THE lady I have vowed to paint THE lady I have vowed to paint Has contour of a rose, Has contour of a rose, No rigid shadow of a saint No rigid shadow of a saint Upon the wall she throws; Upon the wall she throws; Her tints so softly lie Her tints so softly lie Against the air they almost vie Against the air they almost vie With the sea's outline smooth against the sky. With the sea's outline smooth against the sky. To those whom damask hues beguile To those whom damask hues beguile Her praise I do not speak, Her praise I do not speak, I find her colour in the smile I find her colour in the smile Warm on her warm, blond cheek : Warm on her warm, blond cheek : Then to the eyes away Then to the eyes away It spreads, those eyes of mystic gray It spreads, those eyes of mystic gray That with mirage of their own vision play. That with mirage of their own vision play. Her hairr, about her brow, burns bright. Her hairr, about her brow, burns bright. Her tresses are the gold Her tresses are the gold That in a missal keeps the light That in a missal keeps the light Solemn and pure. Behold Solemn and pure. Behold Her lashes' glimmerings Her lashes' glimmerings Have the dove's secret springs Have the dove's secret springs Of amber sunshine when she spreads her wings. Of amber sunshine when she spreads her wings. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...INVERSNAID by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS A SKETCH by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI AFTER DEATH by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI A DEDICATION by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH MONODY ON THE DEATH OF WENDELL PHILLIPS by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH A FARMHOUSE DIRGE by ALFRED AUSTIN |