eclipse
(august 11 1999)

the solar eclipse ended in the bay of bengal
at sunset
the world rushing away from the sight
on the wings of planet earth
wooosh

the event was quickly recorded
the recordings were recorded
and the dailies offered up the view
with all the trimmings
stories of confused zoo animals
and people gone blind
traffic jams and prayers
by the devout declaring
the ultimate greatness of god
and why not

up on mir
they got to see the moons shadow
on the earth from space
for the first time ever
meaning that there was
something new under the sun

not quite as revelatory
as the first views of earth
rising above the moons horizon
but somehow more intimate
like humour or beauty
in a crisis
like a moment of vanity
for someone for whom vanity
is normally not permitted

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