Low tide, blue mood. Delaware River at Red Bank Battlefield ©️Merril D. Smith 2020
Monday Morning Afternoon Musings:
The fiddler’s notes float
through the village as he stands,
one foot on the roof, balancing
life and death– all the celebrations between,
colored by love and loss–
Marc Chagall, “The Fiddler,” 1912
blue moon, blood moon, silver moon
sighs and whispers
in a thousand tongues, but
a million ears do not listen–
her voice joins the fiddle notes
that hum in the background—
do you hear it?
Crow calls a warning,
heed the past,
beware the future
Crow caws from the chimney of the Whithall House, Red Bank Battlefield, National Park, NJ
the red sky of morning
hinting of the storm ahead
the indigo and grey-shadowed ripples
lighten to azure as the sun rises—
colored by time, tides, and perception,
Delaware River at Red Bank Battlefield
our expectations of what is real,
changed not always by what is there,
but what we are told–
there is no plague, there is no famine,
the leader loves his people
(like a wolf loves a lamb), perhaps
I make connections
between what is, what was, and
what might be
when there is no connection—
the sky is simply red,
like the summer flowers
an intensity of the dying season—
verdant woods, vibrant blooms
against the bluest sky,
black birds flock in murmurations
telling the truth
that life goes on
in cycles of pain, gain,
the black and blue that fades, the blood red
we drink, fruit of the vine
sun-ripened, bursting with intensity
we listen, laugh, love
the ones we’re with, love others from afar
in all the colors we see
beauty, life
buzzing
drifting
soaring high
with feathered hope, even if it falls,
we may see the reflection–
upside-down the world still glows
we swim toward the light
float amid clouds,
watch azure turn violet, indigo, midnight blue,
Cloud Reflections on the Delaware River at West Deptford, NJ ©️Merril D. Smith 2020
and then, and still,
an apricot glow appears above the horizon,
a blush of pink spreads across the east,
our pale blue dot rolls on,
the colors of truth, immutable, forever for this world.
Merril’s Movie Club: We watched Mr. Jones (2019). I don’t think this one made it to theaters near us before the pandemic; we watched it on Amazon Prime (slight fee). It’s probably available on other streaming platforms, as well. My husband and I both enjoyed this one very much. It stars James Norton as Welsh journalist Gareth Jones, who tried to tell the world about Stalin in the 1930s, even as others were covering it up. Supposedly, he and his story were the inspiration for George Orwell’s Animal Farm, though that doesn’t really add much to the story.
This week has been packed with wild stories by you-know-who and his followers. Demon sex, aliens, and “thoughts” of rescheduling the election. . . If this took place in a movie, it would be considered too ridiculous.
The Oracle and the world seem full of color right now, but I find connections in odd places. Before watching the movie, I listened to an interview with Welsh actor Matthew Rhys. I don’t have HBO, where he is now starring in a new version of Perry Mason, but I loved The Americans. On that show, he played a Russian spy posing as an American. I was always struck by the extra layer of having a Welsh actor in the role, and he did mention that in the interview. So, for me, there were connections in this interview and movie about Welsh men, truth, lies, deception, Russia, and governments.
Our younger daughter—sommelier in training—did a virtual wine tasting with us on Friday night. Her husband was there for the beginning, but was taking care of pets during the screen shot.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
A lovely concoction of colors to taste and drink in this Monday, with the storm leaving our coast.
So, your younger daughter—sommelier in training. Neat!
Thank you, Marian. The storm has left your area, but we have a tropical storm warning now.
Yes, she passed the first part of the certification. She was working part-time at a winery, but she can’t right now in the current circumstances.
You’re still getting so much colour! And the fiddler on the roof too. That film marked me as a kid and I see connections to it everywhere. One day I’m going to have a house with a staircase going nowhere just for show 🙂
Thank you–sort of a continuation of our conversation from the other day, plus things since. And yes to the stairway, though I don’t really think I want a fiddler on the roof–well, maybe every once and awhile, just not late at night. 😏
No, late at night and he’d just get abuse 🙂
😀
How nice to have a sommelier in the family! The second to the last photograph is gorgeous, Merril…so green and lush.
Thanks so much, Jill.
Yes, her part-time work at a winery is on hold for now, but she can still share her expertise. 😀
Thank you–that photo is where I’ve seen a heron and ducks. It’s just a sort of little run off stream area by the side of the road, but it’a like a little mini-world.
It reminded me of a rain forest.
That would be interesting in NJ. 😀. I know what you mean though–all that green.
Morning, afternoon, evening – we’ll take you whenever you are ready 😉
Fiddler on the Roof – My friends and I were supposed to see it last month but it got put off till January 2021… and they then cancelled it completely. 😦
Oh well. We have all your lovely colours to enjoy!
Thanks so much, Dale.
Jane and I were discussing Fiddler, so it was in my mind. You can always revisit the movie. . .not the same, but still enjoyable. We have a two paid for theater series on hold right now.
Yeah I could but I actually saw it not that long ago – so not the same.
I also have two on hold with my girlfriends.
I find the last stanza of your poem transcendent in an oddly comforting way.
Thank you so much for letting me know that, Liz–and I’m pleased you do!
You’re welcome, Merril!
😀
This is lovely. It’s so beautiful where you live in the summer.
Thank you very much, Luanne.
There is really nothing in our town, which is not even really a town, except the park at the river, and lots of greenery around. The one bright spot of the pandemic is all the walking I’ve done and finding beautiful sites in my area.
Beautifully illustrated musings on our strange times.
Thank you very much, Derrick!
Crow, the fiddler on the roof–there are plenty of voices sounding their warnings. And yet, as you say, the Oracle sees the color around us at the same time. It will be there whether we save ourselves or not. And to enjoy what we do have, the Joy’s that still color our worlds…yes. (k)
Thank you very much, Kerfe. It’s difficult to live in fear and dread all the time.
Impossible.
Wow, such beautiful pictures and poetry
Thanks so much, Jude!
My pleasure Merril
Such a beautiful coordination of words and images, so perfectly presented.
The storm though predicted to pass over our east coast missed us, I am seeing some if it’s destruction further up through the Carolinas and flooding in Pa. I hope you are fine and spared this storm. 🌼
Thank you so much for the lovely comment on the poem, and your very kind thoughts, as well.
We did have the storm–with some strong winds, but honestly not as bad at our house as some places. Apparently though the river did overflow the banks, and there was trash all over the park that worker were raking up early this morning. Some people lost power. I know there was more flooding in Philadelphia–and tornados in Delaware.
You are always welcome because it’s always a joy to read you!
Philly got some terrible flooding, that’s very strange. The tornadoes are so frightening!
I was on Merritt Island and we barely got wind gusts thankfully. I was worried about the storm surge but was counting on it not gaining strength. I would definitely be moving inland in a hurricane and I think we are going to have our share this year.
Thank you again. I wasn’t sure exactly where you were, but I’m glad you didn’t get much from this storm. Yes, I imagine an island is not a good place to be in a hurricane. Stay safe, Rene!
Thank you Merril, I would definitely head for the mainland in hurricane conditions. It’s amazing the destruction what this storm, a cat 1, has done across the country.
Fab piece!
That was a wonderfully wonderful journey through a pretty neat world.
Love the Chagall!
Great family/friends ties. You are very fortunate. I am, too!
Aww–thank you so much, Resa. We are fortunate.
There was something almost meditative and soothing about this, Merril. Thank you. It was a good way to start my day. 🙂
Demon sex and aliens? Maybe I should start paying more attention to the news. I somehow missed that. I’m not sure I can be surprised by anything, anymore, given the nightmare of just having that creature squatting in the White House.
Thank you, Robin. I’m pleased that this soothed you (except for pondering about the demon sex, etc.). He was promoting a doctor who believes in hydroxychloroquine for Covid, and it turns out she also believes that demons are having sex with people and other whackadoodle theories.
Oh, good grief. What next? It would be funny if it wasn’t so horrifying.
I know. If someone put this in a novel or TV show years ago, it would be rejected as too preposterous.