she walks in beauty

• thus mellowed to that tender light/ which heaven to gaudy day denies
• the nameless grace/ which waves in every raven tress
• where thoughts serenely sweet express/ how pure, how dear their dwelling place
• she walks in beauty
• 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
• 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
• context

  a leading figure of the romantic movement and liked to break conventions, had a public private life and was known for many relationships with different women