Mark Scrivener Poetry Blog No. 33 Evening Comes Softly

EVENING COMES SOFTLY

The sense of rhythm and form in this short lyrical piece is created by repetition. The first line is repeated in all four verses and the second lines have the same form as do the third and fourth. At the same time there is a widening of meaning from the physical to the more flowing life-like (softly smoothing) to the soul level (thought to dream flow) to the "spiritual music of the spheres". Curiously I can't recall planning this sequence, I suppose it just evolved naturally in my imagination.

EVENING COMES SOFTLY

Evening comes softly,

Softly gliding,

Gliding dusky darkness

Over the earth.

Evening comes softly,

Softly smoothing,

Smoothing clear day-shapes

Into the night.

Evening comes softly,

Softly lulling,

Lulling slow thought

Into dream flow.

Evening comes softly,

Softly singing,

Singing far secrets

Of the star silence.