Now the Day Is Over

the better college time

Sunday afternoon
was
followed by the evening
in the chapel
and
we would in the choir sing and then
haul ourselves down
front
for the sermon
and
then would sing again

everyone
we all
took part

and there was a song
we sung
while the church organ vibed beneath
and the song
was
telling us
that some things like this day were
done

and out into the air
back to
our dorms
as
quickly to forget
and worry like wool being
our worries

we tried nonetheless to work for
Monday
if
unprepared
and should come regardless

yet the better words
than
stress alone

now
the day is over
night is drawing
nigh
shadows of the evening steal
across the sky

I’m sorry you can’t hear the tune
until you can
but
there are words
and grammared nicely
if
and as reordered
above
and
(yet)
reading these even just now
might
take you into night
its and our assurance
of
the night

c l couch

photo by Daniil Silantev on Unsplash


the question of this evening
(responding to “Now the Day Is Over”)

evening draws nigh
the old song
imposes
for the song becomes
well
rather maudlin
melancholy
minimally

there is a prayer
and that’s fine
for Jesus to keep us through
the night
but
some will ignore
all this prayer
to fire up
the evening hours
instead

so lie low tonight
or charge
the time there is
to pub
and such
though morning comes
and with it
some responsibility
unless
retirement
has taken over
as an age
or
attitude

and then
what then

a song of peace
results in consternation
for there is much to figure out
by night
by day

rebellion
indifference
extremes cut through
by rest

c l couch

(the song often sung in my college chapel Sunday night—here, sorry, the assurance questioned
       Now the day is over,
       Night is drawing nigh,
       Shadows of the evening
       Steal across the sky.
verse 1)

photo by Joshua Sortino on Unsplash 
“Sometimes you just have to look up.”
(caption given)