"The day of the sun is like the day of a king. It is a promenade in the morning, a sitting on the throne at noon, a pageant in the evening"

Wallace Stevens uses highly associative, figurative language to create an imagery that parallels the course of a day to the journey of a king's era. The first part of the quotation, "The day of the sun is like the day of a king", initiates a comparison between two seemingly distinct entities: the sun and a king. Both are understood as profound symbols of power, vitality, and grandeur, with inescapable presences in their respective realms.

The second part of the quote maps the progression of a day to the progression of a king's reign. "It is a promenade in the morning" equates the morning's promised potential to the hopeful start of a king's reign. Much like the morning sun that warms and enlightens the earth after a cold, dark night, a new king, too, heralds anticipation and hope for growth, prosperity, and revitalization in his kingdom.

Continuing the metaphor, "a sitting on the throne at noon" symbolizes the peak of the king's reign, his time of surety, control, and dominance. Likewise, the sun at noon is at its apex, casting the harshest, brightest light. It holds power, supremacy, the unquestioned authority as the earth basks in its glow. This imagery lays parallels to a king holding a solid, unshakeable grip over his authority and power during his prime time.

Lastly, "a pageant in the evening" alludes to the culmination or sunset of authority. Even as the sun sets, even if its light dims, its departure from the sky is splendid, a colorful pageant that invites admiration, much like a king who, even at the end of the reign, leaves a legacy and accomplishments worthy of respect and honor.

Through this poetic metaphor, Stevens demonstrates the transient nature of power and glory, the cyclical rise and decline, and the inherent beauty in each phase. Just as the sun rises and sets, a king, too, has his moments of ascent and descent, both of which are integral parts of his journey, displaying varying degrees of brilliance and influence.