{poetry friday: when the sun sets west}

A foretaste of Autumn arrived this past Monday night, as we had thunder and lightning, and a mad cloudburst that had us scurrying to close windows and pile towels against the insult to the wood floor. That morning’s sunrise had been spectacular pink spread across a multilayered cloud bank of white and blue and golds, and we’d expected the sunset to be just as bright. It was, in slices and sections – but the rain rolled in.

I’m a fan of sunsets, though – and as the chamber group I’m auditioning for (over a long period of three weeks, yikes) is preparing for a winter concert called “Silent Night/Glorious Day,” I’m currently learning a great many new pieces to do with sky, light, night, and darkness. This week’s favorite is Stephen Chatman’s Sunset from his choral suite, “Due West.”

And the words, the words… what a perfectly lovely, dreamy, Poetry Friday feast to share.

When the sun sets West

Feathered shift of sky

Satin clouds undress

Heaven’s kiss bids the flat light goodbye.

Endless calm, red mist,

Glistening golden beams –

Gently they are kissed, by night’s dark melting blaze…

When the sun sets West, sets West,

And the clouds undress, undress… When the sun sets West.