William Wordsworth: She was a Phantom of delight

William Wordsworth

(1770-1850)

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 chearful Dawn;

A dancing Shape, an Image gay,

To haunt, to startle, and way-lay.

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 betwixt 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 an angel light.

William Wordsworth poetry

kempis poetry magazine

Fleurs du Mal Magazine