describing sunrise

[alpacinou]

Hello.

I want to describe sunrise. What adjective can I use for the sun rays?

Is this okay? How can I make it better?

On the west, the calm waters were shimmering in the cold moonlight. To the east, the emerging sun rays had colored sky a pale purple.

I know there must be better words than emerging.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello.

I want to describe sunrise. What adjective can I use for the sun's rays?

Is this okay? How can I make it better?

[STRIKE]On[/STRIKE] In/To the west, the calm waters [STRIKE]were shimmering[/STRIKE] shimmered in the cold moonlight. To the east, the [STRIKE]emerging[/STRIKE] rising sun [STRIKE]rays[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]had[/STRIKE] colored the sky a pale purple.

I know there must be better words than emerging.

See above. I wouldn't use "rays" at all there.

 

[alpacinou]

See above. I wouldn't use "rays" at all there.

What is wrong with using "rays"?

 

[emsr2d2]

Mainly the fact that we don't use it very often. We use "sunbeams". I think part of the problem is the word order. We don't use "sun rays". It's better as "sun's rays" but even then, I would expect "the rays of/from the rising sun" or similar.

 

[alpacinou]

Mainly the fact that we don't use it very often. We use "sunbeams". I think part of the problem is the word order. We don't use "sun rays". It's better as "sun's rays" but even then, I would expect "the rays of/from the rising sun" or similar.

Is this okay?

In the west, the calm waters shimmered in the cold moonlight. To the east, the rays of the rising sun colored the sky a pale purple.

What about this?

In the west, the calm waters shimmered in the cold moonlight. To the east, the sunbeams colored the sky a pale purple.

 

[emsr2d2]

The first is much better. I should have pointed out that we usually use "sunbeams" to refer to the beams of light that come down from the overhead sun, towards the ground, rather than up from the rising sun.