Monday Morning Musings:
“Remember you are all people and all people
are you.
Remember you are this universe and this
universe is you.”
From Joy Harjo, “Remember”
I remember the week,
the was, the hoped for
the what that came before
the sun and storms
the way a cloud forms
and blows across the sky
while I wonder how and why
it happens again and again
sun rising, moon sets,
dreams floating, drifting,
joy, regrets
shifting, sifting
through existence
we’re existing,
sometimes resisting. . .
****
Another shooting on the day
we celebrate Passover,
the end
(Hate fills a space
what should be sacred,
this place.)
but we toast to new beginnings,
jobs and a new house,
we douse
the hate with love
and wine,
and we dine.
It would have been enough
“Dayenu,”
life is rough and tough
but we find the light
in candles on the table.
On this special night
we sing and laugh
act out our play
imprint photographs
and memories of then
and now,
beginnings and when
did that happen?
The sister stories
strains, pains
(Laughter)
vomiting in cars,
on planes
and on my doll
(she says)
we remember it all–
ancestors, crash, fall
hide from Cossacks
when very small,
and there is more,
Dessert!
Not quite gone, no snores
though it’s late,
I remember,
bed awaits.
The next day
sky sunny, then grey
we walk through
city and cemetery
sun peeks out
we see a play,
Oedipus, well,
the shepherds
who raise him, yell
and drink
they don’t so much
think,
or they do,
too late,
the cow moos
and there is
inappropriate sex
a family this
dysfunctional,
a tragedy with laughs,
desperate, they fall
drink too much
evil and nice
the device
of plotting might
not quite work,
but it’s interesting,
the play,
and we discuss it
before we flit
to other topics
as we sit here
eat mussels, drink beer,
and journey home
watch Voyager, where
Capt. Janeway, onscreen, there
wants to save her family
a group united not by blood
but fate, and we await
ours,
not family, but fate
sometimes wondering, too late–
yet always there are cats
and moon,
a daughter’s visit,
gone, too soon,
but I remember–
we are the stars
and all our ancestors
through time and space,
traced
filled with sorrow
and grace
I remember today
and yesterday,
dream of tomorrow.
Today is Day 29, the penultimate day of NaPoWriMo. The challenge is “to blend these concepts into your own work, by producing a poem that meditates, from a position of tranquility, on an emotion you have felt powerfully.” I don’t know if I’ve done that here, but I like this prompt, and I’ll probably return to it.
We celebrated Passover at the end because that’s when most of us could get together. Daughter and Daughter-in-law went with us to see Dionysus Was Such a Nice Man,” a world-premiere play at the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia. And then we ate mussels at Monk’s Cafe.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
You really good at this poetry thing, Merril.
Thanks, Cindy! 🙂
You worked so hard on furnishing the table with Passover food, And, of course you can find meaning in “the light in candles on the table.” Brava!
Thank you very much, Marian!
I certainly got the initial position of tranquility which built to powerful emotions. I liked your particular use of rhyme, too
Thank you so much, Derrick.
Poems always serve to unleash a special state of mind. The photos say that the celebration was the best. Family joy gives life to life.
Thank you!
This is beautiful, Merril. I always enjoy the candid shots of you and your husband…you two are so cute!
Aww–thank you, Jill! 🙂
I love the slideshow—continuity and change. The world is full of sorrow, but our families (by blood or choice) hold us together. Thanks for letting us join your celebration. (K)
Thank you so much, Kerfe! It was good having both my girls and daughter-in-law here, even though some couldn’t make it.
I’m lucky my girls are close by.
One of my daughters lives about a half hour away. The other lives in Boston–soon moving to western Mass.
I moved away from all the places I lived with my parents. They kept moving too. But I think my daughters will always consider NYC home, even if they end up moving away.
I love your “long view” poetry … is that the historian in you? There is the underlying thread of tranquility but you take us on a long journey back and forth in time, like a bolt of decorated fabric being laid on a table and studied. The poem eases a bit the pain of the latest shooting.
Thank you so much, Marie. That’s such a lovely comment. I don’t know if it’s the historian in me. I kind of think I’ve always seen things this way. I’m glad the poem eased your soul a bit.
Your family gatherings always sound like so much fun.
Thank you, Ken. There’s stress now with getting everyone there–especially my mom–but all in all, it’s fun. And when I have both daughters there. 🙂
You know these are my favourites of yours… your telling of your previous week in such a lovely way.
You do it so well.
Awww–thank you! ❤
My pleasure. Truly, my pleasure to read them! 😉 ❤
I too love that slideshow. So good to read you this month, Merril ~
Thank you so much!