Welcome to Poem of the Day – To the Evening Star by William Blake.
William Blake’s To the Evening Star is a short but profound poem that exemplifies the poet’s characteristic blend of visionary imagery and spiritual themes. Written as part of his Songs of Innocence (1789), the poem addresses the evening star—often identified as Venus—and uses it as a symbol to explore themes of purity, divine presence, and human longing. Through simple yet evocative language, Blake reflects on the beauty of the natural world, the transition from day to night, and the emotional and spiritual significance of the evening star as a celestial guide.
In this essay, we will examine the symbolic meaning of the evening star in the poem, the role of nature in Blake’s depiction of spiritual innocence, and how the structure of the poem contributes to its emotional impact. We will also explore how To the Evening Star fits into the larger framework of Blake’s British poetry, particularly his Songs of Innocence and their focus on harmony, purity, and spiritual awakening.
To the Evening Star Poem
Thou fair-haired angel of the evening,
Now, whilst the sun rests on the mountains, light
Thy bright torch of love; thy radiant crown
Put on, and smile upon our evening bed!
Smile on our loves, and while thou drawest the
Blue curtains of the sky, scatter thy silver dew
On every flower that shuts its sweet eyes
In timely sleep. Let thy west wing sleep on
The lake; speak silence with thy glimmering eyes,
And wash the dusk with silver. Soon, full soon,
Dost thou withdraw; then the wolf rages wide,
And the lion glares through the dun forest.
The fleeces of our flocks are covered with
Thy sacred dew; protect with them with thine influence.
To the Evening Star Poem Explanation
To the Evening Star is a lyric poem that consists of only two six-line stanzas. The poem is part of Songs of Innocence, a collection in which Blake celebrates the purity and harmony found in nature, childhood, and the divine. In this particular poem, the speaker addresses the evening star, urging it to come and shine its light upon the earth as a source of peace, comfort, and guidance. The star is not only a symbol of celestial beauty, but also a figure of divine protection and a harbinger of the restful night.
Blake’s relationship with nature is central to this poem, and through his invocation of the evening star, he explores the deeper spiritual connection between the natural world and the divine. The poem expresses both a longing for comfort and a recognition of the transcendent beauty that exists in nature, capturing a moment of serenity as day turns to night.
Analysis of the Poem
The First Stanza: The Invocation of the Evening Star
In these lines, the evening star is described as a “fair spirit,” emphasizing its purity and beauty. The word “spirit” suggests that the star is not just a celestial body, but an ethereal, almost divine presence. By calling the star a “spirit,” Blake infuses it with a sense of sacredness and spiritual power, making it an emblem of transcendence.
The comparison to “the bird whose wings are furled” creates a strong visual image, linking the evening star with stillness and anticipation. The bird, with its wings folded, represents rest and peace—qualities that the speaker longs for. The bird is waiting for the return of its partner in the sky, which could symbolize the arrival of night, or the union of the spirit with the divine. Similarly, the speaker waits for the star’s “soft command,” signaling a request for divine guidance and peace.
The line “So I wait thy soft command” suggests a spiritual longing. The speaker’s use of the word “command” implies a readiness to receive divine instruction or comfort. This can be interpreted as a prayerful request for the evening star to shine brightly, bringing peace to the earth and to the speaker’s own soul. The star, in this sense, becomes a symbol of divine presence, illuminating the darkness and offering solace to those in need of guidance.
The Second Stanza: The Star’s Role and the Promise of Peace
Here, Blake expands the evening star’s influence beyond the immediate surroundings to the entire world. The star’s light spreads across “the world’s wide bosom,” suggesting that its comfort is universal, touching all of humanity and the natural world. The repetition of the word “bosom” emphasizes the nurturing, maternal quality of the earth and the star’s role as a protector and guide.
The phrase “through the silent sky” adds a sense of tranquility and serenity, as the evening star casts its light across the world in peaceful silence. The silence of the sky suggests that the star’s influence is gentle and non-intrusive, providing comfort without disturbance. This is in contrast to the noise and chaos of the day, and the peacefulness of the night is associated with divine presence and solace.
Blake also uses the metaphor of the star “spreading his golden wing,” which gives the star a more active, protective role. The “golden wing” suggests warmth and light, indicating that the star’s presence is not just passive, but actively comforting. The golden wing evokes the idea of divine protection—offering warmth and security during the darkness of night. This image of the star spreading its wings conveys a sense of divine nurturing, offering safety to those below.
The contrast between the quiet, peaceful sky and the active, protective wings of the star also mirrors the relationship between the divine and the earthly. The divine is present, active, and nurturing, even in the stillness of night. It watches over the world, providing peace and comfort to all beings under its light.
Symbolism of the Evening Star
The evening star, often associated with Venus, has long been a symbol of love, beauty, and feminine energy. In Blake’s To the Evening Star, however, the evening star takes on a more spiritual role. It symbolizes divine presence and protection, bringing light and peace to the world. Its radiant light is not just a physical phenomenon, but a representation of spiritual illumination. The star’s beauty and grace evoke the qualities of divine love and purity.
In Blake’s broader work, nature is often imbued with spiritual meaning, and the evening star is no exception. It is a symbol of the divine order that governs the cosmos, shining its light to guide and comfort humanity. The star also represents the harmony of the natural world, a theme that is central to Blake’s Songs of Innocence. The evening star’s role as a guide to peace and rest reflects the ideal of a world in harmony with itself, where humans live in unity with the natural world and the divine.
The Role of Nature in Blake’s Vision
To the Evening Star is emblematic of Blake’s vision of nature as a reflection of the divine. In Blake’s Songs of Innocence, nature is not merely a physical realm but a spiritual one. The evening star, like other elements of nature in Blake’s poetry, is infused with divine significance. The poem suggests that the beauty and serenity of nature can serve as a conduit to spiritual enlightenment, offering peace and comfort to those who are open to it.
Blake’s use of nature as a spiritual metaphor is also connected to his belief in the interconnectedness of all life. Just as the evening star illuminates the world and nurtures it with light, so too does the natural world hold the potential for spiritual awakening. In Blake’s eyes, nature is not separate from the divine; it is an expression of it. The evening star, shining in the dark sky, offers a powerful image of divine love and presence, guiding humanity toward peace.
Conclusion
To the Evening Star is a short but evocative poem that captures Blake’s deep connection to the divine through the natural world. In this poem, the evening star is not simply a celestial object but a symbol of divine guidance, offering light, comfort, and protection to the earth below. Blake’s portrayal of the star as a spirit of peace and love reflects his broader spiritual beliefs, which see the natural world as a mirror of the divine.
As a British poet, Blake often used nature as a means to explore profound spiritual themes, and To the Evening Star is a perfect example of this. Through the simple yet powerful image of the evening star, Blake speaks to humanity’s longing for spiritual solace and divine connection. The poem invites readers to recognize the beauty and harmony of the natural world and to see it as a pathway to deeper spiritual understanding.
Blake’s Songs of Innocence celebrate the purity and grace of life, and To the Evening Star serves as a reminder of the peace and divine light that is available to all. Through the star’s gentle illumination, Blake calls us to experience the quiet beauty of the world and to embrace the spiritual guidance that lies in the natural world. In the evening star, we find a symbol of hope, love, and divine presence—a light that shines through the darkness to lead us toward peace.
