It’s the shortest day
Of the year,
As old Sol
Shifts his ass
Over the Equator.
Then the days
Get longer,
And the weather
Gets warmer.
Hah hah / Hah hah.
I told this to
Paw, the cat/kitten,
Black as black ice,
With one white mitten.
And,
If he didn’t laugh outright,
He at least
Smiled.
(I’m The Lighthouse Poet Laureate of Partridge Island /1821 – 2025 / A lot of stuff have I seen /A lot of stuff to report}
DE BA. UEL
I did NOT go up in the Rapture, even though I waited around for some time. However it was a darkling event, and well- worth my effort. Not total, so things did not disappear, nor did birds and other animals go off the deep end. The crows, upon occasion, cawed bloody murder. But they often do that anyway.
However, the Eclipse was nifty. One couple gave me a pair of “Resting Eyewear AAS Approved” from Moonviewers .com to wear. And another chap gave me a printed photo of the Eclipse.
So, a good time was had by all. Except – you know – I did not ascend into Heaven.
DE BA UEL
My father saw a total eclipse. He only describes his age as a child, so I make the guess it was in the 19teens. His one comment about the effects of the darkness was that the cows started mooing, and began heading back to the barn.
My last total eclipse was in 1972. How time and the sun flys. And the moon.
I was at an archaeological dig at Bartibog Bridge, about fifteen kilometers north of Miramichi in New Brunswick. The archeologist in charge of the dig obviously knew of the eclipse (I know I didn’t) and had brought a professional, tripod telescope with him. He had attached a screen over the lens, and everyone was given a chance to take a look. My memories about the whole event are almost as succinct as my father – and at least he talked about the actual event itself. My biggest memory of that day is that I found a bone that might have been human. But – yes – it did indeed get dark, and it could have been three in the morning. I did not find it spooky or otherworldly.
But I did find out something kinda spooky this morning. The local radio show had an interview with someone who was at the centre of the eclipse in 1972. It was at Arisaig, Nova Scotia, and it was such a favoured location that scientists came from across North America to see it. The fellow who was interviewed, remembered cars and trucks filling the parking lot and the fields around the harbour. Some of the scientists had large pieces of equipment and even larger telescopes (and cameras) on tripods. Hundreds of private cars were parked along the roads. The harbour and the pastures surrounding it offered unrestricted views.
Also, during the Eclipse story, mention was made of the Carly Simon song You’re So Vain, with the famous refrain:
Well I hear you went up to Saratoga
And your horse naturally won
Then you flew your Lear jet up to Nova Scotia
To see the total eclipse of the sun
Carly Simon was actually interviewed about this, and revealed she used those verses because she wanted a rhyme with the word “Saratoga” and the word “won”. Which, as a writer, pleased me to no end.
The oddity (to me) is that Arisaig is (at least as the sun shines) just up the coast, on The Northumberland Strait, from Bartibog Bridge. And, decades later, Arisaig Harbour became one of the most enjoyable places I would ever visit. And have done so often.
And – of course – I wondered at the time if I might get famous enough for Carly Simon to sing about me.
And now, just after I post this, I am going to walk up a hill with barely a tree on it, and await this eclipse. And see what happens. I should reveal that I have been awaiting the rapture for years.
DE BA UEL
It’s the shortest day
Of the year.
~ The December Solstice ~
As old Sol
Shifts his ass
Over the Equator.
Then the days
Get longer,
And the weather
Gets warmer.
Hah hah / Hah hah.
I told this to
Paw, my cat/kitten,
Black as hidden ice,
With one white mitten,
And,
If he didn’t laugh outright
He at least,
Smiled.
(I’m The Lighthouse Poet Laureate of Partridge Island / 1821 – 2023 / A lot of stuff have I seen / A lot of stuff to report}
DE BA. UEL
The sun slides through the Solstice
(I’ve seen this, under sail, on my days at sea),
And the sun hangs, then moves on.
The days start getting longer.
Praise the Lord!
Not that you can really notice for a while.
It isn’t inches,
It’s less than inches,
Until . . .
Why, “Jumping Jehoshaphat!”
There’s sunshine you can even tell by the clock.
Making the night retreat just a little bit earlier.
Maybe Paw, my cat/kitten
Black as the retreating night
With one white mitten,
Will want to stay out
Just a little bit longer.
I’m The Lighthouse Poet Laureate of Partridge Island /1821 – 2022 / A lot of stuff have I seen / A lot of stuff to report
DE BA. UEL
I try to hoist the Union Jack
By sunrise,
And lower it by sunset.
I am not always faithful
To the former.
This morning, I was slow to the mark.
The sun was fully risen
In the East.
The colours caught the sun
Part way up the mast.
However, my chagrin was overtaken
By the antics of my cat/kitten,
Black as the disappeared night
With one white mitten.
I call him Paw.
So I went over to see
What was what.
He was huddled over
A folded Monarch butterfly,
Getting warmth from
The flag stones,
And much the worse
For wear.
It stood firm on its feet,
And stayed upright when the wind
Ruffled its wings.
Paw sniffed around, but kept
A respectful distance.
The smell of Death,
I suppose.
Still,
That Monarch has lasted out
The day,
And might still be present
When It is time to
Lower the flag
For the night.
I’m The Lighthouse Poet Laureate of Partridge Island /1821 – 2022 / A lot of stuff have I seen / A lot of stuff to report}
It’s the shortest day
Of the year,
As old Sol
Shifts his ass
Over the Equator.
Then the days
Get longer,
And the weather
Gets warmer.
Hah hah / Hah hah.
I told this to
Paw, the cat/kitten,
Black as hidden ice,
With one white mitten,
And,
If he didn’t laugh outright
He at least,
Smiled.
(I’m The Lighthouse Poet Laureate of Partridge Island /1821 – 2021 / A lot of stuff have I seen / A lot of stuff to report}DE BA. UEL
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