Lines for a Drawing of Our Lady of the Night

A reflection on Francis Thompson’s poem

Photo by Joshua Woroniecki on Unsplash

Thus begins Francis Thompson’s beautiful Marian poem, “Lines for a Drawing of Our Lady of the Night.” Born to Catholic parents and himself a devout Catholic, Francis Thompson had a strong devotion to Our Lady, as is evident from his poetry. Thompson experienced many hardships throughout his life, but his talent for writing poetry brought him to better circumstances before the end of his short life. A Catholic publisher, to whom Thompson once sent some of his poems, befriended Thompson and ensured that the man was never destitute again.

Under the care of his kindly patronage, Thompson further developed his skill for writing poetry, and his “Lines for a Drawing of Our Lady of the Night” is one such masterpiece. He chose an unusual title with which to address Our Lady, although the title is perhaps symbolic of the “night” that the poet experienced in his earlier years. Several other phrases throughout the poem—such as “sick toiler,” “wearied thing,” and “weep”—further point to the sufferings that Thompson had endured, the memory of which remained with him for his entire life.

In nine simple couplets, or two-line stanzas, Thompson praised Our Lady’s virtues in light of her gentleness. Speaking to a “sick toiler,” the poet encourages us to imagine Mary spreading her mantle over us. Safe under her mantle, we can lay our worries and sorrows aside as we rest.

This is such a beautiful image, one that is very comforting in times of trials. It is both humbling and consoling to imagine ourselves hidden under her mantle like a little child. However, this is more than a mere daydream; Mary is the Mother of God and Mother of the Church, our spiritual Mother who wants nothing more than to lead us to her Son. In Him, we have no need to weep, for union with Him fills our hearts with an eternal joy that no earthly sorrow can erase. We can only experience a foretaste of this joy while on earth, but as Thompson writes, we can always find refuge and comfort under the loving mantle of our Blessed Mother.

Below is Thompson’s poem in its entirety. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Lines for a Drawing of Our Lady of the Night

By Francis Thompson

This, could I paint my inward sight,
This were Our Lady of the Night:

She bears on her front's lucency
The starlight of her purity:

For as the white rays of that star
The union of all colours are,

She sums all virtues that may be
In her sweet light of purity.

The mantle which she holds on high
Is the great mantle of the sky.

Think, O sick toiler, when the night
Comes on thee, sad and infinite,

Think, sometimes, 'tis our own Lady
Spreads her blue mantle over thee,

And folds the earth, a wearied thing,
Beneath its gentle shadowing;

Then rest a little; and in sleep
Forget to weep, forget to weep!

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