It’s the shank of the evening! But
when is that, exactly? This phrase typically suggests that the night is far
from over, shank being an old word for something, straight, or the tail end of
something. But as the Dictionary of American Regional English notes, in the
South, evening is considered “the time between late afternoon and dusk.”
The lyrics “In the shank of the
night,
When the doins’ are right
Well you can tell 'em I’ll be there
…” are part of “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of The Evening,” music by Hoagy
Carmichael & lyrics by Johnny Mercer, 1951
It’s the shank of the evening as
the moon is illuminated by the last hues of the setting summer sun as the sky segues
to twilight on July 1, 2020 at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
I just love the phrase “shank of
the evening,” and was very happy to take a photo that showcases it!
