Breathe if—
and let time fly into the fevered brilliance of the sky—
fire and ice, the stars know
the secret of eternity,
ghost-lights sailing in a vast sea,
a dazzling memory,
like a voice, a laugh, a kiss that lingers
from a dream
as you wake, surrendering to the now–
summer now an almost-smile
in the blue-shadowed mist.
Did I cry? Did you—
asking for angels–but
a hero gone
to the ever-after.
The stars know the secrets,
ghosts dancing to the music of the universe,
but closer, I watch the birds by the riverside
catch the wind and soar out of sight.
My message from the Magnetic Poetry Oracle. It was a struggle today to get a clear message. We have lost a hero. Rest in peace, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
“summer now an almost-smile”
(here it is the end of September and that line speaks such truth!)
Thank you very much, Laura!
Such admiration for RBG. Great idea that you mingle those thoughts with the idea of soaring. Thanks, Merril!
Thank you very much, Marian. She was a woman worth admiring. The idea evolved. 😏
My message today was eerily similar. She is mourning her too. (K)
Yes. The Oracle always knows.
Lovely tribute, Merril. ❤
Thank you, Jill!
This was beautiful and a lovely tribute to a force of nature that was RBG.
Thank you very much, Dale. I didn’t set out to write a tribute, but you know how it goes.
I do. And I feel it almost works best when it just happens. 😊
It is a lovely tribute, I agree, and you and Kerfe had similar images. Reading mine again, though I wasn’t affected by the loss of RBG (didn’t know much about her), the poem sounds like a metaphor for what might be in store for you now that she’s gone. I hope not!
Thank you. Now, I’m not sure if I want to go back and look at yours again or not. She really was quite a remarkable woman–so intelligent, keen legal mind–an opera lover, too.
I heard about her for the first time a few months ago when they were talking about who would replace her when she (inevitably) died. There was some hint that she ought to have stood down under Obama who would have appointed someone with similar credentials. I suppose she didn’t see Trump coming.
No one saw Trump coming, but since McConnell refused to allow Obama’s pick go for Senate confirmation when Justice Scalia died, it’s just as well she didn’t step down then. And even though Scalia was a conservative, he and RBG were good friends.
So the president only gets to choose if he/she has a majority in the House of Representatives? I see. Obama’s hands were tied in so many ways.
The president picks someone, but the Senate (our upper house) holds the confirmation hearings and votes to confirm the choice. Right now there is a Republican majority in the Senate. There’s a Democratic majority in the House–after the mid-term elections. It’s supposed to a system of checks and balances, so that the president isn’t directly appointing the justices.
Democracy isn’t infallible. Even with checks and balances. It will mean whoever Trump appoints with be in there for life too, I think, which hardly seems fair.
I agree, and yes, not fair. I think he’s purposefully choosing younger candidates, too. One I saw belongs to some group that believes the men of the household should be in charge.
There are the same people who criticise Islam. Not that I’m a fan, but what’s the difference?
Well, she’s Catholic. I goes it’s some cult-like subgroup.
Catholicism is fundamentally conservative, in every way, so not surprising really.
You have worked the prompt into a fine tribute to RBG. If put in an early appearance.
Thank you, Derrick. And yes, you’re right about if. 😀
🙂
What a lovey tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsberg; she was a remarkable woman. I particuarly appreciate the last two stanzas of your poem. The stars know the secrets of the universe, but the sight of a bird soaring is enough for us to be happy who we are and with what we have in the here and now.
Thank you very much for your kind and thoughtful comment, Liz. It’s all so upsetting, but the natural world goes on.
You’re welcome, Merril. Nature does bring us solace.
Beautiful tribute, Merril. Justice Ginsberg was a hero and a leader. Her voice echoed down the halls of justice and opened hearts and minds along the way.
Thank you, Gwen. I so agree. She was a mensch.
Lovely lines Merril thank you. May Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s memory be a blessing. And may she soar like the birds on a wing and a prayer that others after her will continue her good work and example.