How many times have you watched the sun set?
Where were you?
Alone or with other people?
Likely, no matter where, with whom, it took your breath away.
Waiting only minutes.
As the fiery star sank below the horizon.
Leaving a pink ribbon behind.
Like yesterday at Annenberg Beach.
Two grandparents, three brothers, two parents, an uncle.
All lined up.
Waiting for the ball to drop.
Like the artificial one in Times Square.
Ringing in the new year.
But this, a warm November evening.
Little boys counting down.
Till it dropped out of sight.
When adults exhaled.
Children jumped.
And I broke the quiet.
Should we explain what really happens? I asked.
The earth spinning around the sun?
They all stared at me.
In silence.
With a loud message.
Who would want to break rapture?
With a lesson on celestial rotation?
While all of us fixed on the magic moment
in inspirational meditation.
Lynn Benjamin
November 16, 2023
