She was a phantom of delight,
When she first gleamed upon my sight
A lovely apparition sent
To be a moment’s ornament,
And on that cheek and over 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.
Those cherries
Fairly do enclose,
Of orient pearl,
A double row,
Which when her
Lovely laughter shows,
They look like
Rose-buds filled with snow.
And lo! The Sun upsprings behind
Broad and radiant,
Half reclined
On to the level
Quivering line
Of the waters crystalline,
And just before
That chasm of light
As within a furnace bright
Column and tower
Dome and spire
Shine like
A splendid fire,
She dived down in beauty,
Seldom encore to be seen,
Like that night
Of cloudless climes
And starry skies,
Yet,
All that’s best
Of dark and bright
Meets in her aspect
And in her eyes.