A Sketch at Every Turn - Chapter 3

Byron's "She Walks in Beauty" captures the impact that comes with being in the presence of beauty. Physical human beauty, but also the beauty of one's ideas, inspirations and muses of other kinds. This filmic reimagining of the poem starring Luke Christian and Hayley Reeve pictures Turner hearing his neighbour singing and being transported to a beautiful garden where he begins sketching. The neighbour is singing the words to a Byron poem celebrating feminine beauty, and Turner and the neighbour share a moment appreciating the aesthetics of the world around them: sunlight, flowers, colours, people, poetry. The shifting chords and fluid melodies of the soundtrack are performed by Patrick Dexter and vocalist Queenelle.

"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!