In Common Transit

Eclipse of the Sun, 2011

DURING A SOLAR ECLIPSE
—Howard Nemerov

The darkening disk of the moon before the sun

All morning moves, turning our common day

A deep and iris blue, daylight of dream

In which we stand bemused and looking on

Backward at shadow and reflected light,

While the two great wanderers among the worlds

Enter their transit with our third, a thing

So rare that in his time upon the earth

A man may see, as I have done, but four,

In childhood two, a third in youth, and this

In likelihood my last. We stand bemused

While grass and rock darken, and stillness grows,

Until the sun and moon slide out of phase

And light returns us to the common life

That is so long to do and so soon done.


(first pub. in The New Yorker, May 28, 1979)

_______________________

—Medusa

For more about today's solar eclipse, go to latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/05/solar-eclipse-2012-california-likely-to-offer-impressive-views.html