Religion

Anthem for the Evening

by Thomas Flatman 1635–1688

From Poems and Songs (1686)

Religion

Sleep! downy sleep! come close my eyes,
Tir'd with beholding vanities!
Sweet slumbers come and chase away
The toils and follies of the day:
On your soft bosom will I lie,
Forget the world, and learn to die.
O Israel's watchful Shepherd! spread
Tents of Angels round my bed;
Let not the Spirits of the air,
While I slumber, me ensnare;
But save Thy suppliant free from harms,
Clasp'd in Thine everlasting Arms.
Clouds and thick darkness is Thy Throne,
Thy wonderful pavilion:
Oh dart from thence a shining ray,
And then my midnight shall be day!
Thus when the morn in crimson drest,
Breaks through the windows of the East,
My hymns of thankful praises shall arise
Like incense or the morning sacrifice.

MLA

Flatman, Thomas. “Anthem for the Evening.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/flatman/9/.

Chicago

Flatman, Thomas. “Anthem for the Evening.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/flatman/9/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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