Monday Morning Musings:
Ineffable the moon and light,
the rainbow sky, the morning delight,
the shadows where the deer skitter,
and ghostly shapes drift and flitter,
the world around me an emitter
for hope and fear, desire and cheer
emotions swirl in collected glow, and we’re
receivers—if only we know
when and how to feel the dead around us,
in the susurrus , and the prickling air—are they there?
We celebrate their lives
by remembering a laugh, a phrase, the favorite food on holidays—
her hands and eyes, his hair and songs,
things we hold inside, that belong
a part of us, carried in traditions and blood,
generations on
might never know, but somehow recognize—
like those grey or green eyes
or ability to paint, or sing, or write–
to gaze up as stars ignite
and feel the colors twirl and spin. To see without and within
the cycle of all beginnings and all ends—to think of ifs
and remember when.
This has been a strange week. Nothing terrible, just things that didn’t work out as expected, and some mornings in the twilight I felt like this really was a time when the veil between worlds was thinning . . . In between storms and wind, the sky has been so beautiful, and the morning light has a special quality.
We got our Covid boosters on Saturday night. We voted that day, too. Who says we don’t know how to have fun on a weekend? My arm was a little sore, and so was my husband’s, but no other reactions. I had long phone calls yesterday (Halloween) with my sister, sister-in-law, and older child. It was great to catch up! As I walked around the house while on the phone, I got over 25,000 steps in yesterday!
Merril’s Movies, Shows, and Books:
We watched a cool show on Netflix called Tabula Rasa. It’s Belgian. It’s a mystery with some supernatural overtones. It’s about a woman with amnesia, and a missing man. It’s best not to know too much–we were very surprised by the twists and things we didn’t see coming. We’re watching a Japanese show called Midnight Diner, also on Netflix. We watch an episode every once in a while, because I feel like I want to savor them. They’re only half hour episodes about a restaurant in Japan that is open midnight to 7 AM, and the people who come there. My husband was saying he doesn’t know why he loves the show so much. It’s a simple idea, but somehow, it’s just very gentle and satisfying. (Don’t watch it while you’re hungry.) We watched two horror movies over the weekend: The Omen (1976) and The Hole in the Ground (2019). We saw The Omen way back when in a theater with friends, and it was terrifying. Now watching it on TV, it seems a bit dated, not to mention the questions I have now about a husband who would just decide to substitute a baby and not tell his wife? Wifey is too fragile to know the truth. UGH! But it still has some very scary scenes. The Hole in the Ground is an Irish-Finnish production about a woman whose son seems to have been replaced by something else. It had some great and scary moments, and overall was very well done.
I read The Rose Code by Kate Quinn. It’s a novel about three very different women who meet and bond during the time they all work at Bletchey Park during WWII. It seems to be very well-researched. I really had a hard time putting this one down. I highly recommend it, if you like historical novels.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Happy first day of November. Love the autumn fabric woven in your words and photographs…like a warm blanket on a chilly morning, That pie looks amazing! 🙂
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Linda!
The pie was delicious. 😋
Wow! Your photos are amazing today, Merril. I’m sorry to hear things didn’t turn out as expected. I suppose that’s what makes the unexpected good things that much better. Whatever that is with the cheese…I want some! It looks delicious!
Thank you so much, Jill.
Nothing terrible–things just seemed off this week, but there were several good things, too. 😀
It’s bruschetta made with the last of the Jersey tomatoes from a farm stand and basil from our garden.
I love all the assonance in your poem, especially:
‘to feel the dead around us,
in the susurrus , and the prickling air—are they there?’
So haunting! And I love the dawn glow photo ❤️
Thank you so much, Ingrid.
It’s funny. I had an idea for this post, and I completely forgot what it was, so I just started writing this early this morning, like around 5:30 AM, before I went on my walk–and I didn’t change very much before I posted it. I guess I’m REALLY a morning person. 🤣
That’s my favourite time for writing 😃
😀 It does seem to flow then.
I’ll admit to being distracted by that pumpkin pie. It looks so good!
I remember watching “The Omen” years ago and finding it terrifying. That kid was so creepy!!
Your skyscapes are just incredible–what a show they put on!
These are the lines that resonated and brought tears to my eyes:
We celebrate their lives
by remembering a laugh, a phrase, the favorite food on holidays—
her hands and eyes, his hair and songs,
things we hold inside, that belong
a part of us, carried in traditions and blood,
generations on
might never know, but somehow recognize—
like those grey or green eyes
or ability to paint, or sing, or write–
to gaze up as stars ignite
Thank you so much, Liz!
I have to admit that the pie was delicious. 😋
Thank you for your kind words about the poetry and photos. I can see why those lines would resonate. This hasn’t happened too much, but Saturday, I think, I had such an urge to call my mom and tell her about my morning.
You’re welcome, Merril. I have the urge to call my mother on a regular basis.
I guess the feeling never goes away.
No, I don’t think it does.
💙
As always, I enjoy your Monday Musings with verse, photos, movie and book suggestions. I often read comments too and felt my heartstrings pull when I read “Saturday, I think, I had such an urge to call my mom and tell her about my morning.”
Awww–thank you, Marian. Sending you heartfelt hugs.
thank you for welcoming November in for us with all these heartwarming and beautiful photographs. I’m awed by the deer…and the pumpkin pie. 🙂 lovely dear Merril!
Aww–thank you so much, Rene!💙
You’re so welcome!
Those sky colors are delicious. As is your cooking (always).
There’s so much I would like to share with my mother. I don’t think that ever goes away. (K)
I thought I had replied already.
Thank you so much, Kerfe.
The pie and bruschetta were both delicious. 😀 And yes, there are things I’d like to share with both my parents. At least my mom got to see our kids grow up, but my dad died when my younger child was in third grade.
Neither of my parents got to see my children grow up. They barely had any time with the younger one. My mother was alive but in a different world–shs didn’t even recognize her own children, or her sister. I hope they are watching from wherever they are.
Oh, that’s sad. I’m sorry.
Thanks Merril.
I started reading this post three times! Finally sat down and savoured it. Truly. Beautiful poetry, fabulous photos and all together… just lovely. It is a definite change of season. The skies have been spectacular (should have seen me chasing the clouds after work, trying to find the best place to capture them… 🙄 I’m insane.
Thanks for the heads up on the book. It sounds like my kind of read.
Thank you so much, Dale, for your very kind words. 💙
I think the book is beautifully written and well-researched. I love historical novels, but I’m picky about them. There’s a long author’s note at the end–I always read those. 😀
🧡
That’s good to know. I love them as well and I always read author’s notes, dedications, thanks…🙄
😀
🙂
Even if it’s been a strange week, you have managed marvellous verse and photography. I’m pleased the jabs went well
Thank you so much, Derrick. 😀
I logged into your blog several times on Monday expecting your weekly report on the world but didn’t see this. Did you post it late?
It was worth waiting for anyway. Your photos are beautiful, and I know exactly what you mean about the atmosphere over the weekend, that blustery wind and rain, like something was preparing. And about recognising dead ancestors in a gesture or an ability. They never die.
Thank you so much for checking! You still don’t get notifications? I don’t think I posted it particularly late–still in the morning here I think. And thank you for your comment, too. 💙
The whole week seemed off a bit.
No, I get notifications from Kerfe, Ken, Willow, Paul Militaru and a few people who I don’t really know who post maybe once a year.
Yes, I’ve had the same impression here. Not right.
Weirdness everywhere.
WP has its own rules and it makes them up as it goes along.
Yes, definitely!
Beautiful as always, Merril. 🙂 I think I know what you mean about the light and the thinness of the veil. I remarked to M the other day that it feels like we’re slipping through dimensions again (a reference to 2016 when, just before election day, a close friend died and then the election happened and everything felt surreal, as if we’d entered another dimension). If that is the case, I hope we move into a better dimension than the one from 2016.
Thank you, Robin–and I hope so, too. The election in NJ was way too close. South Jersey is turning red. But I hope we see better things coming soon.
Your musings go beyond, into poignant intimacies.
I’m always impressed by your choice of movies, your openness to foreign film.
Glad to hear you guys got boosters. I get mine Dec. 14.
Thing is, I had 2 AstraZeneca. My booster will be Pfizer. Odd, but I will go!
Thank you, Merril!
Thank you very much. I mention a German film in today’s post. 😀
Good luck with your booster, Yes, mixing and matching seems to be fine now they say. I had Pfizer for all three; my husband had Moderna for his first two, and then the Pfizer booster.
Thanks! Several million people here had the AZ, and all are getting Pfizer now, so I am not alone!
No, I’m sure you’re not.