Have you seen the sun
except in pictures?
Did you used to stare into it,
and if so, why?
In the backseat of a Corolla
Dad saying, “Don’t
look right into the sun,”
from the driver’s seat.
“Why not?” and I stared
into a wash of blinding plasma
for thirty seconds.
“You’ll hurt your eyes.”
“It doesn’t hurt. It’s okay.”
I felt less immensity and more
mindless
daring,
but why did I do it at all?
The sun’s corona
in the mind’s eye
Do you see it?
Does it sear?
We learn
how the sun is the source of all life
how solar power can replace dirty power
how vitamin D prevents seasonal depression and osteoporosis
how all beings need sunlight
how plants turn it into oxygen.
We learn. We don’t know. We’re taught. What intuition is there
that coaxes a ten-year-old to stare into the sun
as long as it doesn’t hurt?
