Poems (Follen)/Evening (How beautiful the setting sun)

by Eliza Lee Cabot Follen

For works with similar titles, see Evening.

EVENING.

How beautiful the setting sun!
 The clouds how bright and gay!
The stars, appearing one by one,
 How beautiful are they!

And when the moon climbs up the sky,
 And sheds her gentle light,
And hangs her crystal lamp on high,
 How beautiful is night!

And can it be I am possessed
 Of something brighter far?
Glows there a light within this breast
 Outshining every star?

Yes; should the sun and stars turn pale,
 The mountains melt away,
This flame within shall never fail,
 But live in endless day.

This is the soul that God has given:
 Sin may its lustre dim,
While goodness bears it up to heaven,
 And leads it back to Him.