Solar Flair

The late afternoon sun reflected on the bookshelf. It had come in a flash, quite like a bolt of lightning, perhaps as the curtains swayed.

Have you ever been surprised by the sun, taken aback? Not by its beauty as it colours the sky or seems to dip into the sea, but startled by its arrival?

I was. It was like a prophecy, a miracle. The amazing thing is it did not spread itself or clone the pattern of the window grille. The yellow band - what could it mean? Except for that slight jagged edge that conveyed motion, I could not decipher anything.

Was it just another bit of sunshine? No. I felt a whoosh. Yes, it was as though it had forced the curtain to part. I kept looking at it for the few minutes it was there. It went away with as much suddenness.

I look at the photograph often. There are many ways to see the event, and an event it was. Like spotting a UFO. Except that we know the sun, we see it every day. Even when the skies are grey, it is there behind the clouds.

I thought about books burning with intensity, the pages getting incinerated.

I thought about philosophies lighting up words.

I thought about sweat dripping off sentences consumed by heat.

I thought about eyes narrowing against the blinding light to find a way, or a way out.

I thought about darkness that fought day, looming shadows of doubt.

And all because of the sun that surprised me for just being itself.

Or did it come to remind me that it was all right to stay only for a while and burn and sweat and light up words and then leave them as smoke?