- She was a phantom of delight
- When first she gleam’d upon my sight;
- A lovely apparition, sent
- To be a moment’s ornament;
- Her eyes as stars of twilight fair;
- Like Twilight’s, too, her dusky hair;
- But all things else about her drawn
- From May-time and the cheerful dawn;
- A dancing shape, an image gay,
- To haunt, to startle, and waylay.
- I saw her upon nearer view,
- A spirit, yet a woman too!
- Her household motions light and free,
- And steps of virgin-liberty;
- A countenance in which did meet
- Sweet records, promises as sweet;
- A creature not too bright or good
- For human nature’s daily food,
- For transient sorrows, simple wiles,
- Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles.
- And now I see with eye serene
- The very pulse of the machine;
- A being breathing thoughtful breath,
- A traveller between life and death:
- The reason firm, the temperate will,
- Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill;
- A perfect woman, nobly plann’d
- To warn, to comfort, and command;
- And yet a Spirit still, and bright
- With something of angelic light.
