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Poetry · Chapter

Evening Hymn explained

A prayerful evening hymn asking God for forgiveness, cleansing of the day's deeds, and guidance through the night, with a hope that the soul may rise fresh and free with the new day and ultimately find its way back to God even in dreams.

What happens

A prayerful evening hymn asking God for forgiveness, cleansing of the day's deeds, and guidance through the night, with a hope that the soul may rise fresh and free with the new day and ultimately find its way back to God even in dreams.

Themes in this chapter

  • Redemption and Grace

    The speaker asks for forgiveness and cleansing of the day's sins, trusting in God's mercy to make 'what might have been' appear on the morrow.

  • Spiritual Struggle and Doubt

    The prayer acknowledges wandering thoughts and the danger of being lost in 'dreams that mock and flee,' yet expresses a persistent desire to turn toward God.

Characters to notice

  • God

    Addressed directly as the one who leads down the daylight and grants sleep, and from whom forgiveness and cleansing are sought.

  • Unknown

    The speaker of the hymn, who confesses wandering thoughts and prays for renewal and direction toward God.

Key passages

  • “What I have done, Lord, make it clean With thy forgiveness dear; That so to-day what might have been, To-morrow may appear.”

    Cleanse my actions with your forgiveness, so that the potential of today may be realized tomorrow.

    A plea for purification and hope for future redemption.

  • “And when my thought is all astray, Yet think thou on in me; That with the new-born innocent day My soul rise fresh and free.”

    Even when my mind wanders, continue to think within me, so that my soul may awaken renewed and unburdened with the new day.

    Expresses trust in God's ongoing presence and the hope of spiritual renewal.

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