Summer: Thursday Evening Poem by John Bowring

Calm is the eve, and nature's wasting strength
Is, by the gentle influence of repose,
Repair'd, rekindled;-with the morning's dawn,
As if new-born, the world awakes; and throws
The wearying burden of existence down,
When night invites to rest.


And such new birth
In soul and spirit well beseemeth man;
His grosser part decays and dies away;
Then let him fan that bright, immortal spark,
Glimmering in the recesses of his heart,
That lights up virtue's flame and wisdom's torch-
The torch of heavenly wisdom;-that pure star,
Which shines as sweetly as Aldebaran
Thro' the dark grating of a prison-house;
Guided by this, man shall be free indeed
In the transcendent, glorious liberty
Which our Deliverer wrought and perfected.


He who is born of the corporeal sense,
Is but a heavy, useless mass obscure,
Till lighted by the Spirit, that gives life
And beauty and perfection. Then indeed
A glorious birth succeeds-the power of death
Is broken, and the enfranchised prisoner walks
In the expanse of heaven and blessedness;
So privileged is regenerated man!
His influence is as gentle and as sweet
As that of evening's breath, which silently
Steals over nature-musical its voice,
Unseen its workings,-but upon its wings
Sit cheerfulness and health. The pilgrim feels
Its fresh and honest greeting, and moves on,
Cheer'd and supported. He has raised a pile
To wisdom, and there worships, and there keeps
Habitual court, and every morn and night
Lights up pure incense at the holy shrine,
And takes another step tow'rds heaven and God.


O Thou! whose light-encircled throne is built
Upon eternity-listen! May his lot
Be Thy now-worshipping servant's; let my path
Thus lead me to Thy presence. Even here
I see Thy glory beaming thence-I hear,
Amidst the harmony of thousand stars,
Some angel-voice inviting;-and I feel
As if the garlands of celestial growth
Had touch'd my forehead. O transporting dream!
Beautiful visions of that land of joy,
Unveil'd by God, and clad in starry light!
O privileged moment! when the gates of heaven
Glitter resplendently upon my view;
In that soft light so sweetly shining now,
Amidst those visions thro' the shades of time,
Beneath those stars which so serenely smile-
My heart shall be devoted all to Thee.