A Summer Solstice on Block Island
Commentary
Every summer, I come with my colleagues from The New Criterion and Encounter Books to Block Island for a few days.
This year, we happen to be here on the plumpest day of the year, summer solstice.
The guidebooks say that the actual moment occurs at about 2:58 post meridiem this year
The sun will reach its northernmost point of the year, pause briefly, and then begin the (at first) slow movement to the south, bringing with it shorter days and (eventually) colder temperatures.
Today, for the summer solstice (“solstitium,” Latin for “sun-stopping”) in these parts, we’ll have 15 hours and 5 minutes of daylight….