I have lived over 8,000 Sunsets,

and have not seen nearly enough of them.

The golden Sun has kissed beneath the black clouds, continuing to set.

I wait patiently for the Sun to peak out of the edge of the clouds, making an upside-down sunrise.

Rain greets the Earth below.

I can imagine each luscious drop hitting the trees of the thick jungle.

Today, as all days, but especially on this Solstice

—the day that marks my Birth—

I give thanks for Grandfather Sun.

~~~

I will begin a new journey around Him.

I cherish Him and humbly honor Him.

Every journey bathes me with the blessing to be able to

Circle around this massive Star of Light.

I get to feel his warmth.

I get to watch Him kiss my face, painting me with freckles.

I get to rise with Him in the East, and set with Him in the West.

Not every day marks the day that I came into this world,

through the beautiful body of my Mother.

But, everyday is a day I get to feel the warmth of the Sun, watch Him, honor Him.

~~~

The songs of the jungle caress my ears.

The dragonflies take flight.

The jungle is turning to its nightly adventures.

Spiders begin to step out, reclaiming their nocturnal Earth.

The sounds of the nightfall are different than that of day;

They are more seductive,

Yet frightening.

They are rich and dark, and charged of life.

But life of a different world,

one not for humans,

not for me,

But I can still bow to it from my pyramid ledge.

~~~

I cling onto the Sun with my eyes, unblinkingly, as

He wrings his last glistening drop into the horizon.

As I turn away from his fiery face,

He has dipped down.

I sit on an ancient covered pyramid,

high up,

the jungle below already holds the thick depth of night.

Soon I will descend into this new world,

Into this new journey.