Monday Morning Musings:
Is it in my blood
to see the color and the light?
To find delight in dappled ground,
cerulean sky, and honeyed beams
spread all around?
To take some of that and this,
and make a dish, a story, art—
to lose my heart in joy, or fear
being apart, and sail
aboard an anxious ship on
shadowed seas, yet sing the songs
of moon and stars?
I wish I could know—
the ones who came before—
when in living with the making do,
was there room for questioning and for beauty, too?
Did they sigh at rippled water, and see within
the upside-down,
and all around, the spirits, shadows, flowers, trees—
the families?
We gather bits of ours—in hummingbird hover
midway between here and there,
under a clouded-feather sky,
ask what if we did, ask what if we didn’t, and wonder why—
but there are no answers, no words for what might have been,
only recalling what was—her laugh, the words she said—
and what is–here, now, us–a thread,
connecting yesterday, today, tomorrow–joys and sorrow,
we wait to see what the future brings, heart-sung, our wishes fly, bird-winged on our sighs.
This sky! Delaware River at Red Bank Battlefield. ©️Merril D. Smith, 2021
Over the river we go. 
A glimpse of the art museum, overloking the Schuylkill River 
Ghost in the window 
Ten years ago, my mom’s art exhibit.
I consulted the Oracle, and she gave me the phrase, “It is in my blood,” so I went with that. I’ve been thinking of my ancestors lately. In my grandparents’ generation, I know of artists and musicians, but art and music were not considered things one should do as a career. Slowly, we’re emerging from our Covid cocoon. We saw our daughter on Friday, and my sisters yesterday. We forgot to get a picture to mark the occasion, so we’ll have to do it again. The photo of my mom showed-up in my FB memories.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
“Is it in my blood
to see the color and the light?”
Yes, the art in your words.
Thank you so much, Ken!💙
Beautiful musings, Merril. Beautiful images, too.
I’ve been pondering my ancestry, too. I don’t know if there were artists or writers or musicians, other than my father who used to paint (and then destroyed almost all of his paintings in a fit of rage — all but one which I have because my mother somehow saved it and sent it off to me).
Thank you so much, Robin!
That’s so sad about your father. That must have been scary for everyone.
There are stories–perhaps not true–that my relatives told my artist ancestor, Abraham Hankins before he “made it,” that if he wanted to paint, then get a paintbrush and paint this wall. 😀
So interesting the art runs in your family: I can see it in your eye for a photo and in your skillful crafting of words 😊
Thank you so much, Ingrid. I like art, but I can’t draw at all. My mother’s cousin’s work is in museums, and he also studied voice. My mom always enjoyed art, but didn’t exhibit any until she was in her 80s! And my older child is also an artist. Younger daughter studied voice and theater in college.
Poetry is also art of course 😊
Yes, definitely. 😀
Merril, this is amazing poetry. Yes, it’s in your blood. Your creativity also comes from your exuberance for life. You live life to the fullest in each moment. Bravo. ❤️
Thank you so much, Colleen! What a lovely, kind comment!
So true! Your poetry speaks your heart. ❤️
😘
A little slice of my younger life. I used to live in PA in a town right along the Delaware.
Oh–thank you, I’m so pleased you enjoyed it. I grew up in PA, but now I’m closer to the river on the NJ side.
I used to live in Easton, just on the other side from Phillipsburg.
Oh. . .I know I was there a long time ago.
Beautiful musings, Merrill. Your photographs are gorgeous. I especially like the one of your sweet mother and her art.
Thank you so much, Jill! 💙
You are definitely an artist, in both words and photography… We all have our differen talents 😉
I love the phrase the Oracle gave you and how you took it and ran. Lovely all around.
Thank you so much, my friend. 💙
My pleasure!
Art in all forms is definitely true of you and your mother – so I guess it is
Thank you very much, Derrick. That’s very kind.
Merril, your photos get better and better. These are good questions. I do believe our parents and grandparents knew better how to just keep going in the face of adversity. I love the photo of your mother’s art exhibit. How wonderful that she got that acknowledgment and affirmation while she was still alive. (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe!
I think you’re right about previous generations. They had to live through a lot of horrible things.
Yes, it was lovely that my mom could exhibit her work then.
Your river is looking resplendent in these photos! I like to think that my ancestors had room for questioning and beauty, too. I love the photo of your mom with her painting. That must have been a very special exhibit.
Thank you very much, Liz.
I know my grandparents’ generation were very practical. Well, they were immigrants, and persecuted before that, so it’s understandable. It was interesting to look back at that photo of the exhibit, and to remember that that was when she could still get around.
You’re welcome, Merril. My grandparents were of that practical generation, but I know that my grandmother had an appreciation for nature. I think you mentioned in a previous post that you have some of your mother’s paintings?
I think my mother’s father had more time to appreciate nature after he retired.
Yes, I think all of my siblings and children have some of the paintings she did. We have many of her paintings hanging on our walls. We took the paintings that were in storage–some by her of various quality and some by others. They’re still on our enclosed porch. 🤣
I have paintings my grandmother painted that have yet to be hung.
It’s sometimes hard to get to things like that. 😀
It is in my case, for sure.
It is in your blood to record images in nature and create poetry from them. Your mother’s art reminds me of the still lifes of Matisse.
Thank you very much, Marian. My mom would have been thrilled to hear her work compared to Matisse!💙
So much ‘is in the blood’. You have inherited some bright bits 🙂 I love that ‘anxious ship’ such an unexpected phrasing, but it fits so well. The message is a cheerful one.
Thank you! We tend to get anxious about things. 😀 I was feeling mostly cheerful–scared about the world, but happy to see some of my family.
It’s a complicated mixture of emotions.
Yes. 😀
Is it in your blood? I’d say yes indeed, without a doubt, it is in your blood, your soul!
Aww–thank you, Marie! 😀
Stunning!
Thank you!
I ask these questions too, not just of my ancestors, but all those who came before us. They felt what we feel now: saw what we see now. Experiences life’s joys/sorrows/pain and all that love. Are they in peace now? Are they in the flowers and hummingbirds and blue sky and even the clouds, part of us and part of the universe, as we will be? Oh, Merril, you always get me musing along with you. ❤
Thank you so much, Pam. What a lovely thing to say! 💙