Tomorrow, September 30, the Trump administration is officially closing the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), my sanctuary for nearly a decade. I am heartbroken. While walking there yesterday at sunrise, so much already felt abandoned.
The Harvest Moon appeared on Saturday, September 26, but the sky was completely overcast that day. Though still somewhat overcast yesterday morning, the moon shone brightly in the sky, perhaps to show me a little of what I had missed.
From the time of the Harvest Moon until winter solstice, the nights will continue to get longer than the days. Darkness will win out.
I am not sure why I thought that BARC would miraculously remain open; no doubt because I had witnessed so many miracles of beauty in its backroads and fields. I will still find ways to access it, but it will soon be overgrown or mowed down for a possible data center. Bottom line, BARC will not be the same. Darkness will win out.
I am reminded of the first stanza of Carl Sandburg’s poem, “Under the Harvest Moon”:
Under the harvest moon,
When the soft silver
Drips shimmering
Over the garden nights,
Death, the gray mocker,
Comes and whispers to you
As a beautiful friend
Who remembers.
So whisper to me beautiful friend, what do you remember about the hundreds of sunrises? Tell me now before darkness wins out.
10 responses to “The Coming Darkness”
The coming darkness can refer to so many things. When I saw the title I wondered which one it would be. For me globally – AI, climate change, nuclear war. Personally, two of my closest friends currently grapple with Stage 4 cancer. I grieve with you over your beautiful sanctuary which we have all been able to share. It reminds me of that book by Kate Atkinson – darkness fell, which is a phrase the book repeats over and over. Does the light shine after? I hope so. I have to believe it does.
Neola — you are so thoughtful and your mind and heart are so expansive.
When I landed on the title to this post, I, too, thought of the dismantling of so many things in America and around the world thanks to the fundamental wickedness and immorality of the current administration. Farmland was my escape from that.
I am sorry that you have not one, but TWO, friends grappling with Stage 4 cancer. That’s too much darkness. If you feel comfortable sharing their first names with me, I’ll add them to my post-it prayer box that sits atop my upstairs altar.
I am googling that Atkinson book as soon as I post this comment. Thanks for mentioning it.
Yes, we have to hope that light shines after. Love to you.❤️
My friends are Martin and Dave. I would be so happy to have them added to your altar. It does feel like too much most of the time.
Life After Life is the book and I thought it was amazing although very different from anything else I’ve ever read.
Martin and Dave now rest atop my altar.
Thanks for further clarification on the Kate Atkinson book. I researched it yesterday , but could not find a book entitled “Darkness Fell.” 🫤 I will check out Life After life.💕
Thank you my love. No, it’s a phrase that repeats. Really good book.
🙏❤️
I love that moon in that puddle! A reminder to me that, despite the coming darkness, light may here and there be mirrored in even shattered and messy places.
Beautiful observation, Carol.❤️
Oh, Sharon, I have hiked BARC with you and visited Goose pond, not to mention the photos you have gifted me. I cherish the blessings of BARC and feel sad to lose such beauty but still find money to fund a ballrooms, an arch and a war.
For now, I pray for government inefficiency so that BARC may remain intact awhile longer.
Thank you, Beth, for cherishing the blessings of BARC as much as I do.
Tomorrow is the last day BARC will officially be open. Not sure what the weather will be like in the morning, but I plan to head out before sunrise and be a witness to the gifts farmland has brought to so many. And I plan to continue to do so as long as I can.💪💝