Poetry Day 27 - Mad, Bad and Dangerous...

Byron's poetry is not always as interesting to read as his life is to read about, though I have done both on occasion. I tend to prefer his shorter works, like the one below. Which, because I was a geek in the 80s, I hear in my head as read by Ron Perlman.

I also get some mild amusement from the fact that a large percentage of the female costumers I've known (myself included) have at some point expressed a desire to create a dress inspired by this poem, and Byron was, at least in part, inspired by a dress - on a beautiful woman, of course - when he wrote it.

She Walks in Beauty
George Gordon Byron

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!