Monday Morning Musings:
“Painted portraits have a life of their own that comes deep in the soul of the painter.”
–Vincent van Gogh, 1885
Angels dance across the sky
kissing the grass with morning dew–
there, a door opens,
there, a door closes
ephemeral as a ghost.
Do you hear the belly laugh
emerging from the silence?
It is wild and warm,
life.
***
Impressions of a week,
moments stored, like snapshots
a truth we seek, we speak
of how my mom is weak
our lives tied-up in knots,
and the world is often bleak,
but we take a long walk
by fountains and statues,
we talk
Swann Memorial Fountain, Logan Square, Philadelphia
“Social Justice” Philadelphia Museum of Art, Association for Public Art
of family, admire brushstrokes and dots
in bathers, poplars, and fields–
impressions formed from all these spots.
I want to be in this scene
I say, and wonder what it’d be like—
I dream. . .
but we walk past the sycamore trees,
an urban oasis, cool in the summer heat
from the welcome breeze
Rodin Museum, Philadelphia
in the garden, a rabbit darts
and bees flit, while birds sing
perhaps all patrons of the arts?
The Impressionists would enjoy
the gardens here, I think.
As we walk, I see a little boy
his shirt, says “Just Do It,”
and he looks eager to—
my impressions flit . . .
It’s a beautiful July day.
We drink wine, eat cheese,
wanting a moment to stay
here, in a bit of peace,
sitting, dreaming, a sidewalk café
(though the texts don’t cease)
Tria, Washington West, Philadelphia
we drink wine and beer,
eat luscious cheese,
and find some cheer that we’re here.
Then a day with our daughter
(more wine and cheer)
she tells me how her father taught her
and her husband how to fix things.
and we talk of friends and dreams,
and how funny it is, the way life brings
us to these moments, and all the feelings—
love and tears, dogs, house, spouse—
the roller-coaster ride that sends us reeling
and hallucinating. Yet we stop,
read a book, sit here
in a pleasant, tranquil spot. . .
Impressions, fleeting
they come together
completing
somehow, my life.
Impressions–look, see
forget the moments of strife—
there, the lucent moon sails high
her ship glowing
across the sapphire sky.
. . .and there are cats.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Lovely, Merril. I so love the last photo of you and your husband. 🙂
Thank you, Jill. It’s usually just the two of us, so I asked our daughter to take a photo of us together. 🙂
You and your family are simply adorable. The love just shines through.
And your shares are always a joy.
Have a fabulous week!
Awww–thank you so much, Dale!
🥰
Such easy verse that I didn’t spot the rhyme until “taught her” 🙂
Quite a compliment, Derrick. Thank you!
That rhyme may have been a bit forced. 🙂
I think so 🙂 🙂 Otherwise I’d never have known. Thanks very much, Merril
🙂
simply gorgeous Merril 🙂 ..fleeting yet somehow completing … impressions press upon us as they have on me. Thank you
Thank you very much, Susan! 🙂
Ahhhh. A good life is made up of all those little insignificant details.
Yes, it is. It’s been so crazy around here, we tried to work in some fun time this weekend, too. (And thankfully, no storms!)
You always find something interesting and worthwhile to do with your time, and you notice all the details.
Thank you! 🙂
You title summoned Longfellow’s Psalm of Life: “Art is long and time is fleeting . . . ” Great weekend fun, judging from the photos!
Thank you very much, Marian. We made some time for fun this weekend around other work and duties.
“find some cheer that we’re here” … I try to do that as often as I can. Lovely musing, Merril.
Thank you very much, Marie. It’s been a roller-coaster few months. We squeezed in the museum before seeing my mom, and then we went out afterward.
With much on your mind, you still find time to enjoy yourself and keep smiling.
Thanks, Frank. It was a question of making the time or else. 😉
Cool stuff in Philly. Poems and pics. Made me a little homesick.
Thank you very much. There are a lot of cool things there.
Beautiful, as always. I really like the first image and words you started with. It does look as though angels dance across that sky. And yes, there are cats. 🙂
Thank you very much, Robin. 🙂
I really appreciate the comfort of family in these words, something I can always count on in your writing, Merril.
Thank you very much, Ken! I appreciate that, and that you’ve gone back to look at so many posts!
🙂