An Hymn to the Evening (Poem by Phillis Wheatley)

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!

    Fill’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.

Poem Analysis:

Phillis Wheatley's "An Hymn to the Evening" is a beautiful invocation of the evening's majesty and a contemplation of its spiritual significance. Through vivid imagery and a reverent tone, Wheatley celebrates the transition from day to night while expressing gratitude for the divine presence that permeates the natural world.

Themes: "An Hymn to the Evening" explores themes of nature's grandeur, spiritual devotion, and the transformative power of nightfall. Wheatley marvels at the beauty of the evening sky and reflects on the divine attributes that manifest in the fading light. The poem serves as both a hymn of praise to the Creator and a meditation on the soul's journey towards spiritual enlightenment.

Imagery: Wheatley employs rich imagery to evoke the sensory experience of the evening. The opening lines, "Soon as the sun forsook the eastern main / The pealing thunder shook the heav’nly plain," immediately capture the dramatic shift from day to night, as thunder reverberates through the heavens. The imagery of "Majestic grandeur" and "the zephyr’s wing" exuding the "incense of the blooming spring" evokes a sense of awe and reverence for the natural world. Wheatley's vivid descriptions of the sky ablaze with color and the serene beauty of nightfall transport readers to a realm where the earthly and the divine converge.

Poetic Techniques: Throughout the poem, Wheatley employs various poetic techniques to convey its themes and imagery. The use of personification is evident in lines such as "the west glories in the deepest red," imbuing nature with human-like qualities and emphasizing its splendor. Additionally, Wheatley utilizes parallelism in the final stanza, with the repetition of "more pure, more guarded from the snares of sin," underscoring the importance of spiritual vigilance and moral fortitude.

In "An Hymn to the Evening," Phillis Wheatley celebrates the majesty of nature and offers a heartfelt tribute to the divine presence that permeates the twilight hours. Through vivid imagery, reverent language, and adept use of poetic techniques, Wheatley invites readers to contemplate the beauty and significance of the evening sky, while also encouraging introspection and spiritual devotion. As day gives way to night and the world is enveloped in darkness, Wheatley's hymn serves as a reminder of the eternal light that guides and sustains the human soul, inspiring reverence and reflection in equal measure.