Caribbean Eclipse '98 Passengers' Artwork and Writings A Message from Robin Rector Krupp How do you make the transitory real? How can you make the eclipse magic linger? Try painting or writing right after the experience. Capture your own impression before it too flees away. Immediately after the eclipse totality and our champagne toast, we invited all passengers to join us in the piano bar-art studio. We provided oil pastels, watercolors, brushes, glitter crayons, white, black and colored papers and circle templates. Absolute beginners were encouraged, Anything goes! A daring selection of passengers, age 6 to 80, joined together to paint, laugh, and create. Sometimes we had three generations of the same family hard at work. Many passengers did more than one piece of artwork, trying out a different view or art supply. We displayed over 60 pieces of art and poetry for the rest of the cruise in a prominent location. And did we get attention! Groups gathered around to ooh and aaah. People asked, "Is there one like what I remember?" And we were amazed at the variety of what people saw. Robin Rector Krupp

A poet can pen a beautiful Ode to a Grecian Urn. I can only write doggerel aboard my Grecian Urn, the Stella Solaris, the vessel which gently carried me to what must truly must be the Biggest and The Best Show on Earth. TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE 2-26-98 To take it all in requires some tricks So we worked to prepare for this solar eclipse. Down in the theater we soaked up some knowledge From lecturers lucid at Ted's floating college. With cameras and check lists, we festooned the decks. The sun was high so we craned our necks. A fatigue green plane buzzed us twice, Perhaps from Cuba and not very nice. "Mercury!" we shouted, "Jupiter and Venus!" You might have laughed had you just then seen us. Staring in awe, transfixed by their beauty For just that moment we forgot our duty To follow our lists as the partial phase Relentless and slow had our minds in a haze. But Krupp counted us down as the excitement grew high. "Now shed your glasses, the time is nigh!" White, then red, it's Bailey's Beads Then on the right, the Prominence bleeds! We'd been wrapped in soft, enveloping light, The Diamond Ring then made it bright. Click your shutters down the scale, The party is happening and you are pale! The moon has come in formal gown With coronal collar like silky down. He says, "30 seconds!", I'm all aflutter Turn that dial and crank up that shutter! Bam! It came and just got bigger Blinding, then fleeting and gone in a jigger! That Diamond Ring had lifted me high, Stopped my breath and now I know why Time stands still when there is an eclipse. Not a word escapes from anyone's lips. --Barbara Pierson FEBRUARY 26, 1998 My journey started overcast and gray Yet hopefully, as southerly I flew Sojourning from the drab of every day, Outbound to venture into life anew. Like mariners of old, I had the skies Above to show me latitude and time, Refreshed by ocean breezes' gentle sighs Exhilarated by the salty clime. Companionship enriched the wait for me; Looking through murk we watched the gobbling moon Ingest the sun, and then--Totality! Pure light celestial shone, then left too soon. Stella Solaris, sun-star of the sea, Enchanted craft, brought heaven's light to me. --JPD cabin R51 Latitude 12° 38'N Longitude 69° 2' 53"W 7am Awake with anticipation Sea and emotions rise and fall The grey blue sky twinkles with whipped-cream clouds The air is charged with energy exploding and repressed Predictions constantly modified to meet reality. 10am Questions and answers 11 foot swells and unexpected squalls Run, run cover your cameras Diamond rings, eye patches and pin holes. Don't touch,   Don't flash,      Don't talk, Just wonderment. 2 minutes, 40 seconds! 1:15pm Spectacular-- Powerful forces command spirits Specks upon the earth Humanity retreats, powerless. 1:20pm Moon & sun Tranquil in their shared space Soon to compete For dominance in space. The wind trounces papers, The sun burns. Man and three-legged companions seek anchorage. 1:35pm They stood and watched and awed and clicked-- Sun shades, eye shades, black patches and eclipse shades-- Recording in sould, spririt and film Ancient and modern mystical, magical and factual. 2:00pm Anticipation peaks Anxiously resetting cameras, checking watches. 2:11:50pm Totality! 2:15:32pm Halo and prominences, gift of diamond rings exploded in the sky. Perfection! 2:55pm Retreating to my cabin, Hot and perspiring, Wordless and numb, Reliving the peak experience. --Dr. Patricia Botkin Words to Habañera for Patrick Moore on his 75th Birthday, 3/4/98 (apologies to Bizet) --Greta Birkby Verse 1: Who's the gent in the dark staid suit With monocle and deportment Holding court in the midday sun On stars and moon to everyone? Refrain: It's Patrick Moore, yes Patrick Moore The paragon of astronomy It's Patrick Moore--Oh, Patrick Moore The great star commentator for the BBC-- Our Patrick Moore--yes Patrick Moore He'll tickle you pink with his wit and flair Dear Patrick Moore--oui Patrick Moore Musician, astronomer extraordinaire! Verse 2: Who's the man at the xylophone Who plays such hits as "Penguin's Parade?" And warms us up with bright bons mots On titillating ocelots? Verse 3: If you've met this brilliant man You really know its no Kaballah Better be first on the main program Because his act is hard to follah![sic] Repeat Refrain.

Read About Our Caribbean Eclipse '98 Experience Overview Page   Lecture Staff — Biographies and Commentaries   Eclipse Central — Passenger Letters and Comments   Eclipse Central — Passenger Art and Writings   Eclipse Central — Passenger Eclipse Photos