June 21, 2013
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Sunlight Through Windows
As I write, 1:05 AM Eastern time, the Earth is tilting to its greatest angle toward the Sun. Today there will be 24 hours of sunlight north of and within the Arctic Circle. The Sun will appear to rise and set at its most northern point on the horizon all across the Earth. Although we reference this mystery by watching the Sun, it is not our great star that is moving, tilting, almost wobbling through space, it is us, the Earth, that is speeding around the Sun this first day of summer. It is the start of astronomical summer in Earth’s northern hemisphere, winter for its southern occupants. Today is our summer solstice, first day of summer. And we can only observe it from our point of view from each of our own tiny spots on the Earth. If I was home, I could watch the sunrise this morning from my north windows.
There are so many scientific facts and phenomenons surrounding this day, it makes my mind wonder more today than any other day, this longest day of the year. Since the beginning of tribal man there is evidence of celebrations on this day. So I know I am not wondering alone.
But if you were the Earth, how would you see this solstice from the Earth’s point of view in space? I can only throw away the bare facts and understand it poetically. That is what poetry is for, to help us understand, understand the wonders of our slightly elliptical orbital existence in this solar system we call home. This yearly summer poem is my attempt to not explain the facts of this day but to only understand them.
Sunlight Through Windows
From the time I was no more than
a smoking, swirling ball of hot mud
my course was set.
Captured here by these unseen forces of the Sun
so that I need not have to steer
Nor control my arrivals on the route
of each of my yearly destinations.Slowly passing summer’s beginning
never pausing or varying my track
Tilting more toward the sun
through the blackness of space
I travel the course without feeling,
the only sense of where I am is by
following sunlight through windows.Stellar light is cast upon me
I bask in it’s depth and warmth
All that is depends on my movement
Even as I appear to change course
back to the outer reaches of where I began.
Unvarying, never pausing, always there
As if I am spinning in deep grooves.
DSS
Comments (4)
Nice. For me the difference between winter and summer is in having to run my black car’s engine as it’s parked outside in the cold to warm it up before I drive and having to leave my black cars doors open for a while as it’s parked outside in the unforgiving sun so the interior cools before I get in.
as my little mind tries to comprehend all that you’re saying…so, thee lives in south america?? antartica?
ok. i want to go think about your poem piece. yes. (thank you.)
@TheSutraDude - I have always avoided buying a black car for that very reason, although I really like the looks of them. I remember getting into a friends car with black interior while wear shorts and it actually burnt the backs of my legs. But the change of the seasons have always been an event, minor event, but I like the time guide posts they give us through the year. For making plans, deciding to do things, They are a biorhythm for me and I enjoy thinking of the physical mechanics of our earth in relation the solar system. Thanks for the rec, glad you liked it.
@Bels_Kaylar - No, hahaha – my home is in Kansas. And I am back home today, although a little cloudy, I will watch the sunrise and sunset through my north patio glass doors. Here you can only see that for a few days before the Sun seems to swing back to the south. Think Stonehenge this week. Thanks for the comprehended rec!