Look up! Vultures just hanging out. Hidden in plain sight. National Park, NJ.
Monday Morning Musings:
“. . .for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.”
― George Eliot, Middlemarch
“I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey work of the stars”
–Walt Whitman, #31 from “Song of Myself”
“It may diminish some our dry delight
To wonder if everything we are and do
Lies subject to some little law like that;
Hidden in nature, but not deeply so.”
The sun is hidden behind the clouds,
the images waver through a wet wall,
and the world is dark, dreary, until the charcoal clouds part
through the droplets, a ray of bright hope–
colors arc across the sky,
and in that magic moment
my spirits lift, not forever, but enough
there, hidden behind the gloom
there is beauty, beneath the sleepy despondency,
there is hope, joy, love.
We walk through Old City streets,
bones beneath our feet, hidden
ghosts walk with dry leaf rustle.
We see their reflections
in the end of the year.
Curtis Center Building, Philadelphia, December 31, 2019.
The year turns, a page reflected
(we reflect)
in the late afternoon sun-glow
as couples take their vows,
beginning a new life
We see a movie,
a hidden life,
but reflect upon so many hidden lives
at that time, in this time–
time flows faster
towards what?
We travel east,
the sun setting behind us
announcing the year is ending,
a new year about to begin.
From a Patco train, crossing the Delaware River from Philadelphia to New Jersey. December 31, 2019.
We eat Chinese food,
watch a musical of hidden lives
danced into acceptance
in boots—
kinky boots. Well, why not?
Why not? And why–
do leaders deny and lie?
foment hate?
The world burns
hidden beneath smoke and rage
are flower bulbs,
seeds of hope.
If we destroy the world
perhaps something better will come,
rising over our hidden bones
buried, like secrets
of family and history
in tombs sealed and forgotten
someday to be uncovered
to live again
perhaps in legend or song.
I find a recording of Yiddish songs
hidden in plain sight in my mother’s bookcase.
She is calmed by old, familiar melodies
as we sort and pack her belongings,
much of her past now hidden (treasures)
buried in time, tossed aside in many moves
“I’m reduced to one room,” she says
almost in tears,
saltwater, like the sea
from which we sprang,
the work of the stars,
their light and songs carrying us on
Starlight, starbright,
I wish tonight.
Hope buried, sometimes found, like that piece of bread that drops into the fondue pot.
Merril’s Movie Club—So many movies; so little time! We saw A Hidden Life, Terrence Malick’s latest. It was beautiful, like all of his movies—and well, you have to accept and go along with the meandering pace. It is based on a true story, and while I admire someone who sticks up for his convictions– and it is difficult not to see present-day parallels—I also was not certain what his objections actually were. At one point, he says he doesn’t know if Hitler is evil. Um, what? And though he suffers for not signing a paper giving allegiance to Hitler, the war does not really seem to touch the beautiful village in the clouds. I liked how the movie showed all the hard work the women do on their farm, but everyone seems well-fed while the war is going on. Yes, this man stood up for his undefined objections, but places were being bombed, people were sent to concentration camps, and other horrors were going on.
Last night we watched I Lost My Body.It’s a French animated film about a severed hand looking for its body. I know that sounds weird and creepy, but it’s surprisingly moving, as we learn about the young man’s life. I never thought I’d be rooting for a hand.
On New Year’s Eve, we watched a Broadway production of the musical Kinky Boots that I had recorded when PBS’s Great Performances ran a few weeks of Broadway shows in November. It’s great fun, and it was perfect for New Year’s Eve. (If you’re a Passport member you can see it.)
We’re almost finished with a Turkish show on Netflix called, The Gift. We’ve enjoyed it—an artist who draws strange symbols teams up with an archeologist to uncover family secrets and legends from the past.
And finally–a shout out to my cousin, David Lesser! His story, Bodies at Rest, was made into a Chinese movie. I don’t know how it will be distributed, but it’s an action movie, set in a morgue in Hong Kong, and it opened an Asian film festival. Trailer here.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Well done. Enjoyed the way hidden was throughout your words, tied to the movie, and your reflections. Cheers to another serendipitous moment.
Thank you very much, Frank!
So much is hidden, isn’t it? In and out of (plain) sight. I love the connection of your words and images with your life. Beautiful.
Thank you very much, Robin. Yes, so much is hidden. 🙂
Your post is my first rainbow of 202 – THANK YOU!
This post finally came through for me … after trying periodically since morning … I was beginning to think WP was playing games with your title making it an example of “hidden”.
Thank you so much for persevering! I really appreciate it. No one else mentioned any problems, so I hope it wasn’t widespread. Those WP gremlins really do cause mischief.
I hear the hope and pathos in your words today. Yes, it’s hard to say hello (new year?) and goodbye, as I intuit from your lines about saltwater. But there’s hope, even in a fondue pot. Ha!
Thank you too for the movie thumbnails. The Gift sounds intriguing.
Thank you very much, Marian. Yes, hope in a fondue pot! We liked The Gift, but it might not be your thing. 😉
I just love how you do this…
A Hidden Life was on my agenda and I figure it will be one I shall go solo. I might be able to entice one of my friends but if not, it won’t stop me…
What possessed you to even contemplate watching “I Lost My Hand”? BTW, the video didn’t work for me so, if there are others… here it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byHpC7gdIwk I love how you give everything a chance!
The Gift looks interesting. I’ll have to see if it’s available on the Canadian Netflix (burns my butt that we have differing shows/movies).
Kudos to your Cuz!!
Thank you, Dale. And thank you for the the new video link. I always look up reviews and read about movies and shows before I add them to my list. “I Lost My Body” actually got really good reviews. It’s weird, but poignant. 🙂 We finished The Gift last night. It was good–I think there will be a second season.
It’s so frustrating that YouTube and Netflix both have restrictions. Drives me crazy. I believe you on “I Lost My Hand” – great reviews must help entice 😉. Reading a movie is one thing, a series? I’ll see…
You mean the subtitles? I guess we’ve gotten used to it. We’ve watched so many now.
Yes. It’s true we get used to it…
🙂
You found a 🌈 !! Did you make a wish? Haha. Those pics of you and the Mr. eating fondue were funny and cute. 😆 Wow! That’s great for your cousin… talent obviously runs in your family. The trailer was something else! Sci-fi horror is doubly fun when done in Japanese. Loved your musings… random…full of life…bittersweet, too. Bless your mom. 💋
Thank you so much, Rose!
The rainbow was such a surprise! I just looked out my kitchen window, and it was there. I’m glad I went outside to take a picture then because it was gone in a few minutes. Yes, it’s wonderful about David’s movie. It’s an action movie in Chinese though, no sci-fi or horror. 🙂
Love your meandering and reflecting. A new year will do that to you.
Pat
Thank you so much, Pat! Happy New Year!
Love your meandering and reflecting. A new year will do that to you.
Pat
I missed this yesterday. It’s a journey, coming to a peaceful end by the sounds of it, in tears, stars and salt water. Why not?
Thank you for coming back to this one. It is a journey. The next couple of weeks will be crazy–well, crazier than usual. 😉
I spent all yesterday working out a medieval battle and it was very painful. Over it now 🙂
I hope you had your armor on! 🙂 We had to fill in at my mom’s unexpectedly yesterday. Then today, I got the page proofs for my book, but I’m also dealing with calls and texts from my sisters about my mom.
I don’t suppose you missed me not calling by. Sounds hectic.
The new normal. But of course, I knew you were busy. 🙂
And how…
I love the weave of your poem. I’m on my phone so can’t pick favorite lines (okay, I’m just lazy right now). Funny we both had photos of big birds 😉
Thank you, Marie. Your photos were amazing. 🙂
🙂
The light in your photos is so beautiful! I really like especially the blue silhouettes. (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe. That’s such a wonderful compliment coming from an artist!
Your photos are always full of light and reflection.
🙂