It always seems premature somehow to arise before day has broken. Before that glorious ball of fire that lights and warms the earth sees fit to rise, there is surely beauty in the pre-dawn. A sacred silence before resort workers hit the highway – bound for the altered worlds that irrigation and obscene amounts of money create like worlds contained within themselves.
Missing the daybreak, I am content in conserving my contemplative energy for the sun’s navel as he lowers himself onto his bed of horizon each evening. Whether melting into the sea or flashing green like a strobe, theatrics reign here on the north shore of Hawaii island. Old Lā always bows out in superb style, night after night. Sometimes low clouds obscure his passage, but rays that bleed through streaks and puffs of pink, grey and black slice through these obscurations as if their source is tilting his head back and laughing. Zeus in his chariot pulled by four black horses, necks arched, nostrils flaring, thunders through his sky. He is not daunted, and liquid joy seeps out, around and through.
Sunsets have always drawn me into their palette, as saturated colors in a painting are wont to do. Watercolors belong to the dawn – those muted, diluted rosy hues streaked with a wet brush onto pebbled canvas. Living in Maine for thirty-two years, I caught sunrise over the first mountaintop to glimpse the light of day in the eastern United States – Cadillac – but once. It was a cloudy morning, and though fog proves lovely as it spills over Maine’s coastal islands like water over the backs of porcupines, it further muted morning’s hues as if a painter had swished her brushes one time too many in the same glass of water.
image: Sue Ann Hodges
Instead my days climaxed in a sun setting over the hills surrounding Goose Pond; eyes dancing with summer damselflies flittering about on gossamer wings, tickling shoulders as we pulled oars through dark water. While beavers settled into lodges after a long day’s work, tails slapping, osprey nestled into the tallest treetops. The buzz of cicadas joined bullfrogs in a nightly serenade that waned with the flair of Venus emerging into darkening skies, gathering less brilliant companions to her flanks until they congregated like bees populating a hive, turning out the sweetest product imaginable.
image: msnbc.msn.com
Stars are the reward for ushering day into night. Last December I witnessed a full lunar eclipse – stepping out, at intervals, into the wee morning hours to photograph and gape, dumbstruck, at what early humans surely considered a portent. It was magnificent enough that I would repeat the ritual without hesitation. But until then, I’m content to sleep until daylight restores my vision and breaks over the land.
Wow! Bela, what imagery with script to match! I can feel only gratitude to be in this space with you.
Shakti
Thanks Shakti! All of it witnessed, all thoroughly enjoyed. Ongoingly. Blessings.
Great descriptions and photos, Bela. Many thanks for a delightful read.
And thanks for your comment, Amy!
This is beautiful. Thank you for the gorgeous photos and the wonderful words. 🙂
You are so welcome, Kate! Thanks for reading and commenting 😉
That hush before dawn always sends shivers up my spine…On the beach where I catch the sunrise, it is as if everything holds its breath, just for a moment. One memorable summer solstice I watched the sun rise on the east coast of my Island and the sun set on the west coast – but I do love the sunset best. Really though, I just came to send you a heartfelt thanks for giving me some imagery to soothe my wounded soul. Thank you, Bela.
Thanks VivianLea, for your voice and your presence here and now. Always valuable. Your story about watching sun rise and set on the same ‘rock’ reminds me of a dear elder friend who, until she lost her vision, was living on an island in a river in Vermont, positioned where she could see sun rising and setting from her living room! I always thought how cool that would be. Though we can glimpse both here, it’s not like the full-on view from that kind of open position.
Anyhow, enjoy the day, and blessings,
B
I gasped when I saw the image from the top of Cadillac as I have a similar image decorating my wall at home. It’s an image taken facing east from the top of Cadillac at dawn with the porcupine islands clearly visible below and an expanse of magnificent shades of red in the sky. Thanks for the wonderful pictures and descriptions.
You are so welcome! Thanks for coming by.
Isn’t it funny how images cycle around like that – this was something I picked up on the net – the only one I was drawn to. Thought I had my own image, but it might be my daughter’s or one of her friend’s photos I was originally thinking of .
Anyhow, enjoy your weekend, and peace.
I keep finding beautiful blogs like yours and think there yet may be hope for the world. I enjoyed reading this very much.
Thanks so much!
What a wonderful description of Nature’s glory. You’re a painter too with your words,.What a flourish you have! I’ve always been a late rise..so the beauty of dawn have had to be missed. But I’ve always been fascinated by the play of hues in the sky as the sun bids good bye for the day.
Thank you. I am also an artist, and I think that sensitivity does carry over into words and various kinds of expression. No doubt you have some ‘word painter’ in you as well, given your description 😉