William Henley

A late lark twitters from the quiet skies

Late Day Bird Song

Lark singing at sunset symbolizes persistence—a small voice continuing despite day's end. Signals transition between light and darkness.

A late lark twitters from the quiet skies;

And from the west,

Where the sun, his day's work ended,

Lingers as in content,

There falls on the old, gray city

An influence luminous and serene,

A shining peace.

"The smoke ascends

In a rosy-and-golden haze. The spires

Shine, and are changed. In the valley

Shadows rise. The lark sings on. The sun,

Closing his benediction,

Biblical Sunset Imagery

Sunset described as 'benediction'—suggests sacred quality of natural transition. Connects dying day to spiritual experience.

Sinks, and the darkening air

Thrills with a sense of the triumphing night—

Night, with her train of stars

And her great gift of sleep.

"So be my passing!

Work and Rest Cycle

Poem tracks completion of labor—sun's 'day's work', poet's 'task accomplished'. Death seen as legitimate rest after effort.

My task accomplished and the long day done,

My wages taken, and in my heart

Some late lark singing,

Let me be gathered to the quiet west,

Metaphorical Death Landscape

Sunset becomes explicit metaphor for death. 'Quiet west' and 'sundown' transform natural scene into meditation on mortality.

The sundown splendid and serene,

Death.