Origins of the Blog Name

If you’ve found yourself here, you may be wondering what are the origins of this blog’s name! Well, you’re at the right entry for that!

The title comes from the poem “She Walks in Beauty” by British romantic poet Lord Byron. It’s one of my favorite poems, and I was struck by the name. A big part of my goal both with the website and this blog in particular is to just add a bit more beauty to the world - beauty of thought, beauty of images, etc. And what better way to do that than to reference a poem about beauty??

I will list the poem below. As a bonus, I will also share a link to one of my most favorite presentations of the song - the opening credits to Mira Nair’s 2004 production of “Vanity Fair”. The song, which was a collaboration of the composer Nicholas Dodd & Norwegian soprano Sissel, was my first introduction to this beautiful poem. Not only is the song beautiful, but the title sequence itself is a magnificent work of art by the design agency Trollbäck and Company.

First, the poem:

She Walks in Beauty
by Lord Byron (George Gordon)

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 mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired 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!

And now the link to the opening credits for Mira Nair’s “Vanity Fair”
(link will open a new window with the YouTube video)

Enjoy!

-Bridget-