Monday Morning Musings:
“O, that this too, too solid flesh would melt,
Thaw and resolve itself into a dew!”
(Hamlet, act 1 scene 2)“If it be now, ’tis not to come: if it be not to come, it will be now: if it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all.”
(Hamlet, act 5 scene 2)
Chestnut Branch Park 
Chestnut Brank Park
Pink Moon and Green Man
come and go, the morning dew light-catches,
snatches, holds within
each drop a world soon gone,
a momentary sparkle, passes on
snuffed, like a candle’s glow by a breath—
less or more? We decide, and if we notice
what is around us, or ignore
what is. What is not, what is to be—there, the rub,
prepare in readiness–yet, stop, see,
sniff the air, and what will be
lilacs, iris, rose—grapes to wine—eggs to chick–
Whitall House, Red Bank Battlefield, ©️Merril D. Smith, 2021 
Whitall House, Red Bank Battlefield,©️Merril D. Smith, 2021 
Overnight the irises bloom
flick, and in a blink, the ebb and flow of tides,
reveals what lies below the surface-
uncovered, adrift,
the bones, the rocks, the detritus of stars–
still sparkling.
April continued its craziness into May. We enjoyed summer-like weather, visited a local winery (most are now doing flights instead of tastings), then we had cooler weather and wind gusts up to 50-60 mph. We may have thunderstorms today. Meanwhile, there are flowers shooting up and goslings born.
Sharrott Winery, Hammonton, NJ 
Merril’s Theater Club: We streamed Fat Hamlet, a new play by James Ijames performed by the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia. It was filmed on location in Virginia, where cast and crew rehearsed in isolation. One positive thing about streamed productions is that they can be viewed all over the world. It’s a reimagining of Hamlet, black and queered, set somewhere in the southern US with a nuptial barbecue, karaoke, and a dance party—and more comedy than tragedy (well, there is one death). You can read all about it here, including the New York Times review, and get ticket information. We both really enjoyed it.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
I enjoyed the poetry and pictures in this post. It looks like you had fun at the winery.
Thank you very much!
I love to see those flowers Merril, they remind me of England! And you blended your words beautifully with the lines from Hamlet 🌷
Thank you so much, Ingrid! 🌸
What gorgeous flowers! Things are blooming and birthing up there 🙂
Thank you! Yes, they are some of the flowers are at the park. The irises and tulips are at our house.
How wonderful! I’ve been seeing more irises around here. I need to post some photos 🙂
Good idea! 😀
Lovely musings on this stormy Monday. You’re photos are gorgeous, Merril!
Thank you, Jill! I hope we don’t get your storms!
Lovely poem and photos! You look wonderful there at the winery…happy and relaxed in a beautiful place! So nice to put this winter behind us!
Thank you so much, Linda. It was a beautiful day, and it was good to get out.
Ah, yes. Spring, the big reveal, the return of what was already there waiting to reward us for our patience. And to remind us to preserve what we can.
Yes, exactly. Thank you, Ken.
I had to chuckle at the lines from Hamlet. I loved him when I read the play for the first time in the 9th grade. When I read it in college, I couldn’t abide his infernal dithering. I’m glad you were able to have a nice day out. My husband and I took a drive up to northern Vermont after being cooped up in the house for several weeks. It was good to get out.
Thank you, Liz. I’m glad you and your husband got a day out!
The Hamlet character in Fat Ham does dither a bit, but he’s also sweet. 😀
“grapes to wine—eggs to chick” – I love this line
Thank you so much! 💙
Beautifully blended with the play’ words. If you hoped splitting chick-flick with a gallery of photographs would detract attention from it, it didn’t work 🙂
Thank you, Derrick. 🤣
Delicious, all. (K)
😀
Always a treat to see what your week brought you. Not a bad idea to have a fleet rather than a tasting (helps with the bleeping distance thing 😉 ) I read the review for Fat Hamlet and am oh-so tempted to watch it!
I like tastings where someone who knows about wine really explains it. This was just us randomly picking some and tasting–but it was still fun to sit outside on a beautiful day.
We both really liked Fat Hamlet. It’s different, and, unlike Hamlet, it ends on an upbeat note. 😀
Oh… not quite the same at all. I take it back! I much prefer to get the info, as well.
So I have heard. I might. I believe it’s available for a few more weeks…
😀