15 – Sky *

Special thanks to Dan Antion for providing the photographs. I encourage readers to visit him at No Facilities. All photos are copyrighted by Dan Antion.

Click the video above for 2 minutes of background waves while reading.

I like walking on the beach. It is good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.

The birds are active this morning. The sandpipers and sanderlings are busy foraging the wet sand of the retreating wave. Pelicans are gliding low across the water, then suddenly turning upward to prepare for their dive. Gulls are ever-present, but not diving.

I hear a plane above me – probably one from the nearby naval station. I look up into the bright sky to find it, but I find two things – the plane and the idea to think about the sky.

The sky is a place where birds fly and insects buzz. The place people use for planes, helicopters, kites, parasails, and letting tall buildings attempt to grab the clouds.

From the sky comes the sun as light, power, and warmth; plus rain as grace, and snow as mixed emotions – but our lives need that water for life and its renewal.

The sky is home to sky blue, clouds, rainbows, auroras, lightning, and eclipses – as well as the sun, moon, planets, and distant stars.

The sky is everything above Earth’s surface and beyond – the firmament.

The sky is the blue veil masking space by day, but displaying twinkles during the night.

The sky is blue because it scatters blue light from the sun, yet a portion of it is the very thin atmosphere surrounding our planet. A partition leading to black beyond the blue.

Maybe a clear day with the blue sky free of clouds is telling us to keep our minds bright, clear, and free. Yet, like the sky, clouds enter our minds. After all, that is life because life involves distractions, trials, storms, and delusions. Clouds come and go, just as many aspects of life – but the sky remains as a steadfast friend.

Clouds can enhance the sky with wisps, swirls, and puffs – a time that can make us smile and even dream. At times clouds in the sky form a thick blanket tempering the sun’s presence. Clouds can even lower the sky to the ground as fog, which limits our vision as fog.

The stretch of approaching dark clouds in the sky is a sign that change is coming in the form of a storm – but not today. The sky is blue with white streaks and puffs scattered about.

Before night falls, the sky may be the projection screen for a brilliant display of oranges and yellows as we watch the glowing disc kiss the water on the horizon – a time creating a sigh – a time marking the end of a day – a time of us looking forward daylight’s return – a time about to give way to the night sky.

The night sky is dark, but dark is the backdrop for a celestial light show. The night sky and its twinkling lights stimulate out-of-this-world dreams. The night sky that will soon be the place for the rising moon. A moon that doesn’t shine on its own, but reflects the light of a sun that we cannot see.

The night sky is where astronomers have studied the stars for many years – yet also the place where astrologers relate behaviors to the constellations and the planets.

The night sky is home to a sight I have not seen but yearn to see – the Milky Way’s stunning display. Some day, I hope. Some day.

In time, the sky signals the return of day as a mere scattering of light on the eastern horizon – a signal that night is drawing to a close and the light of a new day is about to emerge from its nocturnal cocoon.

The pre-dawn light may first appear as a faint, distant reddish line on the horizon. Slowly, the sky’s colors change as additional light appears. The yellows and oranges now accent the clouds and the sky as grays, blues, and black. All this as a fanfare for the sun’s imminent arrival and its announcement that daylight has once again returned.

The sky is where we stare to dream of riding on clouds by day – but at night, we stare into the cosmos wondering about many thoughts.

During good times and bad times, we look to the sky for hopes, dreams, good things, smiles, or encouraging assistance.

The sky is a powerful metaphor asking each of us to aim for the sky, reach for the sky, and imagine castles in the sky that may be spies.

To some, the sky is the limit – but it is an infinite ceiling because of the black beyond the blue.

Both the sea and the sky are always present on the beach, the sea is never still, but the sky appears to be something that is not – motionless.

The sky – an awesome gift that is full of wonders and mysteries. As long as we are outside and no matter the place by day or night, the sky is always there. Like the most-trusted friend, the sky is ever-present.

Here on the coast, the sand, water, waves, wind, and clouds join the sky as ever-present. Along with others, they work together to create an environment where I walk because I like walking on the beach. It is good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.

See what other bloggers have posted about the sky

• Fire in the sky (poem)
• Series of sky images (photos)
• A religious poem with a remarkable collection of sky photos
• Thoughts from staring at the sky (philosophy through photography)
• Bruised sky (a metaphoric poem – sad but powerful)

Next Post: Mollusks – Tuesday 1 December @ 1 AM (Eastern US)

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