Solar Exposure

[zorcas]

Why write glowingly
of the sun’s
rising and setting
as if that fiery orb
arrives with blessings
of light and warmth
then shyly leaves us
a cool night’s sleep
before its next
appearance?
 
Why flatter this
burning malevolence
which would have
destroyed us
had not the world
aware of its
mindless scorching
decided the sun
might have its place
but not in our lives?
 
Only earth’s instincts
spared us a planet
whose halves
might have been
a red furnace
and
blue white ice.
 
But the sun
 neither rises nor sets.
Instead it shines
for a time
before being
shouldered away
to warm and brighten
those farther
around the curve.
 
Mankind’s
good fortune
was habitable David
outfoxing
 incinerator Goliath
by assuring the world turns
so little freezes or burns.
 
Rid of romantic notions
about sunrise and sunset
should we not love
our dawn and dusk
for what they really are?