Sunsets

July 16, 2011

The descending sun
sinks amid orange and blue,
rises above words.

Many years ago when studying poetry in junior high, I remember coming across a quote that was used as a warning to poets:

“Beware of beautiful sunsets.”

I was surprised by the warning because, at least at the time, it seemed to me that those were exactly the type of moments that a poet would want to communicate.    My eventual interpretation was that those sublime moments – an experience of connection between the sinking source of life and that life which stirs within one’s self - cannot easily be replicated by words.  But if the task was difficult, the poet should be the last person to wave the white flag and shy away from the challenge.

“Beware of beautiful sunsets.”

As evening approaches, perhaps a reinterpretation is in order.  The warning to poets was never to stay away.  The warning was always to be careful.  It is not likely one would become sentimental writing about the experience of pain, but for the poet who wishes to share the experience of joy, there are ample pitfalls into which one may stumble.