mad, bad and dangerous to know

byron

In honor of National Poetry Month, I present to you George Gordon, a.k.a Lord Byron.  In my early days, when I first got into poetry, Lord Byron, along with several other of the romantic poets, was my hero as much for his poetry as being the bad boy of poetry and a freedom fighter to boot.  Lady Caroline Lamb described Byron as “mad, bad, and dangerous to know.” (more)

Here’s my favorite Byron poem:

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!
by Lord Byron

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