Scintillation, a bit of an odd term, expresses sparkle, flicker. This specific word can be used for the twinkling of stars, for the flickering blind spots that can be part of a migraine aura, or for the light phenomenon that occurs when absorbing ionizing radiation.

Originally, I intended to name the composition after the unpleasant feeling of instability, the strange darting of the mind, through which I sometimes can’t see things clearly, even though they are right in front of me. Scintillation, however cumbersome a term, helped me (with a hint of absurdity) to see beauty in that as well. Sparkling of the mind or flickering of concentration is much more poetic than the annoyance at the injustice of a verdict issued by one’s own head. The idea of shattered focus as glittering star constellations is gentler and more reconciled—my mind scintillates, and yours does too. Sometimes that’s just how it is.