Star Gazing

Saturday, 8 to 9 p.m. is earth hour in our home. All power and electrical connections are switched off during this period. This is our way of paying tribute to mother earth, to help bring back its shining glory endangered by global warming.

At few minutes before 8 p.m., we prepared our candles for another experience of earth hour. There was a explosion from outside, and the light suddenly went pfft. The entire Acacia Lane was suddenly covered with darkness. The main line to our street got busted, which caused the power failure. Woodridge assured that Davao Light’s emergency unit was in on its way.

It was earth hour for real. I took my yoga mat and spread it on the terrace. Gboy and I lied on our backs.

The sky was moonless and dark. Specks of shimmering stars big and small adorned the night like glowing balls on a Christmas tree. White nimbus clouds surrounded the skylines and applauded the dances of the stars. The flicker of our candlelight was nothing compared to the illumination that these heavenly studs emitted. Indeed, we felt the grandeur of the universe and our pettiness and insignificance.

The breeze was warm and gentle, and mosquitoes began to sting. We lighted more candles around us to ward off the unwanted visitors.

Then, we searched for constellations. Some stars were in groups, and others in isolation like some outcast of the community. There were figures which looked like a dipper, or an animal, or flower, or child. Other stars were formless and merely scattered in the sky as if some gods had strewn them in a fit of anger. A couple was conspicuous and steady. We figured they were our neighboring planets Venus or Mars. Gboy wished we had a telescope.

The more prominent images were those depicted by the clouds which began to accumulate in volume. In one corner, a picture of 2 lovers in passionate embrace was captured in the sky. In another was a stuffy animal some sort of a bear beckoning its paw. Easily and surreptitiously, the clouds took a lead to the center stage of the sky, ending the showdown of the stars. The stars shied away in complete surrender to the mighty invaders.

It was curtain call, when the power and lights returned.

Lying flat on the ground
Staring at the skies
Star gazing
To one, it is a childish play
To another a waste of time
Whatever one says
To me, it is communicating with the universe
A slow waltz with the moon
Before the envious stars
In the grand ballroom of the sky
Heavenly
Who could have painted such breathtaking landscape
Of mystery, grandeur and awe
But the greatest author of life
The source of all power and might
Man is nothing compared to nature
A speck in the space
A dust in the wind
Yet man is fortunate
In his hands he wields the reign of control
Over all creatures big and small
To relish, to cherish
To embellish to the fullest
He is accountable to his creator.
To the universe
And to all mankind.

5 April 2008