Monday Morning Musings:
“All I know
Is you are there
You are there
And I am here.
–Irene Sankoff and David Heine, “I am Here,” from Come From Away
“Suddenly there’s nothing in between me and the sky”
Irene Sankoff and David Heine, “Me and the Sky,” from Come From Away
“Think of it as a ghost play; the actor’s older bodies are haunting these thirteen-year-old characters.”
Clare Barron on her play, Dance Nation
“Are you here?” my mother asks
as I, involved in some ordinary task
stand just beyond her sight.
The boundaries between mist and light
time and dreams, seems porous, slight
and she drifts, and we drift again and again
Reflections in a rain puddle, Philadelphia
sunshine, then rain
“Here,” says the woman in the book
“Here,” I say, “Look.”
The twilight and dawn
the days that falter, end with a song
look at them fly
nothing between them and the sky
and we drink wine, talk of movies and why
they did this or that—it’s a metaphor
I say, and we laugh, remember more
to discuss, remember the time when it was just us
or when we were thirteen–
remember how life seemed?
All emotions, and the dreams?
Emotions now more settled, but more stress—
I digress.
Time right now to sit in gardens bright
to catch autumn’s glowing light
rain and sunshine, tears, delight
I was there once, now I’m here in sight–
of what? I’m not certain, but you are here
together we’re here,
and there’s magic in theater–and deer
and nature, magic in each day’s dawning
watching the sun rise, yawning
as it sets, and the cats that sleep, never fawning
honest with their desire
for food and love, we’re the suppliers
but we get it back, their love doesn’t expire
no ghosts in their bodies, at least that I see
they can just be–
and sometimes so can we—
here together,
I am here,
you are here,
nothing between us and sky–
in my dreams, we fly.
We actually saw two shows this week: Come From Away and Dance Nation. Come from Away is heartwarming without being cloying. It’s about people doing good. It’s about the town in Newfoundland that takes in flights following the terrorist attacks on 9/11. It’s poignant, but also very funny at times. The staging is wonderful, and we saw it in the beautiful Academy of Music in Philadelphia. Dance Nation is about a competitive dance team of middle school kids, but it’s also a memory play, as we see glimpses of the girls (and one boy’s) older selves. All the actors are adults. It’s laugh out loud funny at times, but it also makes you want to cheer. There’s a wonderful speech on female empowerment.
And for Merril’s Movie Club members—we finally got to the movies and saw Parasite. Yes, of course it has subtitles. It’s Korean. It’s about class and metaphors, and it’s excellent, but you know, it’s a Merril movie. 😉 Here’s the trailer.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Love never expires. Beautiful thoughts.
Happy Monday.
Thank you! Happy Monday to you, as well.
Thanks
Your words along with the gorgeous photographs tell me you had a wonderful weekend. Lovely post, Merril.
Thank you very much, Jill.
I love how words responding to one perspective manage to capture another perspective so succinctly – “I was there once, now I’m here in sight– / of what? I’m not certain, but you are here” – captures my anticipation … husband planning to retire in June … each solo day now more precious … while looking forward to his presence, our travels … open to what’s ahead but wondering WHEN will I write? We are together on this transition’s verge – together still an amazing grace when I look back 20 years!
Thank you for making me smile this morning.
And do keep posting cat antics – love the feet protruding from basket pose!
What a lovely comment! Thank you so much. I hope you enjoy your husband’s retirement. My husband–after 38 years–finally was ready to leave his teaching job. I told him he had to have a plan though first, so he was working part-time at a golf course, and now he’s teaching part-time at a community college. I hope you will have a wonderful time traveling, or doing whatever it is you enjoy. We’ve been enjoying going on outings. Our cats make me smile, too!
My favorite photos: the puddle reflection, and The Thinker!
Thanks, Marian!
Thanks Merril, always such a pleasure to see a photo/s already seen, here and there, woven onto a story simpatico with the pulse of daily life. Truly, there is poetry in the pulses …
Thank you so much, Susan!
Such deeply reflective thoughts with your mother not fear away.
Thank you, Derrick.
Beautiful Merril, the photos are delightful as well.
Thank you very much, Holly!
Far
Perhaps fear works, too. 🙂
Indeed 🙂
This is beautiful–and cats, too :). You made me think with your words and with that Dance Nation quote. Both shows sound wonderful. I’ve heard so much about the first one, but not about the latter, so I was glad to hear about it. I am here.
Thank you for being here, Luanne. I’m so pleased that my words made you think. Both shows really were wonderful in different ways. See both if you get the chance. 🙂
And yes, cats!
I would love to see them! I haven’t seen a show in awhile boohoo.
We’re fortunate to have so many theaters in the area, and we have two theater subscriptions. “Come From Away” was an additional splurge. 🙂
What a fantabulous week you had, Merril!
And I must thank you for the movie heads up 😉
I have a whole month to wait till I see Come From Away 😉
Thank you, Dale! It was a fun week–much needed. You will love Come From Away, I’m sure. And hopefully there will more move recommendations soon. 🙂
Yes, I can well believe. A much deserved as well as needed.. I have no doubts I will. Did you have fun with the Newfie accent?
Yes, I shall also try to add to the movie recommendations!
I imagine the accent was toned down a bit. I guess we should have had cod before the show instead of Thai curry mussels. 😉 I wasn’t expecting the show to be so funny at times, as well as poignant.
We Canadians (and Newfies, in particular) are quite the funny lot 😉
And maybe! Just make sure when you go visit you kiss the cod and have a shot of Screech!
I’d do it for sure! 🙂
To become on honorary Newfie, you must!
Yes, apparently so!
😀
That should have been movie, of course, not move. 🙂
Of course.
What a week, what a musing, what light and shade, being here and being there, you and the sky. Just lovely, gentle, frail, fine. I agree; the staging of Come From Away was wonderful, you were everywhere and somewhere all at once, I didn’t even realise until almost half way through that they were all playing multiple characters.
Loving the autumn reds you captured here too and cat in basket- brilliant.
I wanted to see Parasite but here its with French subtitles and I cannot read and translate that fast while not missing anything! Instead I did Joker and Downton Abbey back to back recently, hilarious and not!
Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your lovely comment. It was fun to finally have some time to just do some fun things. Parasite will probably show up somewhere where you can watch it. I’ll probably see Downton at some point. It’s movie season now–so many I want to see! 🙂
Your mother asks the only important question, and your life answers.
The puddle reflection photo is especially spectacular. (K)
This, this here: “their love doesn’t expire.” That’s true of cats and so many others. Beautiful poem and photos, Merril.
Thank you so much, Marie. Yes, they simply love. ❤
The first photo is perfect for your opening musing.
Thank you, Ken.