Beauty

This is a succinct yet profound poem that artfully juxtaposes grandeur and humility, mystery and revelation. The first line presents a striking contrast that sets the tone for the entire piece: the speaker is "high as a star, yet lowly as a flower." This duality suggests a character who embodies both the unreachable cosmos and the grounded earthly nature, combining the ethereal with the tangible.

The poem's theme of unveiling is prominent in the latter half. The "Earth's proud masquerade" is a metaphor for the world's superficiality or deceit, and the "appointed hour" suggests a pivotal moment of truth. The final line, "Strikes, and, behold, the marvel of her face," culminates in a revelation that is both awe-inspiring and unexpected. The poet skillfully uses anaphora, or the repetition of a word at the beginning of successive clauses ("Strikes, and, behold") to build anticipation and emphasis. The structure, a four-line stanza or quatrain, keeps the poem compact and impactful, while the consistent iambic pentameter provides a steady rhythm. Overall, the poem skillfully combines contrast, suspense, and revelation to portray the paradox of a character who is both celestial and earthly, mysterious and revealed.