Friday 4 December 2009

Infinite variety and pure beauty.

As I sat up in bed drinking my morning cup of tea this morning and looking out of the South facing bay window at the sky, I thought of Edwin Morgan's description of the sea as having Infinite Variety - and decided that the same words could be used to describe the sky.
There was no breeze to speak of and most of the sky was a clear silver grey/blue, On the South-Eastern horizon were bubbles of black cloud and as I watched they moved imperceptibly to let through slivers of palest apricot. Yes, the sun was about to rise, and as we are getting very near to the Winter solstice it was rising in the South East. There was no sound that I could hear and the scene was one of utter peace and tranquility.
The bedroom door was wide open and opposite, the bathroom door( the bathroom has a West facing window) was also open. And fairly high in the North-Western sky a fairly full moon was shining.
At 6.59 the first faint ray of the sun lit up the black cloud. At the same time I noticed that the moon, shining through our Scots Pine trees was casting the most beautiful silver and black striped shadows on the bedroom carpet.
All of this was enhanced by reflections in the mirror on the dressing table and the mirrored door of the wardrobe. The bevelled edge of the wardrobe mirror had become a prism of reflected colour. Outside the silence was broken by the hoot of an owl in the pines.
Just for that moment the effect was breath-taking. I am writing it down while it is still fresh in my mind. It was truly a moment of pure beauty.
I have had such a moment before - once when the farmer and I were driving in the Dales in a thunderstorm the sun came out in the thundery black sky and as huge raindrops were falling each one was catching the light and showing brilliant colours. The backdrop was a vivid rainbow. I have never forgotten that either.
After my post yesterday about global warming I must say it was very heartening to see such a wonderful sight this morning. By two or three minutes past seven it was a very "normal" dawn - the first rooks were beginning to come over, a car passed, the farmer's car lit up the bedroom window as he came into the drive after fetching the daily papers from the newsagents. The world was beginning to turn again - but just for that minute everything stood still for me in the beauty of the scene. Have a good day.
Do you have such an earth-stopping moment you can share with us?

29 comments:

Acornmoon said...

A lovely post, the moon in the morning sky was very striking here too, the sky a silver blue.

Sal said...

Yes, it's a beautiful world in which we live.
We noticed the lovely silhouette of the trees, at the bottom of our garden, against the sky, early this morning. I meant to get the camera out but was then distracted!
I love your header pic!
Have a good weekend!
;-)

Dinesh chandra said...

Hi It is very very disatering situation for the world basically for humanity. What is the cause , we always destroy the nature for our benifit.
The unnatural way of living such we use the AC/CAR/Fridge/and other things for our personal benifit , and it is very harmful for nature and it is the cause of global warming. The haet which the items generate when in use is very much problematic.

Regards'
Dinesh Chandra

Heather said...

When I drew the living room curtains this morning I was surprised to see the moon still shining although it was already daylight. You have an artist's eye Weaver and your description was so clear. I remember coming home from a day out, many years ago, in Devon. It had been wet but the sun appeared and created a wonderful rainbow which touched the road we were on, and we drove right through it - pure magic.

Arija said...

A wonderful experience indeed. I always find when nature shows us prisms, it is the angels coming to say hallow.

Elizabeth said...

Yes, the weather has been spectacular lately.
So beautifully described.
Re your post below.
I do get so frightened and depressed by pollution.
Of course England was quite appalling in the 19th cent and evn up to the 50's and is much improved ow.
Would that China would follow suit.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I have had those moments before. I think most people do and this is why the SKywatch Friday site is such a success. Everyone love to see how the sky/light changes.

Jinksy said...

The universe does occsionally give us gift, eh?

Jinksy said...

...or even occasionally...

Golden West said...

What a wonderful way to start your day, Weaver! And you conveyed the magic of the moment to us all beautifully, as well.

Gigi Ann said...

What a lovely way to wake up on a cold morning. I never tire of seeing rainbows and sunsets/sunrises.

Pondside said...

Thank you for that beautiful picture, Weaver. Here in the Northern rainforest, on the Pacific coast we see, daily, the effects of global warming. The trees, the dying fish, the disappearance of some species entirely - all evidence.
We've been treated to such gorgeous moonlight the past few nights. I feel that 'ahhhh' when I see the moon rising above the tops of the giant cedars - their dark points looking like mountaintops against the bright sky.

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Yes I have several, but right now I want to continue to bask in the vivid description you give of an exceptional moment. So often those moments are beyond words, but you did a magnificent job of sharing it with us! Thank you Weaver.

Totalfeckineejit said...

Wonderful, Weaverful, vivid description of rapturous early morning.A visual aubade if such a synaesthetic thing is possible, and yet all I keep wondering is (tea in bed) does Weaver have a bedside Teasmade or does The Farmer lovingly bring her a cup before he goes hunting for The Times?

Reader Wil said...

Beautiful post, Weaver! Thanks for your visit, birth and Sint Nicholas wishes!:)))

PurestGreen said...

I imagine you sitting between the two moments of reflected light and silence. What a perfect place to be.

Titus said...

Weaver, that was a truly beautiful thing to read.

Cloudia said...

Very well told!!



Aloha, Friend


Comfort Spiral

Anonymous said...

Indeed Weaver. I have written much the same.As a city dweller, I am very much missing this sort of thing at the moment.x

Unknown said...

Thank you for inviting me to wake up with you this morning, Weaver. It was indeed a peaceful and beautiful experience. I loved the morning light and the owl. =D

steven said...

weaver - thankyou for this beautiful word painting. steven

Unknown said...

Hello Weaver,

I noticed the moon in the morning sky too, always a lovely sight. Your moment of bliss could have passed many of us by in the bustle of 'doing'. Glad you had the opportunity and the eyes to see it.

The Weaver of Grass said...

It is lovely to find that so many of you around the world have seen the moon and the sunrise at the samne time. There is something about moonlight which is so much more subtle than sunlight don't you think?

The Weaver of Grass said...

Lovely to read your memory Heather of a rainbow - these things stay with one for ever, don't they?

The Weaver of Grass said...

Lisa suggests we all look at Skywatch Friday - I shall try to remember that for next Friday - I do agree with her that we all find the sky fascinating.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I have to tell TFE that yes - the farmer does bring me a cup of tea in bed every single morning (coffee on Sundays - I smell the coffee before it gets to my bedside and that is how I know it is Sunday!) and yes - he does drive the two miles to the paper shop to fetch the Times for me. I told you he was a real treasure didn't I - and I was not kidding you.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Today St Nicholas Day is being celebrated in The Netherlands - so let us all wish Reader wil - a happy day.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to read my blog. Have a good weekend.

Hildred said...

Oh weaver, I am very late in reading your blog, but just imagine to see such a lovely sight whilst still in bed drinking tea - I had to scurry out from east to west to take pictures, but was equally enthralled by such beauty.