Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Eclipse


Out on the sidewalk after dinner, gazing into the eastern sky. The moon looked as though the lower left corner had crumbled. Dark, shadowy, hazy. Walked the sidewalk to keep warm while keeping an eye on the moon. Gradually more and more of it disappeared until it was only a sliver and a faint circular glow within shadow.

And that phased into total eclipse, and the moon became a dimly lit globe set in the sky, like a pearl tinged pale orange. As it became totally obscured, nearby stars and planets shone brightly.

Some neighbors stopped briefly during their evening errands to glance up before going inside. Others walked to the corner, looked upward, pointed it out to their children. A couple walking their dogs cracked jokes about "lun-a-cy".

Now, a sliver of silver has appeared on the right, continuing its journey across the sky, glowing brighter and brighter as each minute passes.

Tried to take photos, but too much city light, wrong location, and not the right camera equipment. This will have to be remembered in mind’s eye, and through the photos of others (one of which I borrowed from the website below, taken by Andy Steere).

( ( ( ( ( 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ) ) ) ) )

Nations, like stars, are entitled to eclipse. All is well, provided the light returns and the eclipse does not become endless night. Dawn and resurrection are synonymous. The reappearance of the light is the same as the survival of the soul.
~ Victor Hugo

No comments: