Monday Morning Musings:
“The women of our family will come to me in dreams at night”
From Kadya Molodowsky, “Women-Poems”
“The difference between film and memory is that films are always false. But memories mix truth and lies. They appear and vanish before our eyes.”
Bi Gan, Long Day’s Journey into Night (2019)
See the shadows
in the purpled light,
listen–
they cry,
once we smelled the rain,
drank in sunshine,
saw beauty in a smile.
Once we wanted—
something, anything,
everything.
Once,
we were
more than whispers
and dreams.
***
It’s a week—again—
of sunshine and rain,
of baby geese
and peace
that hasn’t come.
We remember
six million dead
and others who’ve fled
brutality, in fear,
and it’s clear
the world’s still full of fear
and some things never change.
A Jane’s walk
on archeology
and history—
mysteries solved
(sometimes)
by digging underground.
They talk of science,
and physical evidence
and the sense
we make of them–
fragments unearthed.
But I hear the whispers of ghosts
how many bones
rest there beneath the cobblestones?
In the privies, are relics of meals,
crockery—and it feels
astonishing to resurrect their world
But I wonder about their dreams
and what they hoped for,
and it seems,
I hear them say,
once I walked here,
listen, I’m near.
We walk through parks
and alleyways
where a horse is led
(his time for bed?)
There a man dressed as
Thomas Jefferson,
I say,
let’s see Franklin Court again.
Weddings, bride and groom–
the air perfumed
by rain and flowers,
there, skulls remind us
of limited hours—
so, we’ll enjoy ours
while we can.
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We watch movies of secrets
and dreams,
people who lie in court
and to their spouses,
try to thwart
the system,
afraid to say what really was.
A prosecutor’s search–
he wants Nazis tried
and justice applied,
but he’s got his own secret life,
living apart from his wife,
and there are bad men
(some renowned)
who want to take him down.
We watch a film of beauty
and mystery–
noir turns to a dream
and we’re not sure what we’ve seen,
but like it all the same,
movies, transitory, like a flame,
but the thoughts about it remain,
and so we wander and ponder
as life goes on,
I bake and cook,
and read a book,
drink some wine,
hope things will be fine–
even as I read racist posts
in disbelief
of the ignorance
of supporters of the Twitter chief.
Still, there I see the baby geese,
and listen to the birds sing,
while I wonder
what the future will bring,
I pet my cats–
wish I could be content as that.
In my dreams,
the women of my family
come to me,
mixing truth and lies
in memories, time flies
and what was, still is,
and what wasn’t–might be,
as the ghosts murmur,
we’re here,
we wait,
we watch,
like the trees,
as time twists, turns,
and disappears.
I’ve been lax in giving you movie suggestions. 🙂 We saw three movies this weekend, two on Netflix, and one in a theater, a multi-cultural mix. I liked all of them. On Netflix, we watched, A Separation, a 2011 Iranian movie and The People vs. Fritz Bauer, a 2016 German movie. In the theater, we saw the Chinese movie, Long Day’s Journey into Night. It’s really impossible to describe what this movie is about, but it’s like being in a dream. Definitely see it in a theater. The theater where we saw it does not have 3D, but even so, it was extraordinary. I’d like to see it again.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Memories mix truth and lies … oh, that is why I struggle so much with my memories, especially when they don’t stand up to what others remember. As always, I love this musing of yours on Monday. I told a friend this weekend about how I’ve created a list of the movies you’ve seen (Merril’s Movie List) and add them to my Netflix queue. But we haven’t watched any movies in weeks. Down here in Florida, where the days are getting longer and the temps are comfortable, we’re in back porch season. Most of our time together is now spent on the back porch where we have dinner and sit and talk. And talk. And talk. By the way, our favorite red is Malbec 😉
Thank you so much, Marie. I’m pleased that you enjoy my musing (and movie selections). Your back porch time sounds wonderful! We have a big backyard that we don’t use because we don’t have a deck or patio, and it is always so buggy.
The first year after we moved into our house, we had the screened-in back porch added. In Florida, you’re never safe from biting insects 😬
Yes, I remember my aunt and uncle had a screened in pool area at their home in Miami.
When I reflect on a memory, is it my memory?; what I have been told?; or a photograph?
Thank you, Derrick. It’s true–and even if you think it’s an accurate memory, it’s still colored by your own perceptions–and perhaps the passage of time. I’ve had the experience in which I thought I’ve seen a movie because the book created vivid pictures in my mind. 🙂
Those inanimate ghosts always linger as a nudge to memory true or not so true – How we respond to them is what matters, and how they animate us, … thanks Merril –
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Susan. Yes, you are right that what is important is how we respond.
Love these Monday Morning Musings. I saw that movie listed in my “special” movie theatre but now that the golf club is open and I am inundated with moving issues, going to see a movie is not gonna happen. Sigh. I might have to check out the Netflix ones. Maybe 😉
I love the opening quotes – especially the second one.
Thank you so much, Dale. Too bad about the movies–I’d love to hear your take on it. The Netflix movies were good, too. 🙂
One never knows… maybe, just maybe I shall have a chance to make the trek! 🙂
🙂
I love that first quote. Beautiful musing and photos, Merril!
Thank you so much, Jill.
My daughter used that quote with some art she did. I’m not sure if this link will work, but here it is: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw9gZ3ZnIvq/
Sometimes our memories seem like ghosts. I think your knowledge of history helps you to see how it continually transforms itself even as the core remains.
I read a review of that Chinese film and it did sound intriguing. Not that I ever go to the movies…
Thank you very much, Kerfe. Yes, I think you’re right about history–and the movie was definitely intriguing! 🙂
You sure do keep leisurely busy!
Thanks, Ken. 🙂
You are so culturally ahead of me with the movies/plays you watch. One of these days… I’ll try and catch up. 🙂
It’s not a race. 🙂 You travel and do other things I don’t do.
Memories… so unreliable at times (maybe most of the time!).
Beautiful musings, as always. The tour sounds fascinating. The baby geese are adorable. And my movie queue on Netflix continues to grow. 🙂
Thank you, Robin.
Apparently, the Jane’s Walks are all over the country in the first weekend in May.
The baby geese are adorable!