To the Firmament...and Beyond

In this creative Student Voices post, Morningside freshman Norbert Chan invites students to contemplate the night sky. Inspired by a moment shared with friends, Norbert encourages students to head to the patio whenever they have the time—or whenever they’re feeling down—and look up.

The light of the firmament gradually metamorphoses into a brilliant sapphire and conforms to the stillness of the sea. The flickering of the distant glitter hints at a perfect orchestration, an illuminating symphony which evolves into the everlasting mystique of the night.

There I lay awake, conscious of the enigma that is the intertwining intelligence of the mind. Staggering to my feet, silent steps bring me to the patio where the faint light of the lampposts ushers in a longing crepuscule. A calming breeze guides the misty clouds to the horizon, and only when those tranquil specters fade out of view will the tenebrous veil recede to reveal the jewels of the cosmos.

For I yearn to observe behind the backcloth of the universe.

Envisage yourself in the darkness of the patio, and witness for your own sake the impossible beauty of the infinite that lies beyond the soul of finite capacity. Before long, you will be staring into the endless expanse of the empyrean, mouth agape as if to contemplate the past, recent or distant. Why worry so much, you utter to your younger self. There is no good reason to stagnate in the muddy waters of dismay, is there? Looking up, your eyes grant you temporary permission to view and connect the dots. Squinting, your eyes help you see further into the sky, and surely you will get a clearer view of your mind.

Dazzling stars, checkpoints of unreachable goals. Looking back in time, an unbroken sequence of flashbacks awaits.

It’s all Greek to me, you say. I look up to the astral macrocosm, eyes wide open to greet the scintillating void. A grand, unparalleled projection of everything that there is, and everything there isn’t. I point at the most luminous star — Sirius — followed by a worthwhile gaze that you reciprocate. A good starting point, you exclaim. The tip of the finger moves slightly upwards, and imaginary lines start to manifest from the blue star. Soon enough, the line departs from the binary pair of blue and travels to an isolated part of the night, the index finger settling on a lone white star named Procyon.

Why, is forming connections really that easy? Your insecurities lead to the hesitation in your speech.

A moment of peaceful silence remains; the bushes on the patio rock left and right, persuading you to glance at Procyon once more. The luminous star never ceases emitting a beaming glow, outshining the rest of the Canis pairs. ‘You certainly know that you can be Procyon,’ I finally respond to you, but the self-doubt creeps behind your frail body once more, the dreaded shadow looming close.

The shadow, however, would not stand a chance against the heart of the Winter Triangle. Connect the two stars with Betelgeuse — an orange star of pure zealousness — and this cornerstone of the triangle will complete the final observance of the universe. The trichromatic trinity in your mind shines through the empty vacuum to reach your twinkling eyes: the blue rays of Sirius, plasmas of clairvoyance and inspiration; the white hue of Procyon, an emblem of morale and composure; the fierce  flame of Betelgeuse, the sphere of unceasing invigoration. Setting your heart afire, it is the volition to shine as brightly as the triangular insignia, forever imprinted in the fabric of reality.

The stars that remain in the past beam irradiant flashes into the present, to guide you on the path of the future. 

‘Believe in yourself that tenacity is all you need to brave the cacophony of man.’

‘Believe in yourself that, on the day when the Winter Triangle appears, you can be one with the everlasting ether.’

‘Believe in yourself that, revolving in the corridor of time, you will transcend your limits and go beyond the firmament.’

I give you a pat on the shoulder, about to turn back and return where I belong, but your confused look intrigues me, for the last time. And so, I turn to meet your black eyes. ‘Don’t forget to look up at the night sky. Your future looks pretty nice after all.’

The firmament waits silently for your return.