Monday Morning Afternoon Musings:
“The dead don’t go anywhere. They’re all here. Each man is a cemetery. An actual cemetery, in which lie all our grandmothers and grandfathers, the father and mother, the wife, the child. Everyone is here all the time.”
-Isaac Bashevis Singer (quoted in Shtisel), Season3)
In ancient times, we named the sky—
saw Apollo in his flaming chariot fly
as his sister Diana of the woods and moon
bounded with deer and hound, and soon
the stars were storied, and tunes gloried
creation, emotion, and the cessation of
wind and tides, the slide
April Sunrise 
Moonrise over a South Jersey field, November.
of seasons from one to next,
as the gods are first jolly, then are vexed.
But Persephone comes and goes–
snow falls, then flower flows,
and we cry and sigh as people die–
but the seeds remain, though not the same,
each generation evolves, and solves
new problems, and old ones we revive.
But if we could fly in hyperdrive
to other worlds, or visit holodecks
to greet and meet dear loved ones in an annex
to another world, an alternate timeline,
future, past, present combined—we’d drink wine
with family and heroes, toast the divine
Wine Down Summer Wine Festival, Riverwinds, NJ 
My mom and I–wine glasses in hand!
in fantasy. And yet—we recall,
in memories of sight, scent, sound—however small–
within us all the time, sharing space
with those who came before—the interface
of body and mind. Stardust to genes, renamed things
in seasons reborn on hopeful wings
Cycles, seasons, the stories again–real or imaginings?
Beautiful blue skies, April Morning. Delaware River at Red Bank Battlefield. ©️Merril D. Smith, 2021I’ve combined my Monday Morning Musings with the NaPoWriMo Day 12 prompt: “This prompt challenges you to write a poem using at least one word/concept/idea from each of two specialty dictionaries: Lempriere’s Classical Dictionary and the Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction.”
Merril’s Movie/TV Club: We finished Season 3 (most likely the final season) of Shtisel (Netflix). I highly recommend it. My husband and I both got so caught up in this show.
We had Chinese food over the weekend, and so watch two Chinese movies.
Us and Them (Netflix)—a romance of a young man and woman meeting on a train and trying to become successful in Beijing. I liked it, but I’m not sure if I loved it. I think I would have enjoyed it more in the theater. We had some phone calls and other distractions.
Better Days (Amazon Prime rental)—is Hong Kong’s entry for the Academy Awards. It’s about school bullying, and also the high stakes competition/pressure of getting into a good college in China. My husband and I both enjoyed this one more—despite the subject matter of school bullying. There is also a romance. The actress Dongyu Zhou is the female lead in both movies. Watch the end credits for both movies.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
OMG, Merril; this/these are magnificent. I often have to force myself through longer verses, but this work, beautiful and as beautifully accented by this mind-blOwingly beautiful photography, insisted that I keep reading, and then left me wanting even more. Of all your work(s) that I’ve encountered online, this post rises to the top, in my humble opinion. Now I’m going to go back & read/view it again. THANK YOU.
Wow, Ron.! Such praise has certainly raised my spirits. You really made my day! Thank you so much. 😊
Wonderful musings today, Merril. I love all of your beautiful photos and I especially adore the sweet photo of you and your mother. xo
Aww–thank you, Jill!
Your photos are gorgeous, Merril! So much color, and the poem flows so well among them. xoxo
Thank you for that lovely comment, Marie! 💙
Merril, I’m in awe of this rhymed verse. I’m not usually a fan of rhyme but this moves so beautifully and tells a wonderful story paired with the stunning photography. I enjoyed it very much!
Wow–thank you so much, Charlotte! 💙
These lines reflect my fondest dream right now:
But if we could fly in hyperdrive
to other worlds, or visit holodecks
to greet and meet dear loved ones in an annex
to another world, an alternate timeline,
future, past, present combined—we’d drink wine
with family and heroes, toast the divine
Aww–I’m happy I could articulate it, Liz. Thank you.
You’re welcome, Merril!
Lovely musings; fine photography, an especially wonderful one of you and your Mom; fun with rhyme; good use of both dictionaries – that’ll do nicely 🙂
Thank you, Derrick, for your very thorough comment!😀
Dreamy photos, and the words ring true as always. We carry all those who have touched our lives with us, always. (K )
Thank you very much, Kerfe. 💙
Beautiful! I agree with the above comment…dreamy photos! Love the picture of you and your mom drinking wine. It is a symbolic toast to life and all the goodness God has showered upon us in our beloveds.
Thank you very much, Linda. Next weekend is the first anniversary of Mom’s death, so she’s much on my mind.
I love this from top to bottom. All the beautiful images go with the more beautiful words. A toast to all who came before and remain in our hearts and memories and to all those yet to come.
Thank you very much, Dale! 💙
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Loved this, Merril. The transition from mythology to future fantasy to present-day dreams is seamless.
Thank you very much, Ken!
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