Light streams above and below. Rainbows and reflections. Ceres Park, June 2020, Merril D. Smith
Monday Morning Afternoon Musings:
“She liked then to wander alone into strange and unfamiliar places. She discovered many a sunny, sleepy corner, fashioned to dream in.”
― Kate Chopin, The Awakening
“Now it was only the rivers
that spoke of the rivers,
and only the wind that spoke of its bees,while the unpausing factual buds of the fruit trees
continued to move toward their fruit.”–from “ON THE FIFTH DAY” by Jane Hirshfield
I wander, silent–
unvoiced, rather,
a clumsy human, my footsteps
warn frogs, birds, deer—
gone in a flash
the facts—they are dangerous—we are
shadows, looming, long-legged,
over fields and ponds.
But if fearful to raise my voice,
the wind and water are not
afraid. They whisper delicately,
or rage in thunderous tones
proclaiming the facts–
we are, they are, here.
We look for constants
Life in the green of Earth, reflected Ceres Park, June 2020 Merril D. Smith
the rising of the sun
the humming of the moon,
the wildflowers that magically appear,
amidst the mud and weeds–
truths
not always heard, yet echoing,
waiting for cracks in foundations.
A fact, buried, as we move through time,
there is always light, somewhere,
and so, I wander, seeking it, and dream
of it, of you, of awakening
the songs we carry from the stars
connecting all living things,
a truth reflected a thousand times,
even as it emerges from a black hole, shining.
Water Lilies and Reflections, West Deptford Public Library, June 2020, Merril D. Smith
A very late Musings today. I’m trying to finish projects, while feeling that I can’t focus. On Saturday night, we watched the streamed production of the Wilma Theater’s Kill Move Paradise,a play we had seen in the theater. Of course it’s not quite the experience as seeing it live, but it is a good play that gave us much to discuss. I wrote about it here. It is available for another week for an any amount donation to BLM Philadelphia.
I’m hosting #TopTweetTuesday this week on Twitter. Get your poems ready!
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Your walks are so peaceful, Merril whether morning or afternoon. So much to see and you capture it beautifully, not only with your words, but your gorgeous photos.
Thank you very much, Jill. I always walk in the morning because I don’t want to walk when many people are around. 😀 I just wrote the post in the afternoon.
Lovely photos. The first one is really dream-like. And the deer! Yes, all those things are. We are alone in not knowing what our place is. Maybe because we think it’s all ours anyway.
Thank you, Jane. I didn’t see the rainbow in that top one till I got home. Today there were bear sightings around all the places I recently walked–and my daughter in Massachusetts had a bear walk across her yard last night!
Wow! A bear would be something to see. If one showed its face around here it wouldn’t last long.
It would be amazing to see. I haven’t heard anything about it today.
Your pictures this week are so fabulously gorgeous.
And of course, wonderful poetry to go with…
Lovely
Thank you so much, Dale!
Lovely all the way through.
❤️
Thanks for bringing us along on your walk.
You’re welcome, Ken.
Very lovely, Merril. The photos have so much texture, too.
Thank you very much, Luanne. And texture–I hadn’t thought of it that way. Thank you!
Thank you for the lovely prose and photos Merril. Always a time for me to immerse myself in Mother Nature and your pen –
Thank you for the lovely comment, Susan. Much appreciated.
Beautiful as ever. Particularly good reflection photos and descriptive verse
Thank you very much, Derrick!
Loved this, the quotes, the poetry and the photos. The twitter top tweet is so intriguing
Thank you so much, Jude. If you’re on Twitter, you can read poems or post your own #TopTweetTuesday poem every Tuesday. I’m just hosting today (16th).
What a green! I feel scattered as well. I can’t remember what I’ve done and what still needs doing (everything it seems…)
Yes. . .thank you!
Magical photos and words. I love your distinction between silent and voiceless … and more… ‘we are shadows looming long-legged over fields and ponds’ …
Thank you so much, Janice. I appreciate your comment and close reading. Even when I try to be light on my feet, I’ll step on a twig or walk over gravel, so I’m definitely not silent when I walk.
Your words and photos are magical. ❤
Thank you very much, Robin! ❤️
Very nice.
Thank you very much!
Thank you for sharing your morning walk. I always envy people who have such – apparent – easy access to the wilderness, and a shy doe…
Stay safe.
Thank you for reading. We’re close to a river and wetlands. You stay safe, too.