Monday Morning Musings:
“Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see.”
–Fortune Cookie Wisdom
Moon music whispers
a lust for life—and light
in the darkness.
Ask—does the sky ache above
seeing death below?
There, like the shadow
that lies black beneath the rose.
***
The power of her voice in song–
now only her shadow sings–
caught on video and audio, sing along–
to “A Natural Woman,” it brings—
memories of a president’s tears,
as now a nation fears
the future filled with tweeting jeers.
He and they try to destroy the press
but those of us who cherish thought
protest. We need the freedom to express
ourselves without duress.
Though the shadow ones know—some are bought—
some are complacent, some complicit–
elicit the illicit.
We sit outside, it’s still summer hot
though autumn hovers in the shadows
and we begin to think ahead, no, perhaps not—
there’s still time to sip wine, dip our toes
into pools or walk a sandy beach
and reach. . .
for love. Seek time with friends
fight the shadows, that lurk around us
and yes, we can’t know how it ends
hate is around, and it’s been ever thus.
It’s a fine line we walk
but we must talk
about the hate we see, it’s been freed
no longer do they lurk in the dark
the white-robed shadows proclaim their creed
of white supremacy–they bark
and parade in the open to dog whistles from above
and we must spark the light, the dove–
she flies somewhere high, beyond this rainy sky
where we walk through puddles on cobblestones
the air scented with summer flowers, and all the whys
float through the air, and do we care about the bones
that lie beneath us
the souls that flit above us
in the shadowed world, we cannot see
we shine a light, where is the door,
where is the key?
In the before,
we look for the after
and the in-between
is still to be seen.
There is no moral, this is no fable
but disaster can come suddenly, coffee spilled
across the table.
A recap of my week. Aretha Franklin died, the nation’s press fought back against 45’s attacks, we drank wine, and we saw the movie BlackkKlansman. Trailer here.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
So very true
Thank you, Beth.
The in between is still to be seen..sigh. Loved this write.
Thanks so much, Vivian!
🙂
shadows everywhere … lovely Merril. May only coffee be spilled …
Yes, indeed, Susan. Thank you!
I like your fortune cookie saying and the hope in a May Angelou quote: Light and shadow are opposite sides of the same coin. “We can illuminate our paths or darken our way. It is a matter of choice.”
Thank you, Marian. I’m glad this sparked something.Thank you for adding the Maya Angelou quotation.
Today’s times are convulsed. Threats of not being able to comment. The good that your poetry lets us see the truth. I loved it.
Thank you.
Beautifully done, Merril… I love how you recap your week!
Thank you very much, Dale!
Always amazing words Merril! ❤
Thank you so much, Holly. ❤
you’re so welcome!
Yes, reach for love. And when enough see that light, may we be pleased to have all this behind us.
Yes to all of that. Thank you, Ken.
A splendid round-up, Merril. So well said, too – such powerful commentary on the times
Thank you very much, Derrick.
What an amazing and poetic fortune!
I get tears when I see that performance of “A Natural Woman” too.
We must keep fighting, but not forget to savor the gifts of the world. (K)
Thanks, Kerfe. It was an amazing fortune. I said to my husband that it was definitely “a Merril fortune.” Perhaps the Oracle sent it. 🙂
I get teary watching that performance, too.