To the Evening Star

by Thomas Campbell (1777 - 1844)

Gem of the crimson-colour’d Even,
Companion of retiring day,
Why at the closing gates of heaven,
Beloved Star, dost thou delay?

So fair thy pensile beauty burns
When soft the tear of twilight flows;
So due thy plighted love returns
To chambers brighter than the rose;

To Peace, to Pleasure, and to Love
So kind a star thou seem’st to be,
Sure some enamour’d orb above
Descends and burns to meet with thee!

Thine is the breathing, blushing hour
When all unheavenly passions fly,
Chased by the soul-subduing power
Of Love’s delicious witchery.

O! sacred to the fall of day
Queen of propitious stars, appear,
And early rise, and long delay.
When Caroline herself is here!

Shine on her chosen green resort
Whose trees the sunward summit crown,
And wanton flowers, that well may court
An angel’s feet to tread them down:—

Shine on her sweetly scented road
Thou star of evening’s purple dome,
That lead’st the nightingale abroad,
And guid’st the pilgrim to his home.

Shine where my charmer’s sweeter breath
Embalms the soft exhaling dew,
Where dying winds a sigh bequeath
To kiss the cheek of rosy hue:—

Where, winnow’d by the gentle air,
Her silken tresses darkly flow
And fall upon her brow so fair,
Like shadows on the mountain snow.

Thus, ever thus, at day’s decline
In converse sweet to wander far—
O bring with thee my Caroline,
And thou shalt be my Ruling Star!

poem poetry Thomas Campbell Evening Star