The speaker describes a woman whose beauty seemed to gather all the loveliest parts of nature into one person. Her face carried the brightness of day, her eyes the calm beauty of night, and her voice and smile felt as gentle and life-giving as morning birds and dawning light. The tone is full of admiration, almost worshipful. But the final lines shift sharply. Now that she is gone, the speaker cannot enjoy the day, the night, or the birds at dawn anymore. Those things have become empty and lifeless to him, because the person who once gave them meaning is no longer there. The mood moves from warm remembrance to quiet grief, as the world loses its color and music along with her.
The Glory of the Day Was in Her Face — Summary
The glory of the day was in her face, The beauty of the night was in her eyes. And over all her loveliness, the grace Of Morning blushing in the early skies. And in her voice, the calling of the dove; Like music of a sweet, melodious part. And in her smile, the breaking light of love; And all the gentle virtues in her heart. And now the glorious day, the beauteous night, The birds that signal to their mates at dawn, To my dull ears, to my tear-blinded sight Are one with all the dead, since she is gone.