Restoring the Radius

The solar path light beside the walkway clicked on as dusk settled over the courtyard. A stiff, curled magnolia leaf was wedged against its frosted lens, cutting the downward beam in half. I approached through the damp soil bed to inspect the fixture. Bracing both of my curved hands against the leaf's rigid center rib, I levered the dry stem free and drew it away into the garden mulch. The obstructed beam immediately expanded, casting an unbroken circle of warm white light across the red brick border. With the radial perimeter fully restored, I nudged a flat grey river pebble against the light's outer margin and sat down to conclude the day.