Nathaniel Parker Willis (1806–1867)

ELEGANCE floats about thee like a dress,

Melting the airy motion of thy form

Into one swaying grace; and loveliness,

Like a rich tint that makes a picture warm,

Is lurking in the chestnut of thy tress,

Enriching it, as moonlight after storm

Mingles dark shadows into gentleness.

A beauty that bewilders like a spell

Reigns in thine eye’s clear hazel; and thy brow

So pure in vein’d transparency doth tell

How spiritually beautiful art thou—

A temple where angelic love might dwell.

Life in thy presence were a thing to keep,

Like a gay dreamer clinging to his sleep.