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the sun - quotes and descriptions to inspire creative writing

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The sun of deserts and forests same, in her starry-space home keep, illuminated a new day in a new place for a new future.

Only in the light of the sun can our most vivid hues sing so loud.

The sun moors itself in the blue as if anchored to heaven's ether.

A brilliant light hugs the land as the sun stretches out with golden arms.

The sun comes as free-spun laughter to the land, igniting a jocund glow.

The sun, that daughter of the sky, once again took her rightful place on the horizon. She let her rays cascade onto the world, bringing the scene into full view, adjusting the brightness and contrast.

Igniting the world anew with such brilliance, the sun rose with casual elegance. Each day she shone and the world shone back, joyful to reflect those warm rays.

After the blackness of night, Earth's star rises on the horizon, spreading her gold in every direction. She comes in the way that natural forces do, needing not invitation yet feeling her welcome. The light is her gift, bold and free, for anyone who cares to open their eyes in the dawn and watch the world awake. This is our sun, a fire ignited to bring warmth to creation and inspire us to seek our own beauty within.

I know the sun is a star, I'd just never felt it before. There is such a difference between knowing and feeling. I was in the pine forests, high up the mountainside when the sun was setting. My mind was on getting home; the forests are so enchanting in the light, yet not so much in the blackness. That's when it happened, right after crossing the stream that falls over the rocks, a mini-waterfall I guess. The sun was maybe a third of the way down the pines and dead ahead, shining through the light fog in a way that gave it a myriad of sepia tones. The shafts shone to the right and left from that one focal point that for the most part was hidden. My feet stopped and my eyes opened wider than they had been for the past hours. Like a child, my hands reached up as if they could bathe in the light. The golden beams were radiating all around just like rays from the heavenly bodies we adore after nightfall - yet it was our star, our sun.

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How To Describe A Sunset: Here’s A Passionate Expression.

You’re as beautiful as the sunset! Have you heard spouses use such phrases to describe their partners’ beauty? Such praises always creates a romantic atmosphere.

Sunsets are not only gorgeous. They’re one reason living things can survive on planet earth. The sun is a vast source of energy.

Describing a sunset would be one of the hardest things to do. But thanks to the creativity of poets and creative writers, we have been able to put together a list of inspiring description of a sunset.

Continue reading as we discuss how to describe a sunset.

How Can You Describe A Sunset?

A sunset is nothing but a glorious conflagration that blazed with eye-popping colors, and yet produced no warmth. These types of description suits a sunset. They make us understand and appreciate the beauty of sunsets.

Here are other lovely ways to describe sunsets.

Sky Of Fire:

The rising sun came with a sky of fire that lit up the entire cloud.

A perfect conclusion:

Sunsets are a definition of a perfect conclusion. They appear as silky, smooth collusions of sky burst red and yellow in the night’s calm.

Sunsets are a sigh of late summer days and dawns of restful winter evenings.

Symphony of color:

Sunsets are a symphony of colors, which sings humans and other living things to sleep. It continually changes in shape and color, especially if there’re clouds to display shape, color, and form.

Defines the spectrum of time:

Sunset marks the beginning and end of the day. When it rises, it marks the beginning of a new day. And when it sets, it signifies the end of the day.

Other terms used to describe sunsets:

Why Should You Take A Sunset Seriously?

Sunsets are always cute, romantic, and inspiring. They add color to the natural background of pictures. They also give people a reason to adore Mother Nature more.

Unfortunately, only a handful of people take out time to enjoy the calming and life-changing feelings sunset gives. Most people only do so during vacation, in an exotic hotel, beach, or park.

The truth is, the sun rises and sets every single day. And no rule states that one must be on vacation or in a beautiful environment to watch sunsets.

You can enjoy the beautiful moments that sunsets create every day regardless of where you find yourself. Plants and animals do. So then, why should we humans be left out?

If you’re looking for reasons to get up from your bed every morning to watch sunsets, you’re in the right place for some inspiration. Here good reasons to make watching sunsets a habit.

It helps you appreciate life the more:

Fast-paced life has made many people feel they no longer have time for many things. Impatience and materialism have become the order of the day.

Research conducted by psychologists at Stanford University Graduate School of Business, in conjunction with the Minnesota Carlson School of Management, has revealed something unbelievable about sunsets.

According to the study, participants that were made to watch sunsets explained that they felt they had more time, exhibited a high level of patience, and were more than willing to assist others.

Life is all about making yourself and the people around you happy. If everyone around you is happy, you too will become happy no matter what’s happening around you.

So, if you feel you no longer appreciate life or volunteering time to help others, as you should, set out time to watch sunsets from time and time. The wonders and beauty of Mother Nature will change your mind and life for good.

Sunsets can make you feel super energized:

Nature is the soul’s fuel. When you feel tired, a cup of coffee could replenish your lost energy. Coffee can also make you more mentally alert.

But do you know that you don’t need to drink coffee to replenish your energy anytime you feel drained? Research has provided insight into the benefits nature can offer humanity.

A simple connection with nature can help you feel energized. Nevertheless, you don’t need to feel depleted before making up your mind to connect with nature or watch the sunset. Nature offers tons of benefits besides re-energizing us. So, go out there and watch the sunset. Make it a habit.

Sunsets can uplift your mood:

Feeling down or stressed? Whatever the case may be, nature can help. Research has shown that watching the sunset for few minutes can have massive psychological effects on a person.

So, if you feel tired after a hectic day at work, don’t just step into your car and zoom off the next day. Try to spend time gazing at the sun before living for work. But if you’re afraid of running late to work, then you can watch the sunset when you arrive at your office.

No one would get mad at you for spending a couple of minutes outside.

It gives you an excellent reason to step out:

Most people spend the whole day or weeks indoors, working or for reasons best known to them. For some, the reason they haven’t stepped out is that they have nothing to do outdoor.

You can step out to watch the sunset every day. Make it the primary reason you step out of your home or office for a couple of minutes.

You’re not going to spend the whole day outside. Just a couple of minutes, and you’ll enjoy the enormous psychological and health benefits sunsets gives.

Sunsets can serve as your inspiration:

Have you ever bothered to ask why writers, painters, romantics, and poets wait for sunsets sometimes before focusing on their tasks? It’s because they needed some inspiration, which sunsets can offer in abundance.

So, if you’re a creative person and you need some inspiration, then feed your eyes with the mystical and vibrant colors that accompany a sunset . Allow the sunset to inspire you to create a poet, article, or painting that will keep your targeted audiences on their toes.

10 Beautiful Sunset Quotes

Quotes help to communicate one’s feelings in a clearer tone. Adding an object as beautiful as a sunset into a quote makes it lovelier.

There are diverse, inspiring, mood-lifting, and soul-touching sunset quotes out there that you can use.

Here’s a list of beautiful sunset quotes you can use.

No one spends time watching the sun setting and remains in a bad mood. By thinking about the wonders of nature, gorgeous color varieties pouring down from the sky while watching sunsets, your mood would surely change for good.

It doesn’t matter if you had a hectic day at work or going through a rough time in your life. Devote time to watch the sun setting every day. When you do, all your pain, sorrows, and tiredness will go away.

There are diverse ways to describe sunsets. But what’s most important is spending time watching the sun setting as many times as possible. So, make out time to watch sunsets and see the massive changes you will experience in your life.

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18 Awesome Descriptions Using Time To Use In Writing

30/06/2017 / 0 Comments / in Writing / by Augustine’s English Classes

By describing where the events are about to take place, you can transport your reader into another world. Make use of the five senses – sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste – to evoke the atmosphere of the setting.

The following will give you some examples of how you can describe using time as the main element.

The same place can look and feel very different at different times of the day. Take a park, for example. At daybreak, it is cool and invigorating, full of songbirds, walkers and joggers. At midday, it is sleepy, hot and still. In the evening, shadows lengthen and coolness returns. But at night, it can be a frightening place, with dangers lurking in the dark shadows of the foliage.

Evening and Night

Encourage your child to use these descriptions in the tests and examinations. Help them familiarise with these phrases through simple activities by writing short introductory paragraphs with one or two of the descriptions, or give them short dictation quizzes!

For over 15 years, Augustine’s English Classes has helped hundreds of students fall in love with the subject and excelling in school exams. If you are interested to know how our classes work, or what our secret winning formula is, do feel free to drop us a message or give us a call.

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How to Describe a Sunset

Describing a sunset in an essay, poem, book or short story requires descriptive adjectives and the use of literary devices, such as imagery, metaphors and symbolism. Sunsets represent warmth and beauty, often signifying an important season in a character's life, so descriptions tend to have a peaceful, melancholy tone. When writing about sunsets, focus on visual aspects of the sky and how the sunset makes the characters in your story or poem feel.

Use Literary Devices to Develop Imagery

Use literary devices, such a symbolism and imagery, to describe the natural beauty, warmth and transitional elements of a sunset. For example, Emily Dickinson examines the wonder of nature by describing the rising and setting sun in her poem, "I'll Tell You How the Sun Rose." She uses the metaphor of yellow-hued children climbing and playing until it gets too dark to play any longer to describe the changing sunset colors, from yellow to gray. Hazel Hall uses imagery in her poem "Twilight" to show how the sunset affects grass, flowers and plants by causing them to close up for the night. Her poem considers how the sunset transforms the natural world.

Choose Descriptive Adjectives and Adverbs

Focus on descriptive language, including compelling adjectives and picture-perfect adverbs to help readers visualize the sunset. Use precise language, explicit vocabulary and well-constructed analogies to detail the complexities associated with sunsets, according to the Core Curriculum State Standards Initiative for 11th- and 12th-grade students. Discuss color variations in the sky and how the setting sun casts shadows across the ground. Think of examples that remind you of sunsets, such as changing seasons, the process of aging or an ending to one life experience to start another.

Discuss the Repeated Cycle of Sunsets

Detail the enduring, recurring, daily characteristics of sunsets. Poets such as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Robert Bridges, in their respective poems "Sundown" and "The Evening Darkens Over," discuss how sunsets always lead to night and darkness. Both poets associate sunsets with closure and an end to one's daily experiences. Describe the sunset by focusing on its brief, yet important, role in nature. Use adjectives such as perpetual, relentless, timeless, unremitting and unfailing, to describe sunsets.

Establish the Tone and Mood

Discuss ways a sunset creates a mood or establishes the tone for a poem or a story. For example, in the book "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton, two main characters from different socioeconomic backgrounds discuss the beauty of the sunset and its ability to bridge barriers to unite people. Describe how the sunset makes characters feel, such as relieved, satisfied or hopeful. Use emotion-filled adjectives, such as majestic, endless, inspirational, glowing, romantic, serene or captivating to describe the sunset.

As curriculum developer and educator, Kristine Tucker has enjoyed the plethora of English assignments she's read (and graded!) over the years. Her experiences as vice-president of an energy consulting firm have given her the opportunity to explore business writing and HR. Tucker has a BA and holds Ohio teaching credentials.

Why Writers Need to Watch More Sunsets

One of the reasons I love this time of year is that it brings amazing sunsets.

Unsettled weather patterns and varied cloud types combine to create some of the most beautiful displays we see all year long.

I often walk west and just stare at the horizon. It’s a sort of meditation, focusing on the orange and yellow and red and gray colors as the sun gradually drops out of sight, leaving behind its peaceful pastel rays. I linger at the end of my route, not wanting to turn east again.

One night I got to thinking about it: why are we so drawn to sunsets? We take many pictures of them, even though few shots can come close to capturing the reality. On the west coast, I’ve often watched from a hill overlooking the ocean as beachcombers slow and eventually stop to watch the sun go down.

I’ve done this many times, and I’ve never seen anyone able to resist stopping while the sun is setting. There’s something about it that gets people to turn and pay attention, even if just for a few minutes.

Authors over the ages have had a lot to say about sunsets. Here are just a few of their writings:

Softly the evening came. The sun from the western horizon Like a magician extended his golden wand o’er the landscape; Twinkling vapors arose; and sky and water and forest Seemed all on fire at the touch, and melted and mingled together.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Evangeline

A moment, and its glory was no more. The sun went down beneath the long dark lines of hill and cloud which piled up in the west an airy city, wall heaped on wall, and battlement on battlement; the light was all withdrawn; the shining church turned cold and dark; the stream forgot to smile; the birds were silent; and the gloom of winter dwelt on everything.

~Charles Dickens, Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit

Sometimes the gods have no taste at all. They allow sunrises and sunsets in ridiculous pink and blue hues that any professional artist would dismiss as the work of some enthusiastic amateur who’d never looked at a real sunset. This was one of those sunrises. It was the kind of sunrise a man looks at and says, ‘No real sunrise could paint the sky Surgical Appliance Pink.’ Nevertheless, it was beautiful.

~Terry Pratchett, The Time Thief

What is it about sunsets that are so captivating? I did a bit of research. What I discovered is that watching sunsets is good for us, emotionally and physically, and that we should all be doing it more often!

1. Sunsets can make you feel better.

You may have noticed a sense of peace after a few minutes watching a beautiful sunset. Turns out that any such connection with nature can improve our well-being, particularly if we are attuned to nature’s beauty.

Several studies have found that people who do things like take a walk in the park, spend time surrounded in nature, and even look at pictures of nature, experience greater vitality than those who don’t. Those walking in nature also experience less frustration and higher alertness than those walking in urban environments.

Scientists aren’t sure yet why this is, but while they continue to try to figure it out, we can take advantage of this easy way to make each day just a little bit better. You always have a chance before the sun goes down to get out and watch. Even just 10 minutes can make a big difference.

2. Sunsets may help you feel more compassion for others.

Gandhi is quoted as saying, “When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator.”

An interesting set of four studies showed that all of us may be touched in similar ways by natural beauty, to the point that we feel a general sense of compassion for each other, and are less focused on ourselves. In all the studies, researchers found that the positive feelings generated by natural beauty led to expressions of greater concern for others.

Volunteers who gazed at pictures of nature before playing a game, for instance, were more generous in giving away points than those exposed to less attractive pictures. Researchers said that when participants viewed nature images that were considered beautiful, they were more “generous and trusting,” and exhibited “increasing helpful behavior.”

We can use this knowledge to our advantage in many ways. Watching a sunset together as a family, for instance, may help improve how we treat one another. If you’re about to write a scene where one character needs to show another compassion, some sunset-viewing before you write may enrich your scene.

3. Sunsets can help you feel more in control of your time.

Do you feel rushed all the time lately? Find yourself so busy that it’s hard to fit creative writing time in?

It’s a common struggle in today’s world—one that may be helped by watching sunsets. When the sun, the clouds, and the sky put on a particularly spectacular show, many of us experience a sense of awe. According to one study, that awe can actually “expand” our perception of time.

In other words, if you want time to slow down just for a few minutes, watch a sunset.

Researchers conducted three different experiments, and found in each one that participants who felt awe, over any other emotion, felt like they had more time available, and also felt less impatient. These participants also felt more willing to help other people, and experienced greater life satisfaction.

“Mediation analyses revealed that these changes in decision making and well-being were due to awe’s ability to alter the subjective experience of time,” the researchers wrote. “Experiences of awe bring people into the present moment, and being in the present moment underlies awe’s capacity to adjust time perception, influence decisions, and make life feel more satisfying than it would otherwise.”

Next time you’re thinking you don’t have time to write, step outside and watch the sun go down. I can help stop your racing thoughts, and encourage a more focused state that will benefit your writing and creativity.

4. A sunset may increase your energy and vitality.

Many studies have found that spending time outdoors helps increase energy and vitality, no matter what else we’re doing.

Scientists reported in 2010, for example, that taking walks outdoors increased vitality more than taking walks indoors, and that photographs of nature were much more energizing than photographs of city buildings.

On many days, though, it can be difficult to get outside. Work and other activities can keep us indoors much of the day and night, to the point where we get very little fresh air. But who can resist the call to “come see the sunset!”? Few of us.

“Nature is fuel for the soul,“ said Richard Ryan, Ph.D., lead author of the study noted above. “Often when we feel depleted we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests a better way to get energized is to connect with nature.”

Writers always need more energy to do their work. Watching a sunset or just getting out for a short walk outdoors is a simple way to get some.

5. Sunsets promote a meditative state.

You’ve probably experienced it before—that sensation of losing yourself in the colors of a sunset. There’s something about the peace of it, the colors, and the awareness of the day coming to an end that can bring our attention completely into the moment, which is essentially what meditation is.

You may have trouble meditating in other ways, but you can probably achieve it while watching the sunset. Just focus on the color changes and let your thoughts go by, and you’ll likely find yourself sort of blanking out and losing track of time. This is a sort of mindfulness that scientists have connected to a number of health benefits, including reduced stress and increased well being.

Sunsets are also a great time to allow new writing ideas to come to you. I have found on many occasions that while walking and staring at the sunset, something new will break through at the back of my mind, totally unbidden, that provides a solution to a plot problem or a deeper insight into a character. You may have experienced something like that, too, so why not take advantage of the opportunity more often?

Here’s hoping you get out to enjoy the sunset in your neck of the woods this evening, and for many evenings to come. As author and philosopher Bernard Williams said:

It’s almost impossible to watch a sunset and not dream.

Do you enjoy watching sunsets? Do you find they enhance your writing or other creative practice?

Sources Jia WeiZhang, et al., “Engagement with natural beauty moderates the positive relation between connectedness with nature and psychological well-being,” Journal of Environmental Psychology , June 2014; 38:55-63, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494414000024.

Jia WeiZhang, “An occasion for unselfing: Beautiful nature leads to prosociality,” Journal of Environmental Psychology , March 2014; 37: 61-72, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494413000893.

Mealanie Rudd, et al., “Awe Expands People’s Perception of Time, Alters Decision Making, and Enhances Well-Being,” Psychological Science, October 1 2012; 23(10):1130-6, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22886132.

Richard M. Ryan, et al., “Vitalizing effects of being outdoors and in nature,” Journal of Environmental Psychology , June 2010; 30(2):159-168, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494409000838.

“Spending Time in Nature Makes People Feel More Alive, Study Shows,” University of Rochester, [Press Release], June 3, 2010, http://www.rochester.edu/news/show.php?id=3639.

14 Comments

Sunsets are like the fancy dinners of nature. They’re so special, so magnificent it seems like being treated to one is a special event. Of course, they happen every day. Which just goes to show, I think, inspiration is everywhere. We don’t have to wait for a special occasion to enjoy it. I love the quote on the power of “awe.” I find that if I tune my awareness a little, the way the leaves blow in the wind can feed my awe. Sunsets are amazing, but even the simplest of things can give me pause enough to feel inspired. Thank you for the post. I loved the pictures and the chance to “stand in awe” while I read.

Love that, Angela—inspiration is, indeed, everywhere! :O)

I often step outside with my camera to photograph the setting sun. If I’m driving west at that time I just watch the show in awe. Sunsets are a gift from the Creator to everyone, rich or poor, in any country or with any political affiliation. It is a gift to both the just and the unjust. It has often calmed me after a hectic day.

So true, Barbara. Available to everyone and very calming.

Lovely article Colleen! Our house faces the eastern sky and I love the eastern sunset with the still cornflower coloured sea and the rosy glow that lights up the sky. Lately, I’ve been up early enough to catch the sunrise and I believe dawn, for those who are up early enough to catch it, has the same effect as the sunset. I totally agree, that catching either the sunset or sunrise is good for us in so many ways.

Thanks, Kate! Sounds lovely. Yes, there are some similarities for sure, but I feel there are some subtle differences between sunrise and sunset too. Maybe because I’m always so bleary-eyed in the morning? :O)

Thanks for another wonderful post. I will definitely watch the sun slip from the sky this evening!

Sounds lovely, Claudia! Me too. :O)

I enjoyed reading this, Colleen. It was a good validation of my own findings. My book WRITING WILD, Forming a Creative Partnership with Nature (published by New World Library) explores this idea of recognizing that the natural world is the macrocosm of creative energy and our own personal experience (writing) is the microcosm. So we can learn much about the our creative life through connecting with nature. I’ll be using your findings in my upcoming workshops. Thank you for that and for all your many good columns.

So true, Tina. Nature is a great place to find that creative energy. Cool on the workshops! :O)

Colleen, you’ve made me hunger for the sunsets I saw from Key West where the sun melts into the water and those from my son’s back porch in Arizona where the sun bathes the tall hills with gold before sinking out of sight. It truly is calming just to think about it.

Oh man, I can only imagine! I’ve seen the ones in Arizona, but not Key West. They’re different in each location aren’t they?

Just reading your article today calmed my frazzled writing nerves. You are so right about the magic of sunsets. I watch them every evening from my back porch and have photographed more than my share. I loved the way you noticed the beachcombers, slowly and finally stopping, admiring the sunset. Beautiful! Thanks for sharing a few wonderful passages from the best of writers, too.

Oh I’m so glad, Karen! We’re all about calming around here. (ha) You watch every evening? Smart lady!

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"every ending starts a new begening." -Marianne Williamson

Colors of the sunset

Colors appear Reds and oranges fill the sky The trees seep in the light The whole world is cast into an orange pink shadow. The sun sinks into darkness but first a strange beauty seeps through the world Read More Posted: 06.04.21

Sunsets in Montana are stunning. The way the sun dips below the mountains, hiding its face from us before it falls, the blankets of pink and orange and yellow covering the expansion of the sky, the edges of their watercolors blending with the twilight that slips over the sky, just at the top. My bedroom is located at the back of the house, and I have two clean, clear windows stacked one on top of the other that look out on our ranch, starting with the pond in our backyard and hopping over the deer fence into the valley, spreading out towards the border, hitting right at the edge of the sky. Sunsets in Montana are almost always marvelous. Only when I miss them do I deplore them. Only then do I resent them; because I wasn't there to see it. Only then. Read More Posted: 12.18.20

As I get home from the long walk to my friends house, I walk up the driveway to my house and I see my dog, Charlie, staring at me with his warm brown eyes. I walk up close to him. He starts to smile and slowly walks towards me, he walks up and leans against me as he waits for me to pet him. As I walk the rest of the way to the door, I see that the sun is slowly drifting downwards to the ground. “How was your day, sweetheart,” My grandmother says as I enter the living room. “It was a lot of fun, we went down to the river and had a sand castle build off, I think he won though so then we just played video games and had lunch. Then I went home,” I replied as I went down the hallway then up the stairs to my room. When I entered the upstairs I heard my sister say “well hello person,” we have this thing where we would say People or Person instead of the person's actual name. “Hello,”I say. “Where is mom, do you know?” Read More Posted: 09.29.20

Guilty as Charged

Today the sun set quietly, sheepish because is had stolen a cherry blossom and shrouded itself in the bits and pieces of a dissipated cloud. But the sheepish sun did not make a clean getaway. Vestiges of a cherry blossom stained grin, lingered. It left the mountains, the grass, and our noses, trembling with the lasting touch of its pink hands. Read More Posted: 09.10.20

Sinking Away

The sky started pastel blue, White clouds drifted by, Peering through green branches, Mountains faded ahead. Crickets filled the air with noise, They left no room for the other sounds, The air was alive but still, The sun fell behind treetops. Pale orange streaked the sky, Slowly, orange shifted to red, And red faded to purple. Darkness began to drift down. The sun didn’t set a fire, It left it’s colors quietly, It sank into the darkness, Sinking away as if underwater. Read More Posted: 09.10.20

I just want to be with you And watch the sunset-- I want to see the sky go up in flames With you by my side. Watching the world burn ablaze In shades of crimson and gold And slowly disappear Into the mournful night, Until we pretend We’re the only ones left Read More Posted: 09.10.20

sunset from the balcony

The balcony in her room was perfect for watching the sunset. Every night, she stood and leaned on the metal bars a silhouette against the sky, watching it explode in the most miraculous of ways, colors deepening and streaking and blending transforming the sky; transforming the many souls who gazed out at the sky in its most glorious moments. And she smiled. She was happy. But she dreamed of more. She dreamed she wasn't the only one out there on the balcony in the late evening; dreamed someone was there with her two silhouettes against the sky watching the beauty beyond them silent but together. And in the dream, they'd smile at each other. They'd be happy. But the world didn't work for her and times were hard and her dreams never came true but the sun still rose and set and she watched it alone still beautiful still mesmerizing Read More Posted: 09.10.20

Golden twilight washes the sky Last flares of honey fire Spear the wispy trails A moment suspended And then… A host of ballerinas In rose and marigold tutus Twirl and grow Commanding the stage Sweeping away the husky blue But only for a time Until… Delicate indigo foxes Creep in Nipping at heels The dancers fleeing Into shades of garnet and amber Violet vixen Prancing and pouncing, They pause Scenting darkness Hovering… An ebony dragon Emerges With raven wings And an oil tongue To lick At tails and toes Stretching wide A pitch-black mouth To swallow whole The world, the stage Once more Read More Posted: 09.10.20

sunrays fading

it seems the closer you fall to the ground the faster the earth pulls you in with it's arms of salty ocean water sea spray dances on the wind breathe in the sand is holding on to you breathe out the sun is letting go theres a song erie playing the whales are calling while your day dreaming a few clouds drift across your vision as the breath of the world fills you the thrum of your heart beat as your feet pound the ground the last few flngers of light reaching upwards before sinking below the horizon the wind stiring up the soul inside you as the seagulls say their good nights Read More Posted: 09.09.20

the key to our imaginations

Write two contrasting pieces (300 – 450 words each) describing a sunset. the first piece should be from the perspective of someone joyful, the second from someone who is depressed. focus on color and sound in your writing..

The (Happy) Sunset

The silence of the evening was shattered by the loud, thunderous boom of the ship’s whistle, signalling all members on deck to return to the musty cabins below. The smile of triumph was etched across my face. My victory in shuffleboard, no small feat against the veteran veterinarians, had left me a bundling ball of joy. My victory dance along the deck was momentarily paused as I chanced upon the setting sun. The sun rested amongst the clouds; its amber radiance dazzling upon the rippled surface of the ocean. The honeyed rays dove amongst the waves, lapping up the foamy waters left behind by the ship’s turbines. The amber hue glittered on the foam, an ornate staircase leading up to the treasured orb in the sky. The clouds lounged lazily in the sky, floating carelessly amongst the heavens like dandelions in the wind. They breezed by the sun’s brilliance, basking in it like lazy crocodiles resting on river banks; coming into contact with it every now and then, veiling it like a new bride before marriage. The sky shone bright amongst the dim embers of the sinking sun; a splash of vibrant hues enhancing its pristine beauty. The colours fought for prominence, as the sun, a kind and salient guardian kept watch; watching as the transient blue of the sky lost to the amazing amethyst of twilight only to end up finishing second to the mystery of Night’s inky onyx. Its tenure complete, the sun had started its final descent as the night sky awoke. It slunk ever so slowly, like a cat on the prowl, as it descended into the foamy waters. Its reluctance to leave the sky was apparent; as it cried golden scattered tears which sank deep into the cerulean abyss, but finally it yielded and sank deep below, bidding farewell to the darkening sky, which sparkled its striking pearls for the promise of a new tomorrow.

The (not so happy) Sunset

I stared at the screen. The face staring back at me was disgusting: black hair, long, matted with streaks of red running down either side. The nose, once pristinely angular now had a metallic abnormality jarring out. The eyes, chestnut brown orbs which glimmered with happiness once, now oozed dread. “Why? Why’d she leave me?” I pondered. “I did it all for her. My parents, my friends, I left them all when I came out. And she tossed me out like a dirty tissue: filthy, useless and unwanted. The phone reflected the suns glare into my eyes, blinding me momentarily. I gazed ahead witnessing the spectacle that lay before me. The sun was setting. The waters churned aimlessly, rising towards the drooping sun, like hungry piranhas in wait for their victim’s fall into the pool of death. The inky depths of the foam grinned up at the yolk in the sky. Neptune was hungry. Any moment his trident would emerge from the depths of this inky hell and swoosh down upon the sun, ripping it out from the sky. And the foams would show no remorse. They would pile upon it in an endless, blind fury drowning the sun, holding it down until the radiance would no longer shine brilliant in the sky. And the sky would do no more than to adopt the attire of a mournful bride; shadowy, inky for a while before its cheating Moon would light away all the sorrow. And the sun would be dead. Above the toil of the deadly waters, the sun beamed at me. Perched high in the heavens it glared down at me, forcing me into submission as my eyes shut down. When they opened, the scornful orange orb, ogled at the futile human lying among the shifting streams of sand. Shrouded by the rolling winds the sand the sun finally shone an amber glow of sympathy on me. The glistening rays beckoned, forming an illuminated staircase where the sun, clothed with the clouds, like a gentle snowman waited patiently. I moved towards the benevolent being, as it lifted me from the murky depths of my loneliness. The skies ballooned out in a palette of colours; I reached out for closure and my embers of hope were forever doused as the sun plummeted down into the abyss. The night sky arose and with it my qualms. My thoughts shifted to my phone. It glowed in the dark informing me of the incoming message. And I felt nothing…

2. Writer: Osama Naveed

Sunset from a joyful person’s perspective

Everything seemed right. The clouds were like sheep drifting in a bright blue meadow,the sky.The view of the sea, birds, shore left me in a total awe. It was as if someone had placed one of Picasso’s masterpieces before me. And there in the middle lay the centrepiece, the sun. It was as radiant and vibrant as ever, reminding me of the smile on my mother’s face everyday after I came home from school. The sun was surrounded by shades of orange and pink reminiscent of a perfectly ripened peach. The sky consisted of a variety of shades, blends of red, orange and yellow. The waters below replicated this effect. The waves were tinged with vermillion , with streaks of blue. Breathtakingly beautiful was the only way to describe this magnificent sight . The contrast between the dark waters and the luminous sky was like the meeting of two worlds, the known and the unknown. The wind whispered in my ear as if telling me hidden secrets. The waves crashing on the shore and theme.odious tunes of birds chirping filled my body with peace. The symphony brought back lullabies my mother used to sing to me. The smell of the sea was oddly comforting , celibate and unpolluted,the smell of freedom I closed my eyes for a moment ,when I opened them again the sky was more purple then red depicting the transgression from day to night. The fiery orb slowly subsided into the sparkling waters below like treasure returning to the bottom of the sea. The light, though gone for now would return the next day in the form of the golden glow of the sun,and help me relive the wonderful times I spent with my mother once again.

Sunset from a depressed person’s perspective

Everything was quiet,as silent as a cemetery except for the occasional gust of wind or thunder of waves crashing on to the boulders below. The sky was hazy, as if someone had sucked all the happiness out of it. The clouds were grey with grief, waiting to unload all their pain and sorrow in the form of a downpour. In the middle of the sky was the sun. It showed no reminiscence of its scorching majestic beauty, instead gloomy like a rose which never fully bloomed. The different shades of crimson and red surrounding this fiery orb reminded me of the dying embers of the forest fire that took away my home. The waters below were murky like a black hole waiting to pull somebody deep into the depths of the unknown. The sea had tinges of a snotty green , its foul smell made me feel sick to my stomach. Oh how I longed for my mother and her chicken corn soup. But alas, here I stood alone, nothing but the eerie squawking of the gulls to keep me company.each high pitched screech, a stab at my heart and soul, made me relive the moment when I last saw my mother and heard her futile screams as I was taken away from her. I closed my eyes for a second, to let the pain subside. When I opened them again the sky was more purple then red. The wind picked up, it was cold and fierce and brought no sort of comfort. The horizon Wasif.led with a plethora of dark colours from violet to mauve to lilac. The sun descended slowly but surely into the dark waters below. It reminded me of cancer and how it spreads through the body slow,y but surely taking with it every other organ. As the sun sank it took with it the little sunlight and glow left in my life.

3. Writer: Umme Salma Gadriwala

It was a beautiful day. The damp sand felt warm against my feet; cool water droplets caressed me. I could almost taste the cold and salty wind on my tongue. The waves gently kissed the rocks beneath me and whispered across the rocks like a sweep of silk, before quickly rushing back into the sea. A beautiful symphony rang in my ears, soft and rhythmic; a sound I rarely heard, but highly appreciated.

The ocean was like a sleeping baby, as soft as a lullaby, as peaceful as dawn and as soothing as a mother’s hug. Lost in the immensity of the Mediterranean; I found the sight overwhelming. For years, I had hoped to see my princess walking, and that day, against all odds, she had done it. I felt like the universe had conspired to give me that one moment of bliss. It brought tears into my eyes – tears of contentment, love and pure joy.

The sky was a light shade of blue which gradually spread into a mesh of poppy oranges and yellows. The clouds were like thin sheets of cotton scattered in the sky; not there to bring in storm, but to add color to my sunset. There were specks of black and darker browns as my eye moved from the sky to the horizon and below. I wished to lie there all night, watching the clouds float by, searching for remarkable cloud formations. I did see one though. It looked like a bright, morning star; it gave me hope.

The sun was on the horizon, just where the glistening ocean met the orange sky. Its rays spread in all directions, like the open arms of my daughter. The reds and oranges spread by the final glows of the flame formed a staircase on the surface of the sea. I hoped to climb that staircase with Daisy and take her to a place where people saw her exactly the way I did – like a princess. I wanted to give her all that she deserved, and all that she had been deprived of.

Life was over for Begonia. The ocean was spitting at her, the wind howling, and the glow of the sun irked her eye.

A wild, bright yellow flame burnt in the centre of the sky. The sky was like an artist’s canvas, filled with skillful strokes of reds and oranges and yellows. The sun was gradually melting into the sky, like a person waving goodbye and walking far, far away; and darkness was setting in. The clouds were like islands hanging far off, eluding each other. The sky was like a fire that had raged out of control, a dying cigar or a final farewell.

As a tear rolled down her waxy, wrinkled cheeks; Begonia closed her smudged, mascara-lain eyes, and stood there in one quiet moment.

The ocean was like a lion, roaring and thundering. Each wave splashed and pounded rocks behind her and left a deafening silence as it retreated back into the sea. The ocean enjoyed her despair and gloom as it screamed into her ears like a cranky child. The receding waves tried hard to pull her into the sea, and it was only a matter of time before she gave up. From far off, amidst the roars and thunders, she heard the moan of a sea gull, a fatigued, faded and lusterless cry of failure.

Begonia opened her mouth to let out a scream, but a surge of pain hit her, like being stabbed by a dagger of ice. The salty wind bit her tongue, and she quivered in the icy cold breeze. The gravel under her feet was coarse and bumpy, like a bed of shattered glass.

She limped forward towards the radiant path, spread forward by the diminishing candle, hoping to liberate herself. The path glistened on the surface of the ocean, like the streets after rain. Each step she took required every ounce of energy she had left in herself, but she was determined to escape from this excruciating life that she had chosen for herself.

4. Writer: Namayah Hussain

Happy Sunset

I nestle myself in the warm, soft sand and lie back as I watch the magnificent ball of fire, the sun, go down. The sky looks like a mix of an artist’s palette and a canvas. It has brilliantly mixed colors at some places and blotches of colors at the other points. An immense variety of color is present in the sky; ranging from red to blue to orange, all with a welcoming feeling of warmth and love.

With a gold halo surrounding the fiery ball, the sun takes liking to the arch-angel. High above us it is like a romantic fire in the sky; a symbol of guidance and hope. It sets the white and blue sky ablaze with flaming orange. The sense of tranquility is magnified by the clear water of the sea which sparkles like twinkling diamonds. The rays seem to form a pathway towards the sun, parting the sea from the middle, with glimmering steps; as if bringing our destination closer. The ripples seem to be in awe of the sun wanting to get closer with the ebb of the tide. The sea seems to carry a part of sky in it, reflecting it beautifully. The waves roar as they come back and forth spraying my face with droplets of water. I feel refreshed and cleansed and savor the moment. The pleasant breeze plays with my hair and I feel like I am soaring high above feeling nothing but ecstasy.

Decorating the sky the clouds look like cotton candy, fluffy, soft and white with a slight hue of pink. The clouds boast mystical colors. As the clouds move closer to the horizon their color changes from white to silver-grey. They look as if they are illuminated from within, the golden light floods it making it look heavenly. God seems to have sprinkled the Flame of Forest on the sky.

The sky and sea meet to give a slight streak of red. The rich color of rubies, of wealth and royalty. The sun lets my gaze linger over it for a while. With a promise of a new day the sun goes down, the path to ecstasy and jubilation now clear.

Do you know the sense of heavy doom which prevails with the diminishing of hope? Have you ever felt it? That is exactly how I felt as I saw the sun going slowly under the horizon. The birds had stopped chirping and the sound of the waves had died down establishing an eerie silence, the silence of impending doom.

Up in the blotchy sky the sun was like a raging fiery ball, losing its magnificence every minute. It was like a reign of peace and harmony about to come to an end, to be replaced by an era of darkness and gloom. It was like the flickering light of an oil lamp about to burn out. The color of the sky changed abruptly from a clear blue to pale yellow, very like the people who dwelled under it. The white clouds had been sullied. No longer were they pure. They were corrupted like me but the source this time was not the sun but life itself. Towards the horizon the clouds took a neon-orange look as if they had been scorched by the sun. Some of the clouds looked almost dark grey; dreary and bleak just like life itself. The clouds looked as if they had been torn apart and placed randomly. Some were placed in groups and some were separate. They were like fragments of disconnected clouds.

The sea seemed uncannily calm. It reminded me of calmness before a calamity strikes. The sea presented a forbidding and cruel image sending a warning of the dark secrets the blue-black waters withheld. A strong gale of wind tangled my hair into knots just like the complicated issues of my life, the difference was my tangled hair had a solution and my life had none. I felt useless, immaterial like one of the innumerable drops of the sea. The occasional scarlet reflection of the sky on the water gave it a sinister look; it looked like two big spots of blood. The scarlet reminded me of doom, my doom. As the sea and sky became one at the horizon only a dark red streak of light could be seen. They were one. The idea of separate identity was non-existent. None of them mattered.

As the rays of light faded away so did my hope. The darkness engulfed me. The sun disappeared a bit further taking away the warmth and color with it, leaving darkness behind. I was abandoned once again, abandoned to a cruel world.

5. Writer: Aimen Shaikh

The diamond ring on my left hand glistened with a soft golden glow as the rays of the waning sun fell on it. A strong sense of déjà vu overcame me: last time, the same rays had blessed me and Dave, as we stood on the cool sand of the beach, our hands intertwined and our bliss beyond words. I had looked on at the sunset and murmured to Dave, “Beautiful, no?” and he had replied, “Very much so”. It took me a few seconds to realize that he was not even looking at the sky- he was looking at me. The blazing orange of the sun was reflected in his deep charcoal eyes, as if a proof of the passion with which he loved me.

I snapped out of my reverie and my eyes travelled upwards to the grandeur splashed across the sky. There was such a powerful sense of tranquility in the air- the slight shifting of clouds; the gentle crashing of the tides against the seas-shore; the gradual intensifying of the carroty hue- that one could almost taste it. The happiness of the entire world seemed to be amassed within that moment. I wished I could pause it. Forever.

Farther away from the horizon, the sky was a gentle blue of a clear lagoon- on it were dotted feathery white clouds, chasing each other like wisps of cotton candy. Below this, the light azure sky subtly yet spectacularly emerged into the shade of a fresh chestnut; dark mahogany clouds streaked across it like promising brush strokes- as if melted chocolate poured on a thick slice of cake. But what really entranced me was the shimmering ball of fire nestled on the volcanic canvas. Ripples stretched across the sea like dimples on smiling cheeks. The warm rays of the setting sun radiated like sputtering sparks, reflected on the water like a stairway of molten gold that leads to Paradise. But I did not need to climb up to Paradise- I was already there.

Finally, the flames bowed out- but not before they left behind a promise to light up the world…tomorrow and always.

What could express a hopeless soul better than a setting sun? Like the last glint of red in burnt-out ashes, the sun hung on to the last thread of the horizon. Below, on the troubled water surface, was mirrored the impending doom: the hungry waves would swallow the blazing globe, leaving behind an abyss of darkness. Shrouding the top was a blue sky, contaminated with a tint of grey. White clouds were scattered around like smoke rings; it seemed as if God was having the time of His life puffing away to pleasure. Sadistic pleasure, I dare say, of watching us mortals struggling to exist in this harsh world. Oh how I have longed for a clear, bright sky!

But lo and behold! There’s always something darker, gloomier, and more sinister than the last, isn’t there? A murky orange permeated the blue, and like sandcastles washed into ruins, the clouds shadowed across the sky. Time and again, the swooshing cold winds dispersed the dark-stained woolpacks- making sure no corner survived the curse of dusk.

Tearing my eyes away from the horizon, I saw love-birds strolling around the beach, entranced by the scenery as if it were the eighth wonder of the world. How wonderful indeed to be plunged into shadows as the universal light breathes its last! Some distance away, a father was perched on the rocky shore, pointing out the sunset to his child who listened with keen interest. It’s good, I thought, that the little boy knows from the start that light is just an illusion: we must learn to adapt to the darkness.

As for me, I came here neither to draw in the nauseating fumes of the salty air, nor to watch a live telecast of “Fifty Shades of Orange”. I came here, inspired by God. I came here for sadistic pleasure, to watch the all-powerful sunlight, which the eyes of us mere mortals are unable to withstand, fading away like a vulnerable torch flame. How the mighty fall!

6. Writer: Fariha Jahangir

The wind is caressing my neck, cradling my face. I close my eyes and breathe in the salty air. I stick my tongue out and taste the brackish moisture. The warmth soaks right through my skin. My skin comes alive. Now I open my eyes. I am glowing like the sun, flawless and glorious. The sun is blushing today. An excited flutter runs through the sea. Nimble ripples dance across the water, clear as glass. The glass is speckled with gold dust, glistening under the rosy glow of the sun. The crystalline sea quivers excitedly before my eyes. Its reaction to the sun is fascinating. The sun touches his lips to the water. My heart skips a beat. A shower of light bursts across the sea: a ramp adorned with fairy dust, just for me. Under the spotlight, I want to twirl right into the sun’s tempting embrace. I am bursting with ecstasy. I want to drink in every bit of the perfection of the scenery before me. I feel the sea’s ecstasy. I feel the sun’s raging desire. The wind flings my damp curls off my shoulder and I toss my head up into the air. I see the patchwork quilt my sky is. At this moment in time, I am weightless. I am like the feathery white tufts floating above me. I can almost feel the downy clouds against my skin. Light bounces off the clouds, giving them a fiery glow. The sky is marvelous, I realize. I am like a carefree seagull. I stretch my wings and soar in the sky. The wind carries me wherever I want. This sunset is, but the beginning of a new day. All the worries of today will fade away tomorrow. I cannot wait for dawn to yawn across the horizon and to shower me with all the bounties a new day has to offer. But for now, the mighty sun is shrinking in the distance and lilac clouds are gracefully waltzing in. Night is about to fall, I realize. I could serenade among these fluffy wisps all night with not a care in the world. I smile. I am glowing. I am everywhere.

The wind lashes at my face, clawing at my skin. It whips my hair across my cheek. I wince as the salt stings my eyes. I see the sun slowly sink in the horizon. The mighty monarch of the skies is descending from his throne, disgraced. Even the sun gives in and the sky surrenders. Nothing stands against the dark. I shudder at the thought. I watch in dismay as the sun’s rays, rejected, bounce off the unrelenting clouds. There is no scope for light in this place anymore. The hostile darkness silently creeps up behind me. The sun has surrendered his crown. Everything will soon be drenched in the inky obsidian darkness of the night. I see the last glowing embers of my life in the retreating fire of the sun. Grey clouds, like the ashes of a dying fire slowly take its place. A sense of impending doom lingers in the air. Unease ripples across the water and anxiety grips me. I am queasy. The salt in the air mingles with my tears. I taste them both. The orange of the horizon is like the autumn of my life. Everywhere I look I see my emotions scream back at me. Nature is an echo of my mind. The sun is as dejected as me. The sea is as troubled as I am. The sky is as overcast as me. The sun is bleeding. It will die out now. There is a sense of foreboding in the way the waves flit across the water. The wind chills me to the bone. But then again, when the wind dies down, the serene water invites me to its welcome depths. I want to glide right through to the very heart of the sea. I want to succumb to the darkness under the surface. I have fought for too long. I am exhausted.

7. Writer: Faiza Urooj

The Happy Sunset

Summer Sun (writing prompt)

by Joe Bunting | 90 comments

It's summer and the weather is beautiful—at least where I live. Today, your writing prompt is to write about the sun, the summer, the warm weather.

Write for fifteen minutes . When your time is up, post your practice in the comments section. And if you post, please be sure to read a few practices by your fellow writers and give feedback.

Happy writing!

Photo by Zach Dischner

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

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COMMENTS

Sunset
The sun set in the sky, as bold as one of Aunt May's tangerine jellies. It sat within that sky, that summer-fruit hued throne, as if it looked over the earth
The sun
The sun, that daughter of the sky, once again took her rightful place on the horizon. She let her rays cascade onto the world, bringing the scene into full
How To Describe A Sunset: Here's A Passionate Expression
Sunsets are a definition of a perfect conclusion. They appear as silky, smooth collusions of sky burst red and yellow in the night's calm.
18 Awesome Descriptions Using Time To Use In Writing
Morning · The day dawned crisp and clear. · The sun poured through my window. · The light of dawn seeped into my room. · The first rays of sunlight lit up my room.
How would you describe a sunset?
1. Sunsets are beautiful to watch. · 2. Sunsets bring with itself, such orangish colors in the sky which are beautiful to stare at, other than the blue sky. · 3.
How to Describe a Sunset
Describing a sunset in an essay, poem, book or short story requires descriptive adjectives and the use of literary devices, such as imagery, metaphors and
Why Writers Need to Watch More Sunsets
I often walk west and just stare at the horizon. It's a sort of meditation, focusing on the orange and yellow and red and gray colors as the sun
Sunset
The sun silently falls dormant on our side of earth. As the finale of colors strikes I bring out my camera Although no screen could capture the peaceful feeling
Sunset
Ripples stretched across the sea like dimples on smiling cheeks. The warm rays of the setting sun radiated like sputtering sparks, reflected on
Summer Sun (writing prompt)
The warms rays of yellow, late morning sunlight trickled through the leaves on the forest trees leaving patches of shadow on the ground below. Sprawling on the