Dawn is a Flash poem written by Alan Sondheim and composed by Reiner Strasser in 2005; it was originally published on Flash and has since been preserved on Ruffle. Sondheim provided the text, images, and sounds while Strasser composed the piece. The poem is started by clicking on the title on the introduction page, then loops continuously through text, photographic images, and audio. The only interactive aspect is the pause button, creating a simple yet captivating experience for the reader. The background involves four photographic images of nature that fade into the next and repeat when the poem loops, and the audio contains sounds of wind and rain in order to create a more immersive experience. The text also fades in and out of view, restarting when the poem loops and is written entirely in lowercase. The somber tone of the text is contrasted by photographs displaying the beauty of nature. Dawn is centered around themes of love, death, and grieving. Sondheim describes fears of dying and being forgotten, using examples of his dying mother and aging father. The looping and fading of the piece emphasize this fear, representing the continuation of life even when you die.

Eve Huot wrote this entry for ENGL 693: Digital Literature, Professor Melinda White, University of New Hampshire, Spring 2025.