[For my wife, Kristen.]

Beauty enveloped in golden rays;
Beauty enchanting all of her days.
Beauty within and beauty without;
Beauty gracefully carried about.
Beauty quiet and gracious be;
Beauty enthrall this heart for thee.

I sing of Beauty’s loving face,
Her smile and arm full of grace.
I scratch her charm in timid verse,
But fail at capturing all her worth.
I stutter, I stammer–O all may see:
Beauty, O Beauty, accept this ode to thee.