osprey_archer | Lord Byron

From my friend Emma, who keeps me abreast of all my Romantic poet news:

Horrible Histories does Lord Byron: Vampire! (Or, uh, "just a really pretentious poet." Apparently these two things are hard to tell apart.) Chock full of alarming true Byron facts. For instance: did you know Lord Byron drank from skulls? Confirmed!

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And I just can't let a Byron post by without posting my favorite Byron poem: the ever-classic "She Walks in Beauty," which is about his cousin. Or possibly his half-sister. Oh, Lord Byron, what a guy.

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 mellow'd 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!