Monday Morning Musings:
Today the gray has strayed, and sunlight deepens–
a color called cold water blue–
unfrosted are the ripples
where gulls and geese sway
and gather on the shifting sand
to sleep and talk and play.
Today there is no fog,
nothing obscured in the grayish gloom,
or hidden in ash-tipped cloud-rooms—
today is clear, the sun is bright
Foggy January Morning, Delaware River ©️Merril D. Smith, 2021 
Foggy January Morning, Delaware River ©️Merril D. Smith, 2021
though not with summer heat, or spring’s promise
not even pastel frosted pink—but think
of what today may bring
An amazing pink sky morning. Delaware River at Red Bank Battlefield, ©️Merril D. Smith, 2021
joy, despair, most anything–
one day, one night, one vote, one
note of kindness can make a change, so
today I’ll take blue
water and sky. And the hour in between
dusk and night, dawn and day,
the color of jays, stones, and glass
robin’s eggs and midnight sky–ask
when the moon sings a silver lullaby
and forms a halo ‘round her face,
what is that place? And can we go?
Perhaps, in dreams. I don’t know,
But today I’ll take the blue of peace
and ripples that go on forever,
one making another, another making one,
lines merging in changing colors, sometimes grey,
but today it’s blue and sun.
I went down a rabbit hole of blue yesterday reading Brainpickings and then following the links .
And then today, the river was blue instead of the gray or tinted-pink it’s been.
I haven’t been anywhere or done anything special in weeks, so I can only muse about this. I am happy that there were no big violent mobs yesterday, though I’m still anxious. I hope all goes well on Wednesday for the inauguration.
I have cooked and baked though.
Mandelbrot (aka Mommy Cookies) 
No knead Artisan Bread
Merril’s Movie Club: We watched One Night in Miami (Amazon Prime). It’s an excellent movie based on a play by Kemp Powers, who adapted it for the screen, and directed by Regina King, in her movie directorial debut. It concerns a meeting in 1964 between Malcolm X, Cassius Clay, Sam Cooke and Jim Brown right after Clay won the heavyweight title. The main, crucial moments of the movie take place in Malcolm X’s motel room where the men discuss, argue, explain, and try to make sense of their private-public lives. It feels like a real “room where it happened” historical moment. The movie is fictional, although the meeting did take place. The movie seems particularly timely right now.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Blue here too. I love the flow of this one. It’s Oraclish, but it’s also you, that slightly different direction. I’m enjoying it!
Thank you so much!
I didn’t consult the Oracle, but I suppose she’s always around. I just read your poem–Blue! I guess we should be used to this. 😀
Another example of those connections.
We don’t always have to consult the Oracle. I believe she whispers to us whether we like it or not 🙂
Yes, I think you’re right.
🙂
Lovely, Merril. Lots of blues in our area as well. 💗
Thank you, Gwen. So many people writing or mentioning blue today! ❤️
Beautiful musings today, Merril. Your photographs are so gorgeous. I need to hop on IG!
Thank you very much, Jill! 😀
The pink on the water. Stunning
Thank you.
“But today I’ll take the blue of peace
and ripples that go on forever,” — me too 😉 I love the foggy grays and blues of your photos and that pink! Wow. But blue is what we need right now. Funny how I was thinking of blue skies as a balm while I was writing my post, and now here’s yours with a poetic meditation on blue. I’m taking that as a sign of peace to come 🙂
Thank you very much, Marie! That pink sky morning was amazing.
It’s funny, but Jane Dougherty wrote about blue today, too. 😀
Your blue sky has the same hue and clarity as Jane’s today. Blue is always the bestselling color, every year–I think the healing aura of sky and sea are what draws humans to it again and again. Lets hope the peace remains like a protective blanket over our nation in these coming days and weeks. (K)
I hope so. Yes, it was funny that Jane and I both wrote about blue.
Color and emotions. A particularly moving poem today, I feel.
Thank you so much, Claudia.
These are such beautiful river pictures! What particuarly resonated in your poem is how little it can take to make a change for the better, even the color blue. “One Night in Miami” sounds very good.
Thank you so much, Liz. Yes, I think you’re right about how little can take.
The movie is very good–great acting and much to think about.
You’re welcome, Merril.
Beautiful words, beautiful images. I went down the same rabbit hole, I think, looking at the various shades of blue.
Thank you very much, Robin. Sometimes rabbit holes can be fun. 😀
Beautifully expressed musings on beautifully atmospheric photographs
Thank you very much, Derrick.
I love the blues, the pinks the poem, the feeling of going each day and accepting what nature is providing. Truly lovely.
And thanks the the movie suggestion… looks like one of my Friday night choices is made 🙂
Thank you very much, Dale!
And I hope you enjoy the movie! 😀
You’ve not steered me wrong yet!
😀