now we find this time on the cusp of day br most enchanting, and pause as dusk rings br the earth in fire, watching the spectral play br of clouds. gray linen cumulus threaten br br an angry outburst, but settle for a sullen br squall. caught in the hysterics of a cirrus br clash in stratus, the blue spirit is fleeing br to higher realms of dying day. (miraculous br br seven color rainbows tumble into and over br the cumulus cloud below, crowning their tops br with a music of moods from violet laughter br to gamma rage.) finally, attention does focus br br on the prelude to purple night. the flame, br whose quick descent signals opening curtain br on an infinite stage of stars, is exiting. br tomorrow an encore, but never the same! br br if music is the medium of these spheres br then tchaikovsky* conducts dawning dusk br with pastoral moods to cool burning ears. br hot thunder bursts from surreal clouds br br in beethoven's# deafening second movement, br sending the eye scanning the receding cusp br of twilight. in mastery of somber moods br mozart's+ abstract strings chase the ancient br br flame across this third and final bar, br his dusk an opera divided into three acts br of earth, air and fire. the evening star, br rising ghostlike, silently on the horizon, br br signals the closing. then the kingdom br of night, advancing in legion, for a short br season rules sleepy earth. time ticks br on and, like the sun, we play our part br br until last breath. our short scene br done, we close the curtain and dream, br on the edge of night viewing the fire br the first time, in its terrible splendor. br br br * P.I. Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893) br # L. van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) br + W.A.