Poem- Skylar Mays

She walks in Beauty- 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!

The first stanza of this poem starts each line with iambic and ends with trochaic. The second stanza does the opposite in order to suggest a new idea is being presented. And the last stanza is a free verse which shows a new trail of thinking. Overall the first stanza talks about the beauty of an unnamed woman, while the second talks about how imbalances that could disrupt her beauty as well as her grace. The third stanza on the other hand talks about how it is not just her beauty and grace that makes her wonderful but also her consciousness and participation in good deeds which overall leads to a pure and innocent love. Another thing to note is the use of the dark and light imagery which suggest her greatness falls in the light, but at dark times she is still able to shine.

Personally I like this poem because it is able to look past her beauty and talk about what's in her head. He shows general interest in this woman but does not claim to love her, and so I'm not positive what his views are on love and I can't either agree or disagree.