I went to Indonesia to see the total eclipse
of the sun, the only one in 2016. I planned
carefully, for while its path is counted in
hours across the globe, it can be seen
in its totality for mere minutes at best.

I went with a friend. We decided to
parlay our chances for success so
he went to Palembang, a very large
city in Sumatra, I took myself to Bali.

The chance for a full eclipse itself
is rare. Everything has to be just right.
My friend texted me from the city’s
landmark Ampera bridge where thousands
had gathered, old men who wanted one
more look before their passing, mothers
carrying their babies, “we cannot see
from here, too cloudy, but the darkness
somehow moves us all no less.”

The day of the eclipse in the Balinese calendar
fell on a holiday devoted to silence.
Permission was given allowing for special
prayer services during this cosmic event.
The praying did not succeed.
Bali, thought a paradise by some
was not to be that for me, as I did not
see what I came to see. I did see
the birds go amok, confused by
dark falling again after dawn.

# # #

Howard Richard Debs received a University of Colorado Poetry Prize at age 19. Finalist and recipient 28th Annual 2015 Anna Davidson Rosenberg Poetry Awards, his work appears internationally in numerous publications. His photography will be found in select publications, including in Rattle online as “Ekphrastic Challenge” artist and guest editor. Read more of Howard’s work here: http://Author website: http://communicatorsandcommunications.com/muse-ings/

Author listing Poets & Writers Directory https://www.pw.org/content/howard_debs

Photo credit: Terri Malone