She Walks in Beauty
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.
GEORGE GORDON, LORD BYRON
Helpful Vocabulary
Climes - (n.) a region considered with reference to its climate
Aspect - (n.) 1. a particular part or feature of something,
* a specific way in which something can be considered
* a particular appearance or quality
Synonyms - feature, facet, characteristic/expression, demeanor, ambience
Gaudy - (adj.) extravagantly bright or showy, typically so as to be tasteless
Eloquent - fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing
* clearly expressing or indicating something
Synonyms - articulate, expressive, effective / revealing, significant, indicative
My Interpretation
The line that hit me the most in this poem was "and all that's best of dark and bright, meet in her aspect and her eyes." That hit home for me because the poets were really celebrating the beauty of dark hair and dark eyes, and the idea that dark beauty can be bright and captivating. I also loved that this dark featured beauty is being described as innocent, graceful, simple and happy when so often dark featured woman are portrayed as evil queens or temptresses. I also just loved the line, "the smiles that win." It made me think of the times when a fight with someone you love ends because someone trips accidentally or one person cracks a joke that makes both laugh. And even more simply, all of the positive power that is held in a smile, and how much better you feel when you pass it on to someone else.
Beauty is Not Bound
Give beauty all her right!
She's not to one form tied;
Each shape yields fair delight
Where her perfections bide:
Helen, I grant, might pleasing be,
And Rosamond was as sweet as she.
Some the quick eye commends,
Some swelling lips and red;
Pale looks have many friends,
Through sacred sweetness bred:
Meadows have flowers that pleasures move,
Though roses are the flowers of love.
Free beauty is not bound
To one unmoved clime;
She visits every ground
And favors every time.
Let the old loves with mine compare;
My sovereign is as sweet and fair.
THOMAS CAMPION
Helpful Vocabulary
Fair - (n) 1. gentle, not violent
* just or appropriate in the circumstances
2. light, blond
Bide - (n.) remain or stay somewhere
Synonyms - wait, hold on, hang around
Commend - (v.) praise formally or officially
*present as suitable for approval or acceptance; recommend
2. entrust someone or something to
Sovereign - (n.) 1. supreme ruler; monarch
(adj.) possessing supreme or ultimate power
* fully independent and determining it's own affairs
* very good or effective
My Interpretation
I really love the theme of this poem, right away it opens up with a strong statement "Give beauty all her right!" Thomas Campion is advocating for all of the beauty that is not celebrated because it does not fit a societal mold of that time. He stresses that there is not one form, time period, location or shape that beauty is tied to, it is free and "visits every ground." I love at the very end that he refers to his lady as his "sovereign" or queen essentially. I love how he aggressively defends her beauty and challenges his audience to consider perhaps society's unsung as beautiful too.
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