online: 22 september 2010 modified: 21, 22 september 2010 21 september 2010 aware of the equinox
a city forest
...tomorrow is 22nd of september... the moment when day and night are of equal length... i've never before been aware of it, the exact balance point between night and day...
...i look up at the sun and see that it's about to be hidden by a large grey cloud (and also by a tall tree)... and as the strong light of the sun weakens it becomes easier for my tired eyes to see into the shadowy places formerly hidden by dazzle...
...pigeons, children, people (or 'grown-ups'), assiduous runners ... often to be seen at this spot close to an iron bridge over an ornamental canal beside the neo-classical mansion... and now something i've never seen before: a man in blue skipping on alternate feet as he half runs half walks half dances... (three halves in a whole... i like that mild rebellion!)... and he seems to be laughing..
...and a couple walking far apart... but in step with each other... and looking as if happy to be walking together though perhaps they've only just met...
...i look up and see an old man on a bike moving so effortlessly... slow and modest yet majestic in this minor world of lawns and paths and trees surrounding the mansion largely empty, let out for weddings, parties and business conferences etc... and with thousands of trees... all waiting...
...the night approaches... is there a just detectable darkening... at 18:25... i doubt it... to experience the equinox fully one would have to sleep from the beginning of the twelve hour night until its end... but i'm too busy to do that... one would have to plan a bit to be temporarily free... and very active by day to be sufficiently tired?...
... a fast runner goes by with all his energy flowing effortlessly into his long legs... while his body, head and arms seem quite relaxed... as he moves with speed and balance...
...but i don't wish to record only the actions of passers by... i'd prefer to let my thoughts run more widely... but as I reconsider that wish i see it's mistaken... for everything is part of the same wide panorama... or continuity... that of the whole... or that of 'life itself'... the indescribable complexity of every detail and every apparent totality... (which is in fact a part)...
...and now a wasp that keeps circling my feet is causing me to drive it off... and almost to kill it in the process... but it flies away safely... not so a tiny insect that was crawling over my thumb until my nearly spontaneous other hand brushed it away and squashed it... will the history of mankind include a period of not killing insects, animals, or even plants... (or even each other...) are these liberal wishes wise... or are they only temporary?...
22nd:
but today is the equinox...
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