[Adapted from Jane Kenyon]
[Warzone]
Let the light of late afternoon
shine off barrels of guns, moving
up the trenches as the sun moves down.
Let the radio take up crooning
as a soldier takes up his MRE
and his letters. Let evening come.
Let dew collect on the mine abandoned
in tough weeds. Let the clouds appear
and the moon hide her silver horn.
Let the lizard go back to its dusty hole.
Let the wind pick up. Let the hut
go black inside. Let evening come.
To the body in the ditch, to the shovel
in the grave, to air still in the lung
let evening come.
Let it come, as it will, and don’t
be afraid. God does not leave us
comfortless, so let evening come.
[Church]
Let the light of late afternoon
shine through stained glass windows, moving
up the pews as the sun moves down.
Let the sparrows give up chirping
as a priest takes up his Bible
and his prayers. Let evening come.
Let dew collect on the grave abandoned
in the long grass. Let the stars appear
and the moon disclose her silver horn.
Let the mouse go back to its dusty hole.
Let the light die down. Let the confessional
go black inside. Let evening come.
To the rosary in the yard, to the candle
on the altar, to air in the lung
let evening come.
Let it come, as it will, and don’t
be afraid. God does not leave us
comfortless, so let evening come.
[Forest]
Let the light of late afternoon
shine through weave in the tent, moving
up the pines as the sun moves down.
Let the bullfrog take up croaking
as a camper takes up his shovel
and his tin. Let evening come.
Let dew collect on the bottle abandoned
in tangled brush. Let the stars appear
and the moon disclose her silver horn.
Let the bear go back to its earthy den.
Let the wind die down. Let the hollow
go black inside. Let evening come.
To the log over the river, to the match
in the dirt, to air in the lung
let evening come.
Let it come, as it will, and don’t
be afraid. God does not leave us
comfortless, so let evening come.
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