Classic Poem

To Harriett

1

The tresses of thy glossy hair,
As dark as is the ravens wing;
When flying in the sunny air,
Beneath the marble clouds of spring:
'Tis dark, nay black, as starless night;
Or glossy beauties softest light.

2

The thunder tempest near the sun,
Wears awful darkness, on its breast;
Thy glossy hair as black, has none, —
But softest hues where love could rest.
Thy neck, and face, was snowy fair,
But beauty was her coal black hair.

3

Like darkness in a sunny sky,
It lay upon her neck in light:
As black clouds over sunbeams lie;
'Till her white skin, seemed doubly white: —
While the rich light in those black eyes,
Outshone the sun in summer skies. —