sky at dawn over Central Harlem

Essay of the Day

Essay of the Day features selected essays from my separate, non-public online journals.

This essay is from Harlem: A Personal Journal.

Harlem Sky

A person does not have to always leave an urban area in order to see skies that fascinate and occasionally inspire awe. Nature finds a way to bring her art into our lives. Sometimes, all I have to do is look up to the heavens. Even in Harlem, a neighborhood with thousands upon thousands of residents and where attention is usually focused on human pursuits, the loveliness of the skies makes itself known if we take the time to witness it.

I have a habit of looking up at the sky to gauge the next few hours, regardless of weather reports or seasons. Does it look sunny or does it suggest rain? I have noticed that the sky does not always reveal the seasons. Winter sunrises can be as spectacular as summer dawns. Fall sunsets are as wonderful as the gold-orange light at the end of spring days. The trees and grass tell the time of year but the sky, unless it snows, keeps secrets and it does not indicate the day, week or month. It says only that it is active and alive, constantly moving and changing. It may be unwelcome when clouds block the sun. The air can be delicate and graceful, moist or dry, brilliant and blue or threatening and thunderous. But at some point, the sky always returns to beautiful.