Monday Morning Musings:
“All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.”
–Edgar Allan Poe, “A Dream Within a Dream”
“Time present and time past
Are both perhaps present in time future
And time future contained in time past.”–T.S. Eliot, “Burnt Norton” (No. 1, of “Four Quartets”)
What is the color of eternity?
All the fires of star bursts
and rainbows
in shades of never-seen, a sheen
scented with petriochor
caramel, and wisps of ozone—more–
perhaps a dream.
Summer Color at Whitall House, National Park, NJ
I am bemused, delighted
by the brilliant colors of the sky sighted
between storms,
the verdant green of almost-summer
and trees that call,
“Look at me now!”
and I’m enthralled,
with leafy boughs
that wave and wow,
Dock Creek, Old City, Philadelphia
but time is flowing in syncopated rhythms
with unexpected accents,
changing in split seconds
ascent, descend–dissent–
confused
from waltz to unsquare dance,
and I’m bemused,
how do grey storm clouds change to blue sky,
how does asleep move to wide awake,
so quickly
and we cannot stay still–
Ominous sky over Ben Franklin Bridge
over the hill
we go–
my mother goes from weak and incoherent
to mobile and lucid overnight
and back again, delight and fright,
I scarcely think of my dead father
on Father’s Day
when I see baby fawns,
twins napping in the sun,
their mother gone
somewhere,
Seeing them is nature’s gift to me.
I accept it gratefully.
I dream my mother’s apartment
has been turned into a hospital
I wake up annoyed
(Okay, Dr. Freud)
that I was not informed
of how it was transformed.
My mother tells me she has
another apartment upstairs—
it’s much nicer she says.
Perhaps it is, I think. I can’t compare.
I wonder about time,
and is it ever lost or gone?
The past exists in our memories—
like a rhyme
heard long ago–
the child me, my alive father,
my young mother
I think all still exist somewhere
like love
never gone,
but stretching back
like an endless series of mirror reflections
colors into black.
I watch the baby geese grow,
a new generation shows
walking by the river–
no music like its symphony
whispering of birth and earth,
singing of life, joy and strife,
keening at death in the currents
that flow to the sea
to be
again and again.
I watch past and future
flow and merge
like that river to the sea
dreaming of time,
dreams within dreams. . .and then
still the sun sets and rises again.
We haven’t gone to any movies, shows, or events recently—life and work have been a bit crazy–but we did watch Everybody Knows on Netflix (good but not as good as his previous films), and we’ve been enjoying Good Omens on Amazon Prime. It’s a lot of fun. And here’s Dave Brubeck’s Unsquare Dance. I have no idea why I thought of this today, but you’re welcome. We’ve had some beautiful days, but also a tornado warning on Thursday night, with tornados that touched down in nearby towns, and now stormy weather forecast for the next several days. I hope that’s not a life-metaphor.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
I love the message in your words. Even if you hadn’t mentioned that you often consult the Oracle about the direction of your musings, I think I’d recognise her voice in this. So much change yet everything seems to come around again. Logically, so will we 🙂
Thank you very much, Jane.
I think this turned out better than I expected when I started writing at first and had no idea what I was going to write about. The Oracle does seem to guide. 🙂
Yes, everything does seem to come around again. 🙂
There’s something guiding, I’m sure. Maybe it’s an innate wisdom that is usually buried beneath all the rubbish we live with. The Oracle helps us dig through.
Yes, I think you’re right. 🙂
🙂
Beautiful Merril! Such bursts of colour and vibrancy! Nature is so rewarding. Glad to hear your mother has returned to her vibrancy.
Thank you very much, Susan.
My mom had a mostly good day yesterday. We’ll see if it continues.
Lovely post, Merril. How wonderful to hear your mother is doing better. I love the photo of the two of you enjoying strawberries…so sweet!
Thank you so much, Jill.
We’re kind of amazed that my mom seems to be doing so well right now–but I suspect we’ll have ups and downs.
Keep posting that lovely willow; I’ll never tire of it . . . nor of you and your Mom tasting strawberries!
Thank you very much, Marian. My mom was in pretty good shape for most of yesterday. 🙂
🙂
Lovely, lovely. So colorful, so much the hilly travels of life. Here’s hoping you have more good times with your mom.
Thank you very much, Marie!
I, too, wonder about time and whether it’s ever really lost or gone because today I can’t believe the date is midway through the year in 2019. Seriously?
Time does fly.
Yes, it does! I can’t believe we’re halfway through June either. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Loved the Poe quote, by the way. Brilliant.
Thank you!
Time… it is a funny thing
Beautiful post and I wish for you more lovely moments with your mother.
Oooh… I love Michael Sheen! I shall have to check out this series.
Thank you, Dale. You probably put the time idea in my head–because you know I never think about it. 😉
The show is a lot of fun. It makes me think a bit of The Hitchhiker’s Guide.
Haha! I’m thinking…
Ooooh. Then I really shall look into it!
🙂
Past, present, future, eternity – all held in our collective memory. Would that have rainbow colors, always shifting as it expands?
Perhaps–that’s what I picture. 🙂
The light changes beautifully in both your photos and your words. The weather has been rather sudden the past few days, hasn’t it? You can’t prepare. Well, you never can I guess…(K)
Thank you, Kerfe. No, you can’t really prepare, I suppose, and life has seemed so unpredictable lately.
Such an engaging post, I too wonder about time, I think that’s why I enjoy science fiction, so many plausible theories. Much to reflect on here.
Thank you very much. I’m pleased you enjoyed it.
I like some science fiction, too. But I guess any good book–or movie–takes you to a new world for a while.
Sure does 🙂
Beautiful, Merril. So much of life and time in this. And yes, thank you for the Unsquare Dance. I don’t think I’ve ever heard it before. I’ve read Good Omens and wondered if the series was any good. I’ll put it on my list for when it comes out on DVD (we’re so old-fashioned here because we can’t stream).
Thank you very much, Robin. I’m glad you liked “Unsquare Dance.” Dave Brubeck looks like he’s having so much fun in this video.
I remember you don’t have streaming. I imagine it will come out on DVD at some point. I haven’t read the book, so I don’t know how it compares, but there are a bunch of great actors in this–and Frances McDormand is the voice of God. 🙂