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 cheerful dawn；
A dancing shape， an image gay，
To haunt， to startle， and waylay.
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 between 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 angelic light.