An Hymn to the Evening

[Alan]

Phillis Wheatley, (1754?-1784), was a negro slave brought from Africa, became a Christian, and was highly respected among those who read her works. Phillis was well received by the Colonists, created the eulogy for George Whitfied when she was 16 years old, and in 1776 was received by General Washington. Note: the spacing, and italics, are as the book, 'The American Tradition in Literature, Vol. 1,Fouth Edition,' quotes the poem. The original poem may be found in, 'Poems on Various subjects, Religious and Moral, London, 1773.'

             An Hymn to the Evening.

               by Phillis Wheatley

Soon as the sun forsook the eastern main

The pealing thunder shook the heav'nly plain;

Majestic grandeur! From the zephyr's wing.

Exhales the incense of the blooming spring.

Soft purl the streams, the birds renew their notes,

And through the air their mingled music floats.

 

     Through all the heav'ns what beauteous dies are

         spread!

But the west glories in the deepest red:

So may our breasts with ev'ry virtue glow,

The living temples of our God below!

 

    Fille'd with the praise of him who gives the light,

And draws the sable curtains of the night,

Let placid slumbers sooth each weary mind,

At morn to wake more heav'nly, more refin'd;

So shall the labours of the day begin

More pure, more guarded from the snares of sin.

 

   Night's leaden sceptre seals my drowsy eyes,

Then cease, my song, till fair Aurora rise.  

Edited January 27, 2017 by Alan
spelling

[weary warrior]

11 minutes ago, Alan said:

Phillis Wheatley, (1754?-1784), was a negro slave brought from Africa, became a Christian, and was highly respected among those who read her works. Phillis was well received by the Colonists, created the eulogy for George Whitfied when she was 16 years old, and in 1776 was received by General Washington. Note: the spacing, and italics, are as the book, 'The American Tradition in Literature, Vol. 1,Fouth Edition,' quotes the poem. The original poem may be found in, 'Poems on Various subjects, Religious and Moral, London, 1773.'

             An Hymn to the Evening.

               by Phillis Wheatley

Soon as the sun forsook the eastern main

The pealing thunder shook the heav'nly plain;

Majestic grandeur! From the zephyr's wing.

Exhales the incense of the blooming spring.

Soft purl the streams, the birds renew their notes,

And through the air their mingled music floats.

 

     Through all the heav'ns what beauteous dies are

         spread!

But the west glories in the deepest red:

So may our breasts with ev'ry virtue glow,

The living temples of our God below!

 

    Fille'd with the praise of him who gives the light,

And draws the sable curtains of the night,

Let placid slumbers sooth each weary mind,

At morn to wake more heav'nly, more refin'd;

So shall the labours of the day begin

More pure, more guarded from the snares of sin.

 

   Night's leaden sceptre seals my drowsy eyes,

Then cease, my song, till fair Aurora rise.  

Beautiful!

[Orval]

Nothing like good poetry to paint pictures of serenity on our mind.  I loved it.

 

[Alan]

Orval,

We are always looking for good poetry. Do you have anything special?

Brethren,

Any of the brethren have any good poems that you would to share?

One of the things we need to remember is that most of the songs in our hymnbooks were good, Christian poems.

Alan