Monday Morning Musings:
Will you walk with me
through clouded pink–
the light diffused, brushing wings
to make them glow—this sight, the morning rites
of nature bound by the seasons,
the revolutions round the sun, the wax and waning of the moon.
Where there’s a will, is there a way
to hold these moments close and tight
to heart and brain? Mindfulness or determination
to see and feel and listen—
do you hear
the sound of secret things?
I wonder—do even vultures dream?
They mate for life, finding the perfect husband or wife.
Do they hope for the future—croon
to their young? This I leave you,
this is yours—the sky, the trees–
the scent of death you smell on the breeze. Circle and fly.
Turkey Vulture
Where there’s a will, is there a way
to make the sweetness stay—
away the aches and nightmare shadows! Come tomorrow.
Will you? Won’t you? Seek joy with friends and family,
share food and wine, linger in a moment–
the season of the in-between
Whitall House and garden 
Morning sunshine on the window of the Whitall House.
the twilight dawning, the morning of a new day,
a mockingbird is singing, the leaves are falling.
And there’s the moon, she’s calling,
bewitching you, it’s true. But she’s asks, will you,
is there a way? Will you both love
and do what’s right? Will you walk with me? Look! That light.
We had brunch with friends over the weekend and signed their wills as witnesses. We enjoyed wine and pizza again at Blue Cork Winery in Williamstown, NJ, where our daughter, who has left teaching, at least for the time being, is now the Wine Development Manager.
Petit Verdot, Blue Cork Winery 
At Blue Cork Winery
If you like epic historical novels, The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray tells the story of three women in three different time periods. Two are real women, the third is a fictional character—but all with the will to fight for what was right. I knew nothing of Adrienne Lafayette or the Chateau, so I found that very interesting—and also to learn that the Chateau continued to be a place of rights and freedom even during WWII, when it served as hiding place to protect Jewish children.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Yes
I can hear the sound of secret things in your poetry.
So well done
Loved it❤
What a lovely comment! Thank you so much!
This was a particularly lovely Monday Musings, Merril!
Beautiful photos as well.
Thank you for the book suggestion!
Thank you so much, Dale. I’m glad you thought so. I had no idea where this one was going to go. I only knew I was going to play with “will.” 😀
I was at the library and saw the book. I was in the mood for just that type of story. It’s about 600 pages though.
Lovely. All around, lovely.
I just finished The Book of Negroes that was close to 500 😉
Thank you again. I saw you posted about it, and it sounded good.
Yes, I didn’t say anything about the story but I highly recommend it!
😀
🙂
I actually rarely do say anything about the story when I give a review!
Beautiful musings and photos today, Merril. Congrats to you daughter on her new position. Now you’ve got some connections! Cheers!
Thank you, Jill.
We do! The owners are so nice, and we like the wine. It’s a big step for her to leave her job as a teacher–but hopefully she’ll have less stress here!
I think that’s great! Good for her! I need a job like that! 🙂
I hope you find one! 😀 She loves teaching, and she’s going to be doing some wine education events at the winery.
The first two photos look like paintings! They are all so lovely, and the play on words of ‘Where There’s a Will’ made me think of Shakespeare 😊
Thank you so much, Ingrid!
And what a compliment! 😀💙
The beautiful photographs brought on some tremendous musings today Merril.
Ginormous Hugs
Thank you so much, David! Hugs back to you!
So beautiful ❤️
Thank you!
The sounds of your soft, soothing verse and sight of your gently hued photos are beautifully evocative. Unfortunately I find that the other pictures in long slices forcing us into the galleries if we want to see them really interrupts the flow. This happens now on many others’ posts.
Thank you for your comment. I’m not sure I understand about the long slices. What would you suggest? I don’t think this post is different from my other Monday Morning Musings. You have galleries, too, on your posts.
When you choose a gallery you can choose Tiled mosaics; Circles; Squares; or Columns (which is what I had called slices). Squares and Columns both show crops on the post. That is why I use the Tiled mosaics which offer the whole images, although in varying sizes. It looks as if you, and others, have slipped into Columns as default
Oh! OK. I didn’t know the difference. Thank you.
I worked it out earlier when as far as I remember there wasn’t a Column option.
I actually have been using the regular gallery, not the Tiled Gallery.
Then maybe WP is responsible.
Your photos are worthy of Turner.
I wonder how many have left teaching in this uncertain time. Too many I fear. I can’t believe the teacher’s union here is out demonstrating against vaccines…my teaching friends had enough years of service to retire, and they did (with vaccinations).
Thank you so much, Kerfe. What a compliment! 💙
I can’t believe they are out demonstrating against vaccines either. I do not understand this mindset. You would think they’d want everyone protected. It was a difficult decision for my daughter.
Life is full of them these days.
😔
So many great ways to think about “will.” Will you be mine? Will I say Yes? My will is your desire. Sign the will! So important these days, to have a will. And your daughter decided to leave teaching – that’s a surprise. I wonder if she’ll miss it, or enjoy her new and different role. Teaching has become SO much more stressful – it’s not for the faint-hearted, or even the big-hearted. Much luck to her! My daughter is hanging in there as a 6th grade science teacher, but the exhaustion in her eyes says a lot.
Thank you, Pam. I’m glad you enjoyed my play on will.
Yes, it certainly wasn’t a sudden decision for my daughter. She’s been working part-time at the winery for awhile, but this seemed like the right time to try something different. She misses the students, but not the other stuff. She taught 8th grade English (and the year before she also taught one 5th grade class), so middle school like your daughter.
I was struck by the stanza beginning “I wonder—do even vultures dream?” I think you must be the first person to ask this question. In any event, I appreciated such a thought-provoking bit of poetry. I can understand your daughter’s leaving teaching. It must be a relief for her to be out of such a stressful and politicized environment.
Thank you very much, Liz.
I suspect I’m not the first to ask that question, but one of the things I wonder about. I often watch my cat dreaming, and other pets through the years, and I wonder what their dreams are like. Well, I wonder I wonder about thought without language. I don’t quite understand it.
My daughter loved her students, and I know she is an outstanding teacher, but yes, it is very stressful and politicized now.
You’re welcome, Merril. I’ll admit that I do often wonder what my dog is thinking. I don’t quite understand thought without language either. I tend to think in sentences and paragraphs.
Yes, it confuses me. I guess we dreamed as babies though.
My niece works with nonverbal children. I’ll have to ask her sometime.
I’ve heard Temple Grandin say that she thinks in pictures and that is why she understands animals so well, but I still don’t quite understand
I’ve heard that, too. I don’t quite understand either.
Just beautiful Merril thank you! Do clouds dream I wonder. Your photos suggest it. The moon and sun too? All success to your daughter for her new position as Wine Development Manager.
Thank you very much, Susan!
Quite a deep musing, Merril.
In the end it is explained. Wills are an emotional experience for most, even when one is being one’s most practical.
Then main thing, though, is that you had pizza and wine!
OMG that looks good! Is that a Caprese Pizza!
Thank you very much, Resa.
Yes, that’s Caprese Pizza 🍕 It’s from a place near the winery (they deliver there).
YUM!!!!!!!
😋🍷🍕
Okay, that’s iT. I’m going to cook now!
We are having farinata!!!
Enjoy! I made red lentil soup and baked some bread.