When Evening bids the Sun to rest retire, <br />Unwearied Ether sets her lamps on fire; <br />Lit by one torch, each is supplied in turn, <br />Till all the candles in the concave burn. <br /> <br /> <br />The night-hawk now, with his nocturnal tone, <br />Wakes up, and all the Owls begin to moan, <br />Or heave from dreary vales their dismal song, <br />Whilst in the air the meteors play along. <br /> <br /> <br />[illegible] ength the silver queen begins to rise, <br />[illegible] spread her glowing mantle in the skies, <br />[illegible] from the smiling chambers of the east, <br />[illegible] the eye to her resplendent feast. <br /> <br /> <br />What joy is this unto the rustic swain, <br />Who from the mount surveys the moon-lit plain; <br />Who with the spirit of a dauntles Pan <br />Controls his fleecy train and leads the van; <br /> <br /> <br />Or pensive, muses on the water's side, <br />Which purling doth thro' green meanders glide, <br />With watchful care he broods his heart away <br />'Till might is swallowed in the flood of day. <br /> <br /> <br />The meteors cease to play, that mov'd so fleet <br />And spectres from the murky groves retreat, <br />The prowling wolf withdraws, which bowl'd so bold <br />And bleating flocks may venture from the fold. <br /> <br /> <br />The night-hawk's din deserts the shepherd's ear, <br />Succeeded by the huntsman's trumpet clear, <br />O come Diana, start the morning chase <br />Thou ancient goddess of the hunting race. <br /> <br /> <br />Aurora's smiles adorn the mountain's brow, <br />The peasant hums delighted at his plow, <br />And lo, the dairy maid salutes her bounteous cow.<br /><br />George Moses Horton<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/on-the-evening-and-morning/
