Photo of the Earth taken from Apollo 8, called Earthrise (1968).
I see the morning moon
dream-full of spring songs—
of sap, worms, crows
(a murder gathers, cawing)
Now she hums fiercely through the clouds,
stirring my senses—
my mother’s alive, the call a mistake,
but my tire’s flat
on an earth that tilts, revolving.
This a quadrille for dVerse. De has asked us to use some form of the word “stir.” Yesterday, my sister got a call that my mom was “unresponsive.” It turns out the facility called the wrong person, and my mother was fine. However, I pulled out of my driveway and discovered my tire was flat. Fortunately, that didn’t happen when we were driving on the expressway.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
You’ve certainly had an upsetting Tuesday. I hope your tilted world rights itself – and soon. Enjoy the day!
Thank you very much, Marian!
Lovely
Thank you!
Oh no, I hope your mother’s fine, the poem is beautiful. So much talent, my dear.
Thank you so much, Cindy. I appreciate the kind words. ❤
We heard that we're not going to be able to visit my mom's facility soon. I'm not certain how they will give us updates.
That’s going to be hard on people.
Yes.
The earth tilts, the moon hums, birds sing, we just have to make what we can of it. Relief must make up for the flat!
Thank you, Jane. Yes. . .and now the tire has been replaced with a new tire. 🙂
It’s all part of the pattern. Better the tyre that functions than the tyre with a hole 🙂
🙂
So beautiful Merril!
Thank you so much, Rene!
You’re so welcome Merril!
🙂
Oh my word, Merril. What an upsetting phone call. I’m thankful that it was wrong, but still. I hope today is less eventful for you and your sister.
Thank you, Jill. Yes, yesterday was better–though now we’ve heard they’re not going to allow visitors to my mom’s facility.
Sorry for the late reply–trying to finish work and my old computer wasn’t letting me comment or like on WP.
They’ve done the same at my Aunt’s nursing home in Alabama. It’s good to be cautious with the elderly. Sorry about your computer issues…that’s so frustrating.
Thank you, Jill. Good luck to your aunt.
What a day. At lest the tire had some sense about where to go flat.
Thank you, Derrick. Yes. . . 🙂
I will catch up with your posts soon. I had to finish a project, and I was working on my old computer, which suddenly decided it didn’t like WP. I’m on my new computer now.
No pressure, Merril. You don’t miss many.
Curious synchronicities … glad it was a mis-placed call, even if it served as timely encounter with tire needing attention. We are indeed on a tilting, revolving orb – amazing that things don’t slide into one another more frequently. (Or maybe we’re just used to it and don’t recognize the sliding?)
Thank you. Yes, it was a very strange day–I just had a weird feeling about from the beginning. 🙂
I like the sound of the link between “cawing” and “revolving”.
Thank you, Frank.
Your words are intriguing but I’m a bit buffled by what a quadrille really is 😟
Thank you! I’m pleased you were intrigued.
A quadrille is a dVerse-invented form. It’s really just a poem of 44 words–any style. You can go to the dVerse link for more information. Thank you for reading. 🙂
Oh, thanks for letting me know. I kept seeing them on other blogs but they would always be so different, now I know the common factor
Oh, you’re welcome. I probably should have explained what it was. 🙂
It’s all good now, for me at least 🙏🏾
🙂
Beautiful and mysterious.. Then I read your postscript. What a stupid mistake!!!! so glad she’s ok!
Thank you, Luanne.
Now we’ve heard they’re going to close her facility to visitors. I understand, but I don’t know that she will. 😦
Oh dear. That would be scary. Does she have a cell phone?
No, my sisters called the facility and talked to her yesterday.
Does she understand what’s going on?
My niece told her about the virus, but I don’t know if she’ll remember. She’s much better when she gets lots of stimulation, and that’s not going to be happening. It’s difficult , too, because she can’t see very well.
Oh, the poor dear. I can’t imagine. So sorry she is having to go through this. Hugs, Merril.
Thank you! ❤
The senses reel when prodded. I’m glad all was well when the clouds cleared.
Thank you, Ken! 🙂
Gah. So so scary. So thankful it wasn’t your mom. This is an incredible piece. I can feel that earth tilting, and this menace at center (brilliant):
“(a murder gathers, cawing)”
Thanks so much, De!
Now we heard they’re going to be closing my mom’s facility to visitors. Things are getting scary!
Crap! What a blood pressure raising day you had! I’m so sorry. You need wine. xx
Hahaha. I think I might have had a glass or two that night. Thanks, Rachel!
This poem reflects the current state of what we are struggling to get through. Your last stanza is a powerful one. Magnificent. It says so much.
Thank you so much, Ali. That is such a lovely comment!
“my tire’s flat.” Oh. Yes. I actually thought you meant figuratively, poetically, and it so fit. Then I read your paragraph after the poem. Life does flatten us at times in different ways. No visiting our mom either. I email for updates, but really, the staff are too busy to respond.
Thank you, Pam. Yes, literal flat tire. :).
Good luck with your mom. My sisters were able to talk to her. I think the worst will be the weekend because she won’t be getting any therapy, and they’re not doing activities.
This is the worst part of the virus – we are unable to “be there” for our elderly parents who need us so much. 😦
Yes. 😦
What a horrible mistake to make! The relief you all felt to find out it was not your mom must have been something else. Bloody hell. Not being able to visit her must be so painful.
As for the flat tire – best in one’s driveway, I say.
Wonderful way of sharing your day, Merril!
Thank you so much, Dale. By the time I heard the story, my sister already knew it was a mistake, so I didn’t have to deal with that.
I know my mom is bored, but at least she’s safe. I was just thinking what if she had still been living in her old place on her own and no one could get in to check on her?
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Good lord, what a day!
Yes. Fortunately nothing really terrible happened, it was just unsettled.
Oh my gosh!!! What a frightening experience…the call….the flat tire so the inability to rush to her….then finding out all is okay which must have just made your bodies go WHOOSH! And then a bit of anger that someone could have made such a mistake? In the end…I am glad it was a mistake and it was not an end. There is enough panic and unsettled feelings in this scare right now without something like that happening.
Thank you so much for your kind thoughts and words. I actually did not hear about the call until after my sister got the second call, and then I was headed to the gym (now closed) when I got the flat tire. So, I wasn’t really angry or panicked–everything just seemed off kilter.
Ah well, here’s the answer to my question. Yes, understandable but so unfortunate for all. Nothing can make up for the presence of family. Another wall of anxiety. I’m glad at least the phone call turned out to be a mistake. (K)
Thanks, Kerfe. Yes, we’re in strange times, and it’s extra strange for my mom, I suppose.