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How often do you look up? I have to admit that yesterday was
the first time in a while that I had truly looked up and for more time than to
just note the weather. And I was happily, pleasantly surprised to discover that
I have the perfect back yard for stargazing.
The warmth of the day was fading away by evening yesterday. I was stuck in the office for most of the day and didn’t get to enjoy the sixty degree almost Spring weather we were having. I left a bit early, but by the time I got home the wind had picked up, which always signifies a temperature change. And I knew it was coming. I tried to not let the beautiful day get my hopes up. But, of course, it always does. I miss the sun. And seeing it out yesterday made me miss it even more. There was an aching in my chest for the friend I had long missed and the knowing that it would be gone in a few hours to stay away again for a while was disheartening. I made it home too late to feel the warmth of it on my face. It had already dropped too low to shine over the trees that surround the yard. But, the puppy and I ventured out anyway as the last of the warmth was being blown slowly away from us by the wind. It was a beautiful sunset, the golden rays peeking through the bare branches.
Later that evening, wrapped up against the growing cold, we ventured out again. It was dark by that time, around seven thirty, and I looked up to glare at the offending clouds that were forecasted to bring more snow. And yet, when I looked up, there were only a few whisps in the sky, which were blown away quickly to reveal a deep, deep blue-black. My heart gave a tight squeeze of surprise. There are no streetlights in my neighborhood and the neighboring houses are surrounded with trees. The only light that came to us was from our own back porch light and the stars. Settled into the blackness above me, so comfortable and clear, were Orion the Hunter, poised to strike with his sword in his belt, Pleiades, or the Seven Sisters, clustered in their star dust, Taurus the Bull and Aries the Ram, Corona Borealis, the northern crown, and following them east to see Cepheus and his wife, Cassiopia, who floats upside down as punishment for her vanity. Each of the stars shown clear and familiar. Bright little points in a nothing but dark sky. There was no interrupting light to make them appear dim and they shone brightly, shimmering slightly in their burning. And the sky was fringed with the swaying tops of the trees, which made it look like a theatre. I wanted so badly to lay in the yard and stare at the sky all night. I felt as though I hadn’t seen the sky in years. They were so new in this landscape. But the yard was a swamp from the just-melted snow and the wind was starting to bite and I had other things to finish.
The newness of these stars made the loss of the Spring day not so hard to bear. It gave me something to look forward to. And with the grey sky menacing and oppressive today, it gives me hope that I will be able to see the sun soon and watch it melt away behind the horizon as I anxiously await the appearance of the stars.
The warmth of the day was fading away by evening yesterday. I was stuck in the office for most of the day and didn’t get to enjoy the sixty degree almost Spring weather we were having. I left a bit early, but by the time I got home the wind had picked up, which always signifies a temperature change. And I knew it was coming. I tried to not let the beautiful day get my hopes up. But, of course, it always does. I miss the sun. And seeing it out yesterday made me miss it even more. There was an aching in my chest for the friend I had long missed and the knowing that it would be gone in a few hours to stay away again for a while was disheartening. I made it home too late to feel the warmth of it on my face. It had already dropped too low to shine over the trees that surround the yard. But, the puppy and I ventured out anyway as the last of the warmth was being blown slowly away from us by the wind. It was a beautiful sunset, the golden rays peeking through the bare branches.
Later that evening, wrapped up against the growing cold, we ventured out again. It was dark by that time, around seven thirty, and I looked up to glare at the offending clouds that were forecasted to bring more snow. And yet, when I looked up, there were only a few whisps in the sky, which were blown away quickly to reveal a deep, deep blue-black. My heart gave a tight squeeze of surprise. There are no streetlights in my neighborhood and the neighboring houses are surrounded with trees. The only light that came to us was from our own back porch light and the stars. Settled into the blackness above me, so comfortable and clear, were Orion the Hunter, poised to strike with his sword in his belt, Pleiades, or the Seven Sisters, clustered in their star dust, Taurus the Bull and Aries the Ram, Corona Borealis, the northern crown, and following them east to see Cepheus and his wife, Cassiopia, who floats upside down as punishment for her vanity. Each of the stars shown clear and familiar. Bright little points in a nothing but dark sky. There was no interrupting light to make them appear dim and they shone brightly, shimmering slightly in their burning. And the sky was fringed with the swaying tops of the trees, which made it look like a theatre. I wanted so badly to lay in the yard and stare at the sky all night. I felt as though I hadn’t seen the sky in years. They were so new in this landscape. But the yard was a swamp from the just-melted snow and the wind was starting to bite and I had other things to finish.
The newness of these stars made the loss of the Spring day not so hard to bear. It gave me something to look forward to. And with the grey sky menacing and oppressive today, it gives me hope that I will be able to see the sun soon and watch it melt away behind the horizon as I anxiously await the appearance of the stars.
*title quote by Jack Kerouac
Katie,
ReplyDeleteI really love how you start this blog post with a question: “How often do you look up?” It reminded me of Gary Snyder’s essay “from the Etiquette of Freedom” as he too starts out with a question: “Do you really believe you are an animal?”
I felt that with the inclusion of the question you let me in as a reader right away and that you were speaking to me. Your question was specific, but it also spoke to me in a larger sense, that human beings do not take the time to see and to appreciate what is around them.
Very lovely entry! Thank you for allowing your readers to be a part of your personal experience!
Marguerite
Katie,
DeleteI love the stars. I want to know the stars. I want to teach them to my daughter. Thank you for reminding me that they are always there waiting to be seen. I often forget during the winter months that the celestial heavens are pulsating and moving in their eternal dance, playing out their continual drama.
One of the many things I appreciate about your blog is the time you take to name things. Cepheus, Cassiopeia,Taurus, Aries, Orion, Pleiades etc... It has that transformative effect that brings a visualization to your writing. I can see them also when you name them. There is something reassuring knowing that I have something to share with my daughter whenever we find ourselves in the evening. As you miss the sun in these winter months know, like the stars, it will never stop impressing and surprising your level of appreciation for it. And if you start to miss it too much, buy yourself a happy light. They make a big difference for those whose disposition relies on its presence. Thanks for sharing and for reminding me to remember the stories and myths of our constellations.
Marc
Katie,
ReplyDeleteLike Marguerite, I also enjoyed that you began this post with a question. It made me pause before reading on and think about how often I do look up. I also enjoyed that you took me through your day and how different weather patterns become signals for you to know when the temperature will change. Your details of the different constellations was really informative. The names were familiar and I could easily picture them in my head. Your eagerness to commit and stay all night to watch the stars reminded me being home up north and having millions of stars to watch that I felt I would never grow tired of looking at them. Great post and I'll be looking forward to reading your posts come spring time!
-Erin
We tend to take the skies for granted, don't we? Especially in winter, when the last thing we wish to do is be outside. But I think the winter skies and stars are even more powerful than in other seasons, partly because they're often clearer and more vivid, but because there is that element of being startled by them, as you've written about. A winter sky is often more ephemeral, too. I try to remember to look up at night because it won't be long before Orion will disappear till next winter.
ReplyDelete