i walked out in the early morning of a seaport town in the Southwest corner. It was dark to most folks.

i, however, saw the beauty of first light.

Hardly any folks would have noticed. Even those who stood watches on the bridge or lookout might not have recognized first light with a cloudy sky. But the old Officer of the Deck who stood countless morning watches (0400-0800) before they had satellites taking away the romance by pinpointing your ship’s position at sea, recognized again the subtle beauty of first light with a cloudy sky.

There are no stars nor moon to discern the approaching new day. It is more of a shadow outlining a cloud or two, just a slight variation in the sky of darkness.

Soon, it will beat back the darkness in its march to a new day, but for a few moments it will suggest the future of the day and beyond has much more than we could comprehend.

Good night, night, and good morning morning. You have told me with the clouds and first light, it is time to move on in a beautiful way.