Monday Morning Musings:
“There are names for what binds us:
strong forces, weak forces.
Look around, you can see them:”
–Jane Hirshfield, “For What Binds Us”
The stars are sleeping beyond the grey
our sun yawning without thought of dawning—
our pale blue dot revolves and spins, and we,
held fast by what we cannot see, bound to
that spin, and to each other
circling like restless dogs, seeking a trace
of affinity
within the infinity of time
and space, magic, grace,
the universe surrounds us
with light. We pass through rays,
scatter spectrums with our beating hearts
then take
a souvenir, hold that light within
carved, like initials on a tree,
a memory of what was, a star–
its dust drifting through our veins
and soaring on soft wings
from sky to earth to tree
caught in the sea of eternity,
lost, found, cherished, bound.
I couldn’t decide what to write about today, so I gave myself a challenge to use the words passing (or a form of the word) and souvenir from the two excellent movies we saw this week, along with some inspiration from Jane Hirshfield.
Passing (Netflix) is a new movie based on the 1929 novel by Nella Lasen. Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga give terrific performances as the two main characters. The women were childhood friends who meet again by chance in a New York hotel where both are “passing” as white—Thompson’s character Irene temporarily, and Negga’s character Clare who is living as a white woman married to a bigoted White man. John openly declares his hatred for Black people in front of both women. Clare’s reemergence upsets Irene’s carefully composed life and dreams.
The Souvenir is a 2019 movie, starring Honor Swinton Byrne as Julie, a young well-to-do film student who becomes involved with an older man (Tom Burke) who manipulates her, pulling her into a toxic relationship. Early on, he gives her a print of the 1778 painting The Souvenir by Jean-Honore Fragonard, which they also see in a gallery. The painting is based on a scene from Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s book, Julie, a 1761 best-seller. (I didn’t know this when I saw the movie.) Julie’s mother in the movie is played by her real-life mother, Tilda Swinton. So, this is the second thing I’ve watched recently with a mother and daughter playing a mother and daughter. The other was Maid. The movie is the director, Joanna Hogg’s, semi-autobiographical story .
The Souvenir: Part II was recently released.
During the week on a spring-like day we sat outside at Heritage Winery.
Saturday morning, we took a walk at Tall Pines State Preserve. It was a golf course turned into a preserve. The sun was going in and out, but it was beautiful with autumn colors at their peak. After we got home it got cloudy, rainy, and windy. We didn’t see any coyotes or other wildlife other than birds.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Fresh. Airy. Beautiful work(s) Merril. Salute!
Thank you so much, Ron.!
A lovely tribute to a good weather day. Was that football back-heeled?
Thank you, Derrick.
We’d call it a soccer ball. It was just there on the path, and it made me think of the ball from the old show The Prisoner. 😀
🙂 You took us both back to that show, Merril
😀
Thank you for sharing!
Beautiful musings today, Merril. Of course, your photos are fabulous! When I saw all of the wine glasses on IG, I wondered if you guys finished all of them. 🙂 That soccer ball photo is cool. What’s up with that?
Thanks so much, Jill!
That soccer ball was just there–so random! 🤣
I tasted all the wine, but I only finished the Merlot and Cab. I think Doug drank all of his.
It’s really a cool photo. Yay, Doug! I’m sure I would have too. 🙂
Jill! 🤣
That is a magnificent sunset, Merril, and beautiful words as ever!
Thank you, Ingrid! 😀
I did wonder if you’d Photoshopped in the random soccer ball! I love the poem. There are so many good lines to make not of, but I think this stanza is what resonated most with me:
The stars are sleeping beyond the grey
our sun yawning without thought of dawning—
our pale blue dot revolves and spins, and we,
held fast by what we cannot see, bound to
that spin, and to each other.
Thank you for your kind words, Liz. I’m pleased you found so many lines that resonated with you.💙
I don’t even have Photoshop. 😀
You’re welcome, Merril. It’s probably just as well you don’t have Photoshop. It requires a huge learning curve that I haven’t mangaged to climb.
I’m behind on everything, so that’s not something I plan to tackle. 😀
I’m behind on everything as well.
😀
The world looks so magical through your eyes. (K)
What a lovely thing to say, Kerfe! Thank you!
What a life affirming day and I feel your poem is as well.
Thank you very much, Claudia.
I loved the lightness of your poem. Beautifully done with gorgeous photos!
(By the way… I convinced my guy to watch Maid with me 😉 )
Thank you so much, Dale!
Did you (and he) like it?
So lovely.
And yes, enough to watch another episode 😉
Yay!
That’s what I said 😉
a souvenir, hold that light within
carved, like initials on a tree,
a memory of what was, a star–
👏👏 Love that. And loved joining your Monday again. Would love to see the foot that kicked that football. Thanks for taking us with you Merril 👏👏💕💕
Oh how lovely to see you here, Damien, and thank you for the kind words! ❤️
The ball was so random! I said it reminded me of that giant ball in the old show The Prisoner. 😀
Just beautiful!!! 🙂
Thank you so much, Linda! 😀