When I was sitting, sad, and all alone,
Remembering youth and love for ever fled,
And many friends now resting with the dead.
While the still summer's light departing shone,
Like many sweet and silent summers gone;
Thou earnest, as a vision, with a mien
And smile like those I once on earth had seen,
And with a voice of that remembered tone
Which I in other days, long since, had heard:
Like Peace approaching, when distempers fret
Most the tired spirit, thy fair form appeared;
And till I die, I never shall forget, —
For at thy footstep light, the gloom was cheered,
Thy look and voice, oh! gentle Margaret.
I am busy working to bring William Lisle Bowles's "Picture of a Young Lady" to life through some unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you later.
In the meantime, I invite you to explore the poem's themes, structure, and meaning. You can also check out the gallery for other musical arrangements or learn more about William Lisle Bowles's life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "Picture of a Young Lady" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.