A Slanted Beam

I walked over to the sunny wooden windowsill where a brass pocket kaleidoscope was propped against an unlit glass tea-light cup. Sunlight was streaming through the glass, catching the brass tube at an awkward tilt. I sat flat on the warm pine boards and gripped the knurled rotating collar with both of my gloved hands. With a slow, steady twist, the tiny internal glass fragments shifted inside with a dry, muffled rattle. Through the peephole, three neat triangular facets of green and amber light blossomed against the warm curtain fold. It was remarkably steady and calm.