Keats. After I read a few poems I decided to memorize one. I haven't memorized any passages in a long time, so I chose a short 18-liner by Byron - She Walks in Beauty.


By the end of class I had the poem memorized. I read an article a few eeks ago in which the author talked about memorizing poetry and the feeling of ownership of something beautiful that she could recite any time, like an old companion. I hope that I can store more in my brain and make it into a gallery to look at and enjoy during slow times.





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!