Evening-Thomas Gray

EVENING

The curfew tolls the knell of parting day,

The lowing herd winds slowly o'er the lea.

The ploughman homeward plods his weary way,

And leaves the world to darkness and to me.

Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight,

And all the air a solemn stillness holds,

Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight,

And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds;

Save that from yonder ivy-mantled tow'r

The moping owl does to the moon complain

Of such as, wand'ring near her secret bow'r,

Molest her ancient solitary reign.

THOMAS GRAY

Summary: 'Evening' by Thomas Gray reflects on the quiet and contemplative atmosphere as a day transitions into night. The tolling curfew signals the end of the day, as the herd slowly makes its way home and the weary ploughman heads back. The poem describes the fading landscape and the solemn stillness that envelops the surroundings. The only sounds breaking the silence are the drone of a beetle and the distant tinklings that lull the folds to sleep. Amidst this tranquility, the poem notes the melancholy hooting of an owl from an ivy-mantled tower, complaining to the moon about those who disturb its ancient solitary reign near the secret bower. The verses evoke a sense of solitude and the beauty of the evening, capturing the essence of nature's transition from day to night.