The Night Walker: Sunrise on the Coast
As I stole out of the house and down the silent streets a poem by Banjo Paterson echoed through my head. I memorized it years ago and it came flooding back as it played out in real life before me.
Sunrise on the Coast A.B. "Banjo" Paterson
Grey dawn on the sand-hills -- the night wind has drifted
All night from the rollers a scent of the sea;
With the dawn the grey fog his battalions has lifted,
At the call of the morning they scatter and flee.
Like mariners calling the roll of their number
The sea-fowl put out to the infinite deep.
And far over-head -- sinking softly to slumber --
Worn out by their watching, the stars fall asleep.
To eastward, where resteth the dome of the skies on
The sea-line, stirs softly the curtain of night;
And far from behind the enshrouded horizon
Comes the voice of God saying "Let there be light."
And lo, there is light! Evanescent and tender,
It glows ruby-red where 'twas now ashen-grey;
And purple and scarlet and gold in its splendour --
Behold, 'tis that marvel, the birth of a day!
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| In real life I could mostly see complete black except for the grey sky and the few lights on the headland. |
Not a soul, not a moving shadow, not a car, traversed the streets, no one at all but the Night Walker. Only she who woke and now walked with the intention of walking to see the dawn, to catch the sunrise. Nothing moved but the Night Walker. The distant boom of the sea echoed through the darkness. Sea tang hit her face as she reached the top of the path down, she halted.
Out came her three legged companion. (my tripod). A silver sliver of moon hung high above the Night Walker. As she pointed the camera into the darkness two other Night Walkers passed.
Down the path she stumbled, down the sandy steps to the shoreline. The Night Stumbler gazed. Already the sky had begun to change.
Grey dawn on the sand-hills -- the night wind has drifted
The first light reflected off the waterlogged sand. The waves passed in and out.
In and out incessantly.
Water smothered the rocks along the shore line, then poured back into the ocean. The Dawn Watcher moved down onto the sand.
All night from the rollers a scent of the sea;
With the dawn the grey fog his battalions has lifted,
At the call of the morning they scatter and flee.
Stars winked out as the sky lightened. Pastel colours spread over the water. A few sea birds circled and disappeared out towards the sun.
Like mariners calling the roll of their number
The sea-fowl put out to the infinite deep.
And far over-head -- sinking softly to slumber --
Worn out by their watching, the stars fall asleep.
The first flecks of gold showed, floating on the edges of the cloud. Others apart from the Dawn Catcher traversed the sands, couples, a man and his dog, another followed by three four legged friends. Clouds delayed the suns first appearance but made it all the more beautiful when it came. Night receded from the east as more light shimmered across the sand.
To eastward, where resteth the dome of the skies on
The sea-line, stirs softly the curtain of night;
And far from behind the enshrouded horizon
Comes the voice of God saying "Let there be light."
And lo, there is light! Evanescent and tender,
The sky turned from grey to blue, gold, pink, white light shone from the clouds.
It glows ruby-red where 'twas now ashen-grey;
And purple and scarlet and gold in its splendour --
Behold, 'tis that marvel, the birth of a day!
Finally the sun peaked from the clouds. Nervously she showed her face, sending out rays of light before shining out in her full strength.
More Morning Walkers passed, none stopped to admire the gift they had just been given though, all took it for granted. All but one, the once Night Walker, the Dawn Catcher. She saw a tiny part of her Lords beauty, a chink of his strength. She stood in awe, of the awesome God.
It is so easy to forget that each day is a gift to us.
Do you like to get up really early sometimes and go out into the cold morning?
Have you ever watched a sunrise? (over land or sea?)
About the Author
4 comments
Wow! I love how you did this. I've heard a lot of Banjo Paterson's poems and enjoyed all of them, but I've never heard this one before. Your photos and added words really brought it alive. I wish I'd been out now!
ReplyDeleteI've never taken photos of the sunrise before, but living deep in the bush I wouldn't get such good ones. I do sometimes get a few sunset ones though.
Thanks, Banjo Paterson has written so many poems, I think I found this in a book of his poems first... I really enjoy poetry so I have quite a few poetry books, Australian poetry especially.
DeleteWe also live in the bush... the sunrise is often not so amazing. We live quite a long way from the beach, but I took these while on holidays where the beach is within walking distance.
DeleteThis is really good!
ReplyDelete