So we stand hand in hand, waiting for anything

[sovay]

In an access of astronomical enthusiasm and socked in with cloud to the point that our usual star-watching park was a charcoal blank of light pollution, we chased the eclipse westward until the bands of overcast began to break and show us stars and finally the rust-smoked moon like a beacon ahead of us on Route 202. The radio stations fuzzed and spattered in and out of one another. We watched totality from the lawn of the Shutesbury Community Church, the blood-shadowed seas dimming further and then glowing out as sullenly as an ember in the roll of the clouds. The air smelled of pine trees breathing; the occasional sound of traffic a mile off rose like a river. The leftover slumps of snow at the edges of the roads looked like the ghosts of dry stone walls. When we turned from the moon, the circumpolar sky was so thick with unaccustomed stars, I needed to borrow spatch's phone to find Polaris and my best guess for the source of the unexpected meteor-streak is the low-wattage shower of the xi Herculids because it flashed between Draco and Lyra, but it felt like a grace note to the whole night's odyssey. Somewhere on the Pike after Ludlow, I passed out in the deep-sea luminescence of passing cars and woke up on our joltingly paved streets to Julie London on WHRB. We had set out to '70's J-pop. I had neither a telescope nor a conch and these shadows revolve all the same.

Comments

[selkie]

It’s half “oh, how gorgeous” and half *nervous laugh oh meteors huh?* from me, Gentlethem.

[sovay]

It’s half “oh, how gorgeous” and half *nervous laugh oh meteors huh?* from me, Gentlethem.

Just the one!

(It was cold and late and imperfect and gorgeous.)

[aurumcalendula]

That sounds so cool!

[sovay]

That sounds so cool!

It was an impulsive and really nice time!

[chanter1944]

Shells, sovay, you have a magnificently lyrical turn of phrase. Your description of your night out for the eclipse is pure poetry in itself, and I mean that; you could probably submit it as microfiction, regardless of the fact that it's nonfiction, and be lauded for it. I am entirely serious.

[sovay]

Your description of your night out for the eclipse is pure poetry in itself, and I mean that; you could probably submit it as microfiction, regardless of the fact that it's nonfiction, and be lauded for it. I am entirely serious.

Thank you!

[asakiyume]

the blood-shadowed seas dimming further and then glowing out as sullenly as an ember in the roll of the clouds. The air smelled of pine trees breathing; the occasional sound of traffic a mile off rose like a river. The leftover slumps of snow at the edges of the roads looked like the ghosts of dry stone walls.

Whoa, this so evocative. I love the snow like the ghosts of dry stone walls.

I went out looking for what might remain of the eclipse at about 4 am, but it was completely clouded over, so I went back in and returned to the warmth of my bed!

The deep-see luminescence of passing cars --they are really like that!

[sovay]

Whoa, this so evocative. I love the snow like the ghosts of dry stone walls.

Thank you! They had that rough pale granitic look.

I went out looking for what might remain of the eclipse at about 4 am, but it was completely clouded over, so I went back in and returned to the warmth of my bed!

Understandable! We actually passed the exit for your town, but were not sure you really wanted to be knocked up at closing in on three in the morning.

--they are really like that!

I have loved those lights since childhood, when I often tried to read by them in the back seat.

[thisbluespirit]

This is a beautiful piece of writing! I'm glad you managed to see something.

[sovay]

This is a beautiful piece of writing! I'm glad you managed to see something.

Thank you! I like eclipses. We're supposed to get a partial solar later this month, which just feels like lagniappe.

[sholio]

I'm so glad you got to see it! That sounds like a lovely experience.

[sovay]

I'm so glad you got to see it! That sounds like a lovely experience.

Thank you! It was a slightly ludicrous decision and I do not regret it.

[gullyfoyle]

"They should have sent a poet." Oh wait, they did.

[sovay]

"They should have sent a poet." Oh wait, they did.

Thank you!

[sabotabby]

It seems an omen but a gorgeous omen.

[sovay]

It seems an omen but a gorgeous omen.

I wanted it to portend better than this next day, but maybe it's playing a long game.

"The air smelled of pine trees breathing"

[elisem]

This was the most wonderful short intense trip to see a thing I could not see for myself. Thank you for the lift.

Re: "The air smelled of pine trees breathing"

[sovay]

This was the most wonderful short intense trip to see a thing I could not see for myself. Thank you for the lift.

You're very welcome! Thank you for telling me.