Sunrise show

I hurried to the beach, seeing from afar that there were large clouds – always a sign of a good show to come – and that the morning’s spectacle had already started, even though it was only 6am. Pale gold predominated.

The sky above the horizon was soon gold and hectic orange below the still-dark serries of the cloud bank, and the errant small clouds above that were almost red. 

But as I watched, the vivid reds faded and the bright gold began to take over. And all this colour change glory before the sun had even made its appearance.

But then it did, peeping brightly white at the edge of the sea world, lipping the high clouds with pink light.

It burst free of the sea’s rim, ascending towards those defining clouds, curdling the sky, red into yellow. The rocks below were still dark.

Runners and dog walkers passed me, chatting to each other, seemingly oblivious of the stunning free show that Nature was putting on.

Maybe they see it every day, but it’s always different, and so brief, it really wouldn’t take many minutes to stop and watch.

I do wonder about peoples’ priorities and values.  Fancy getting complacent, dismissive, about such ephemeral spectacles as sunrises!