The Difference a Day Makes
33May 24, 2016 by petrujviljoen
I’ve been recording the sunsets since January, the 7th of this year. Since moving to the countryside, I noticed the point where the sun sets – and rises for that matter – changes from season to season. It took a while to wonder why, still being punch-drunk from the big bad old city. Research revealed the rotation of the earth around the sun travels in an ellipse and not a circle. I didn’t know that. Due east and due west happens only twice a year, on the spring and fall equinoxes.
The cat, oh the cat! I’ve learnt to watch the position of the sun from my house and estimate how long it will take to reach the horizon – it’s not really the way things work is it? Let’s try again: I’ve learnt to watch the position of the sun from my house and estimate how long it will take for the earth to rotate until it seems as if the horizon reaches the sun. Should one be travelling in a vehicle along the road at this time, one could have the privilege of seeing the sunset more than once, travelling round mountain after mountain. It’s been a while since I did this with the moon.
The cat: she thinks she’s the top-cat in this house. I often let her. When I want us to go on a walk, she’d sit around, pretend she’s busy, preen herself, watch the birds and see if I’ll get impatient at which point she’d … it takes too long. So now I pick her up and walk as fast as I can until we’ve passed the few houses and made it round the bend, her moaning and growling to be put down all the while.
There’s a fence (where I’d let her go), that we have to climb through to get to the place where we sit to watch the last few minutes, sometimes ten, sometimes twenty, sometimes half an hour, sometimes longer, of the setting sun. We know now it’s not really the way things work – see above. Just sitting, maybe walk around a little bit to see what’s new, who’s been and wonder about the why of it all or the how of it all which is really the same thing if one thinks about it. One can tell whether it’s been the monkeys, the baboons or the humans. Last mentioned would’ve left garbage (thankfully very seldom); the baboons turn over huge stones to see what’s edible underneath and the monkeys – I can’t always tell about the monkeys. Me? I leave nothing. Only the photo as evidence I’ve been and sometimes not even that.
I sit at the same point to capture the moment of sunset, or as we now know … see above. We, the cat and I, don’t do this every day. Other days we work in the garden or walk at a different time, weather permitting. Inclement weather has us doing other things.
asylum seeker
earth’s orbit an ellipsis
female principle
…………………..
Linked to Dverse Poets Haibun Monday, hosted by Kanzen Sakura.
See http://solar-center.stanford.edu/AO/sunrise.html for background research.
These are breathtaking !!! I absolutely love the sun pictures
I have only a small hand held little digital, which is not efficient to take good pics of vistas. I intend printing out the pics and painting them for exhibition purposes.
I enjoyed your writing style in this haibun…a mirage of thoughts, interesting facts, the cat…oh the cat! A unique and refreshing response to the prompt with some amazing sunsets shared. Nice!
Thanks you!!
I admire your patience and perseverance in taking those gorgeous sunset pictures ~ The companionship of the cat made me smile ~ I enjoyed the haibun ~ Have a good week ~
Taking the photos is not a chore. And the cat is great!
SmLes… EarTh never
sweats orbit around
Sun.. cats say no
when they get
too many
petsnoW
and scratch
WarningS oF diScomforT…
hUmanS iN BaLanCinG
stAnd stronG
LoVe hard
hug noW iN
gRass moonliT..
rollS in midday
sAnds.. so free allone..
noW Sand oF SinG SonG
BliSS WitH Grass cat whiskers
freE noW to bE aLiVe noW withouT
hUman Cultural noise iN PriSon
cLocK
tiMeS
BreathE DancE SinG..
moonLit twiliGht
Sun’s.. hEiR..:)
Got me laughing with enjoyment of your words – as usual! Thanks!
SMiLes
With
i
And
Thanks..;)
🙂
Having a companion even a cat brings it to reality. There is a sense of human element that is stronger than when one is alone.
Hank
I like this unique take on the prompt. I almost felt like I was reading a story.
I think the inclusion of the cat was genius, really giving a glimpse of the moment(s) and the experience of chasing, waiting for sunsets. It was alive.
Thank s Victoria. A wonderful compliment.
What a lovely idea. Beautiful photos too. We are so blessed to live in this Lowveld. Cheers Liz
Hi Liz! Thank you very much for the visit! It does remain a privilege indeed!
What can be more fun.. than trying to figure out the whys and hows of life, watching the sun set.
There are so many accepted norms that should obviously be disputed.
The time spent tracking the patterns in nature; the sun, moon, seasons – these all focus our lives. Thank you for sharing your poem, the Haiku is startlingly wonderful and I love your photos!
Thank you!!
Like Bjorn, I like the conversational tone of this. And the sunsets. Oh my! I like the photos you have taken documenting them. And the cat….I have to smile. Cats are so very….cats. But that is why we love them. I am always amazed at you writing about baboons and monkeys. The worst marauders we have around here are raccoons who have a way of being able to unlatch latched garbage cans and deer who nibble at our gardens. Thank you for this view of your world and your photographing the sunsets.
Your raccoons are as adept as the monkeys! The sliding bolt to the enclosed veggie patch needs a lock – the monkeys have learnt to open it! We have a pair of grey duikers hanging around as well. Just beautiful. Thanks Tony.
They are clever little buggers. Like us, articulated thumb and though tiny, those hands are strong. But sneaky. Only venture out at night. If you see one in the daytime, it is usually because they are ill and to be avoided and hopefully, reported to animal control. They can be vicious if rabid.
Love all the animals and all their habits. 🙂
Me too! I am an insomniac and often sit on my back steps at night. I am so still and quiet, the night critters either don’t notice me or have learned to ignore.
They accept you. I have a similar experience. It’s a major privilege. Much regard.
Oh I love the conversational tone of this… how you let the cat believe and yet share that moment of sunset. It takes patience to sit and trace the sun and figure out its rules… I am envious of the view you have.
Thanks Bjorn. It’s not all sunsets and roses but it gets very close most of the time! 🙂
A light and clever haibun with your cat and the camera and the setting sun. You summed it up well with your ending haiku!
A perfect “lost” destination, Petru. With or without cat! Thanks for taking us along!
Interesting response. Not sure how you arrived at ‘lost’ but the cat loves it as much as I do.
gorgeous
Thanks!