AGNES SARCHAN INDRAWAN

XI MIA 3/ 1

1. “She Walks in Beauty” by Lord Byron

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,

Had half impair'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,

So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

BIOGRAPHY :
George Gordon Byron, (22 January 1788 – 19 April
1824), commonly known simply as Lord Byron, was an
English poet and a leading figure in the Romantic
movement. He was born in London on 22 January
1788. His father was Scottish and his first school was
Aberdeen Grammar School. He later moved to Harrow
where he had an undistinguished school life. He
represented Harrow in the first Harrow vs Eton
Cricket game in 1805. After Harrow, he went to Trinity
College Cambridge where he lived a free-living lifestyle, which left him broke and his
mother had to pay off his debtors.
2. “A Day” by Emily Dickinson

I’ll tell you how the sun rose, —

A ribbon at a time.
The steeples swam in amethyst,
The news like squirrels ran.

The hills untied their bonnets,

The bobolinks begun.
Then I said softly to myself,
“That must have been the sun!”

But how he set, I know not.

There seemed a purple stile
Which little yellow boys and girls
Were climbing all the while

Till when they reached the other side,

A dominie in gray
Put gently up the evening bars,
And led the flock away.

BIOGRAPHY :
Emily Dickinson (December 10, 1830 – May 15, 1886),
regarded as one of America’s greatest poets, is also
well known for her unusual life of self-imposed social
seclusion. Living a life of simplicity and seclusion, she
yet wrote poetry of great power; questioning the
nature of immortality and death, with at times an
almost mantric quality. Her different lifestyle created
an aura; often romanticised, and frequently a source of
interest and speculation. But ultimately Emily
Dickinson is remembered for her unique poetry. Within
short, compact phrases she expressed far-reaching ideas; amidst paradox and
uncertainty, her poetry has an undeniable capacity to move and provoke.
3. “Before The Battle” by Siegfried Sassoon

Music of whispering trees

Hushed by the broad-winged breeze
Where shaken water gleams;
And evening radiance falling
With reedy bird-notes calling.
O bear me safe through dark, you low-voiced streams.

I have no need to pray

That fear may pass away;
I scorn the growl and rumble of the fight
That summons me from cool
Silence of marsh and pool,
And yellow lilies islanded in light.
O river of stars and shadows, lead me through the night.

BIOGRAPHY :
Siegfried Sassoon (8 September 1886 – 1
September 1967) was an English poet, writer, and
soldier. His father was a wealthy Jewish
businessman and his mother, an Anglo-Catholic. He
was educated at Marlborough College and then
Clare College, Cambridge University – though he
left without completing his degree. Between 1907
and the start of the war, he was able to live a
comfortable life of writing, playing cricket and
other sporting interests. His private income meant
he didn’t have to get a job; he nursed ambitions to
be both play cricket for Kent and become a writer.
In 1913, he achieved moderate success with his book, The Daffodil Murderer a
parody of Everlasting Mercy by John Masefield.