282. She was a Phantom of Delight by William Wordsworth
b"W Wordsworth read by Classic Poetry Aloud:\\nhttp://www.classicpoetryaloud.com/\\n\\nGiving voice to the poetry of the past.\\n\\n---------------------------------------------\\n\\nShe was a Phantom of Delight\\nby William Wordsworth (1770 \\u2013 1850)\\n\\nShe was a Phantom of delight\\nWhen first she gleamed upon my sight;\\nA lovely Apparition, sent\\nTo be a moment's ornament:\\nHer eyes as stars of twilight fair;\\nLike twilight's, too, her dusky hair;\\nBut all things else about her drawn\\nFrom May-time and the cheerful dawn;\\nA dancing shape, an image gay,\\nTo haunt, to startle, and waylay.\\n\\nI saw her upon nearer view,\\nA Spirit, yet a Woman too!\\nHer household motions light and free,\\nAnd steps of virgin liberty;\\nA countenance in which did meet\\nSweet records, promises as sweet;\\nA creature not too bright or good\\nFor human nature's daily food,\\nFor transient sorrows, simple wiles,\\nPraise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles.\\n\\nAnd now I see with eye serene\\nThe very pulse of the machine;\\nA being breathing thoughtful breath,\\nA traveller between life and death:\\nThe reason firm, the temperate will,\\nEndurance, foresight, strength, and skill;\\nA perfect Woman, nobly plann'd\\nTo warn, to comfort, and command;\\nAnd yet a Spirit still, and bright\\nWith something of an angel light.\\n\\n\\nFor hundreds more poetry readings, visit the Classic Poetry Aloud index.\\n\\nReading \\xa9 Classic Poetry Aloud 2008"