The evening of May 20, 2006, three of us set out to watch the sunset from different locations around campus. While I did not know the exact locations of Stephanie and Anne, I did know they were located in the vicinity of the Performing Arts Center and Cerro Vista Apartments. I visited the Robert O'Neill Lawn between the Orfalea Business Building and the Architecture and Environmental Design Building . The following are some of the images I captured of the evening's sunset along with my reflections, and some sunset inspired poetry.

Tonight's sunset was especially beautiful for reasons I wouldn't normally expect. The sky was not crystal clear, as it often is in San Luis Obispo . Rather, tonight it was cloudy. However, the rays of the sun still managed to gleam through. Yes, tonight was just right. A thin layer of stratus clouds covered the sky and allowed the sun's rays to shine through and reflect light for miles. Furthermore, these were not just any ordinary, run-of-the-mill clouds. They were circling, swirling, swishing, and swaying as the wind carried them off into the distance. Each batch of clouds blew away to make room for the next batch to receive one last bath of light before the sun faded into the west.

Falling Sun

The mood was set just right
I was going to watch a sunset tonight
Nothing could stop me, not even the rain
If it did, I would hold the clouds in disdain  

I finally arrived at my destination
Who better to watch with than your companion?
I took out my picnic basket
And put on my cozy jacket  

And then all of a sudden it began
Holding my camera steadily in hand
The colors came pouring across the sky
A friendly way of telling the day goodbye

As the clouds slowly began to part
I realized how it soothed my heart
As comforting as a warm smile
It stretched across the sky for a mile

As the sun rays began to fade away
I bade farewell to another day
The sun dropped down to earth
Giving the east a new day to birth

At this time the sun began to appear just below the horizon of the clouds and poured light on the surroundings once more. It lasted for about five minutes before it disappeared again behind the tree tops and hillsides in the distance.

Ode to a Sunset

Oh Sunset
How you amaze me so
Always unique
And never blue  

Oh Sunset
You make quite the view
With rays so bright
You delay the night  

Oh Sunset
For an event that happens daily
You stretch it out
And make it worth the wait  

Oh Sunrise
Why can't you be as cool as a sunset?

I continued watching the sunset until it vanished completely, leaving me with only the illusion that it was still present. Here is one last poem, in the form of a haiku, to leave you with.

Eternal Reflections

Orange red yellow and gold
Dipping below horizons
Ends the day for all

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