A Child's View
5/24/94
It moves away. It is hidden once again. It had only shone for a moment, yet I still know It's there. The lower clouds have hidden the bright shining ones which billow above, up where the Full Moon provides the only light the dark, rainy night has known. A patch, there it is, the Moon runs by, and is gone. The dark clouds, which are closer to the ground, still cloak the radiance. But away, to the north, a tall expanded cloud is bright. The light hits it.
Now -- look -- for the shades may have been only an illusion; a sphere emerges. Its radiance colors the surrounding clouds. Suddenly more are gone. The Moon stands naked, bold. My eyes must adjust to receive Its magnificence. Quickly, thin, ambiguous lower clouds move in, attempting to cover but failing. The clean round shape can still be seen.
A dark patch is coming. I see it, wonder if the brilliance will be doused, no; then, yes, parts leave my view. Hidden, then to return. I think, compare my wonder and my feelings. Consider why the Orb fascinates me so. Why it is that It and Its companions are more glorious to me tonight than ever before in my twenty years. I look up again. What? The sky is cleared. The enlarged center of the sky is clear of clouds. The source of brilliance stands alone, apparently full in Its power. It knows Its place in the sky. And where did all those clouds go? I don't even see them. Just the few stars and Jupiter which compete to be seen. I pause and admire the spectacle. The brightness negates the illusion of night.
Suddenly, the Light hides, I had forgotten the effect. My senses now limited, I search for remains of the light. The northern clouds have slowly begun to move on, yet their plump figure reflects a cool blue light. The dark clouds which abound the thick horizon all present to me their dark sides, for I do not radiate light for them to reflect as the Moon does. The edges though, reveal more. Clouds line the sky in comfortable shapes like a row of homes on a hill. Linings of silver and blue decorate the eaves and any taller structures hesitate not to display their radiant reflectings. Rays of light dart from the dark cloud's edge. It is closest to the Moon, and when it tries to hide it, it's edges are gold. The Moon remains, the busy clouds move on and change again. The Ball is so bright; indeed, it is still there when my eyes are closed. The cloud has now broken up. The pieces slow and separate as their momentum disperses.
My eyes wander, I find a slow gliding bird -- odd I believe, at night. Or maybe it, too, agrees it is very well too bright for "night". Maybe there is too much to do. Maybe now is not the time to sleep. For truly when it is time to rest, the facilities wind down, light is hidden, and it doesn't even matter to you for your eyelids are heavy and your eyes pain you, petitioning for their own time.
But I am here. I am awake and I am ready. Maybe I was tired before. Maybe I was afraid. The Moon too, eclipsed earlier tonight. But not now. (Just what the hell do we do?!) Small clouds come and go quickly now. The sky is much more clear and the Moon is much more alone. Only the background lightless rows and some low, eastern, shapeless clouds remain to share the scene. They are nothing but beautiful. They can not touch the Moon; much less It's Source of light.
I glance up again and the clouds have circled around the Orb: as if acknowledging that they can not compete with It, can not hide It forever, so they frame it. An evenly ruffled blanket soon moves in. It holds Its position. It glows with Its light. The clouds move in and out of view. Steady, distant clouds continue their watch, never dimming the reflection. For the Light is always there. It stands, even still.