Although I’m retired, I still sub at schools to help out. Now that school is back in session, I’ve modified my summer routine (where I could get a daily run in at about any time of the day – unless it was too hot), and I’ve been running first thing in the morning, usually leaving the house before sunrise. Of course, it’s not dark out – I mean, not “dark dark” – it’s dawn.
| As you know, dawn (or twilight in the evening) is that time between day and night when the sun is below the horizon, but there is still light outside. However, did you know that there are three stages of dawn/twilight? The stages are based on how far the sun is below the horizon (see pic). Generally, civil dawn occurs about 20 to 30 minutes prior to sunrise; nautical dawn is 20 to 30 minutes before that, and astronomical dawn is approximately 20 to 30 minutes before that. |  |
 | Yesterday, as I reached the halfway mark on my run and made the turn to head back, the sun was now above the horizon, and I spotted its fingers of light stretching through the trees. Hmm…“fingers of light” – now where have I heard that before? Oh, yes – in Emily Dickinson’s brilliant poem (pun intended), “The Fingers of the Light.” |
In Dickinson’s work, the rising Sun, though an “easy” and affable guest (after all, he did tap softly), was impatient to be let in. Yes, he swore that he wouldn’t not stir the slumbering townsfolk, but his bright countenance could not help but awaken “Maid and Man” – and all creatures great and small rejoiced! (An aside: this is one of five poems where Dickinson used the word “gnat.”)
Isn’t this a wonderful poem?
(Second aside: Too often people think of Dickinson as a poet of only death and gloom. However, her poems of life and joy are just as magnificent.)
Isn’t this a wonderful poem?
(Second aside: Too often people think of Dickinson as a poet of only death and gloom. However, her poems of life and joy are just as magnificent.)
RSS Feed
