Eclipse in Portland

ECLIPSE

Seated on the damp grass of Jamison Park
surrounded by neighbors on blankets and chairs
who insist on comfort even waiting for a miracle
I shade the edges of my eclipse glasses
safe for direct solar viewing
and timidly check every few minutes 
the size of the moon's bite into the sun. 
Early in the celestial show a bird makes
frantic swooping circles above our heads. 
The Oregonian has foretold to the second 
the time of maximum obscuration —
ninety-nine point two percent
in Portland just north of totality —
so there is no suspense among the humans
though one little dog barks nervously 
regarding his owner with pleading eyes.
As the sun slowly shrinks to a sliver
the talk of the crowd is muted.
Someone puffs on a joint.
I keep expecting the light to change
as more of the sun is swallowed by the moon
but only in the final minutes 
does the day’s brightness significantly fade. 
 
Then I surprise myself. 
My animal nature reacts 
trembling with anxiety despite all science
of what is happening now and what will happen next. 
Amused by the response of my reptilian brain,
I'm grateful nonetheless to find
my organic self stricken with awe.
I hum the Incredible String Band blessing
about the long time sun. 
 
The man beside me claps at maximum coverage.
The crowd mostly joins in his tepid applause
when the sun begins to return. 
A chill breeze arises and persists
reminding us what sunlight deprivation means
even as it comes back. 
The crowd disperses fast although the miracle does not.
The sun continues its westward upward arc.
as the moon releases its crescent grasp. 
An hour after morning turned to dusk
I'm ready to email this poem to myself
glad of my solar meditation and renewed in hope
for the long time sun shines upon us.
   
May the pure light within us guide our way on. 



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“The solar eclipse will begin at 9:06 a.m., and end at 11:39 a.m. The 99.2 percent obscuration occurs at 10:19 a.m. The whole shebang will last two hours and 32 minutes.” — The Oregonian
This shot taken at 11:05 a.m. (post maximum obscuration).
Extras: Moon nibbles sun; Viewers in the park on blankets.

"May the long time sun shine upon you
All love surround you
And the pure light within you
Guide your way on." — The Incredible String Band (Mike Heron)