Monday Morning Musings:
Christmas, 2021
We celebrate in the long dark days—
in the after–recalling what was—
and almost remembering
how we embraced
without care.
But in the lingering kiss of night,
the air whispers secrets,
and dreams float from fiddle strings
taking form–nutcrackers, marzipan castles–
shapeshifters of hope and fear in cold winter days
as the moon hums,
the house fills with the scent of vanilla, cinnamon,
mulled wine, and chocolate,
laughter echoes from beyond to within
and hereafter,
if you wonder–
we’ve always been in-between
shadow and light, spinning as
the colors of time bend
like giant wings, hovering, circling,
and moving on,
reflecting what is, what was, and what might be.
I never posted my Christmas poem from the Magnetic Poetry Oracle. So, I’ve embellished it a bit here. I hope all of you had a joyous holiday season. It’s so very complicated trying to figure out how to get together right now, even when everyone is vaccinated and some of us are boosted. We saw some of my family on Christmas Eve—testing first, staying masked much of the time. Again, doing the same thing, we saw my husband’s family yesterday, but somehow did not take any photos.
My husband and I had our now traditional cheese fondue and mulled wine for our Christmas dinner. For our Christmas brunch, I made us a Dutch baby, and we watched a show I had recorded from PBS of Alan Cumming with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra telling the full tale of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. The story tells the origins of the Nutcracker and explains what happens to the girl and the nutcracker afterward. You can read more here.
I looked up from writing this morning to find my dining room glowing pink.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
I think now we are in-between more than ever.
Those were beautiful skies to greet you.
Thank you very much, Ken.
I agree with you about the in-between, Ken.
This does seem endless.
It sure does. I’m beginning to resign myself to it.
😔
We live in perplexing times.
We certainly do. And some people are determined to not believe the facts no matter what.
Sigh
Isn’t that the truth!
Oh, lovely! Yes, we did have the same thoughts, and you had the visual track too.
I love the last lines that start with ‘we’ve always been in-between shadow and light’
Your sky is the purple and pink softness of morning. I had the fiery evening. In between it’s the same 🙂
Thank you! 😀
It is funny how even missing Saturday, we were on the same track. (Of course.)
And the sky follows us about too 🙂
It’s very dark here now. I was thinking it looked like snow, and the forecast says we could get some, but I don’t think it’s really cold enough.
It just has to be cold enough at altitude probably. Like when you get hail. I hope it isn’t cold enough though!
Apparently it was cold enough. Nothing stuck, but there was snow coming down. It’s just cold and damp feeling.
Ah well. It is the winter, I suppose…
Lovely, Merril — the photos and smiles, the verse and reminders. All beautiful!
That’s very kind, Gwen. Thank you so much. I hope you and yours had a lovely holiday!
Beautiful words
Thank you so much!
You’re very welcome
Beautiful Christmas poem with the candle reflecting again and again.
Lovely gathering you had! I completely forgot to take pictures of our tiny gathering of four. I guess sometimes it’s nice to stay in the moment (only way I can justify it 😉 )
What a beautiful sky to wake up to!
Thank you so much, Dale.
Yes, it was good to get together at my niece’s. We always take photos there, but I didn’t take any at my mother-in-law’s.
I was up for hours before the sunrise! 😀 But it was beautiful.
Funny how one place got no photos but the other did. Just one of those things!
I don’t doubt you were!
😀
Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
Thank you, Michael!
Daniel Defoe published his Journal of the Plague Year about London’s Bubonic plague, but I don’t think it contained references to cookies or fondue.
Aside from the poetry, family, and treats, I enjoyed especially the puddle reflection. Awesome!
You’re funny, Marian. No, I doubt Defoe mentioned cookies or fondue. 🤣
Thank you for reading and for your kind words!
Glad you were able to get together with family – the memories do linger warmly.
Thank you so much!
Welcome!
‘shapeshifters of hope and fear in cold winter days’ – this is so beautifully put, and sums up well the mood of the holiday season. I hope you are having a wonderful time 😊
Thank you so much, Ingrid! 💙
I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday, too!
Beautiful post, Merril. I always love your candid shots of the family. Wishing you all peace in the new year!
Thank you very much, Jill! Wishing you all the best in the new year!
“Winter Solstice: 2021” captures my Christmas perfectly.
Thank you very much, Liz. 💙
Wonderful photos…oh, so lovely. I love the lines you wrote…”Reflecting on what is, and what could be.” We must focus on ‘what could be’ as we close one year and soon begin another. Wishing you all good things…blessings and joy!
Thank you so much, Linda! Wishing you and yours all good things, too!
The cookies and the poem together made the whole picture of the experiences for me. Calm in storms.
Thank you very much, Claudia.
We’re still eating cookies. 😀
Fine descriptive musings embellished by lovely galleries – I especially like the portraits of the two of you
Thank you very much, Derrick!
You certainly have captured the season. I admire how you truly embrace various aspects of the season. Cheers to the way you meld traditions into your life.
Thank you very much, Frank.
I’m not religious or a believer, but I do like traditions. 😀
Lovely poem – you always make me think as I read your poetic reflections. Yes, so often we are “in-between,” and now more than ever. Love the photos AND I wish I’d known about Alan Cumming and his reading on PBS. I wonder if I can find it On Demand. We took our granddaugher to the Boston Ballet Nutcracker (a tradition) a week ago. Gorgeous. And on Christmas Eve she read the story of the Nutcracker to all of us, the family, as we sat around the Christmas tree.
Thank you very much, Pam!
You might be able to find the show on PBS online. It was broadcast a few times on our station last week. I had no idea there was more to the story.
Our nutcracker comes from the one time I won tickets to the Pennsylvania Ballet’s production with box seats at the Academy of Music. Our kids were very young, but we got to go on the stage and meet the Sugar Plum fairy.
Such gorgeous pictures of a Christmas well spent 🙂 So much love in them all and in your lovely poem. Happy Holidays to you and your family ❤
Lovely pics, Merril.
Yes, even as we do our best to stay healthy and see family… the beast remains on the hunt.
We were to get together, 5 of us. Norm, his bro, his wife, our niece and me.
The morning of, we get a call. Four of our nieces friends have Covid.
We wound up meeting for 10 minutes outside in the cold, on an old street with buildings from the late 1800’s, wearing masks. We exchanged our bags of gifts, had quick hugs… it was over. It was dystopian.
I get boosted on Tuesday. 💙
Thank you, Resa.
I’m sorry you only got a quick outdoor meeting. We have plans on hold now. Good luck with your booster!
Thank you, Merril! Lol I’m so grateful to be getting a booster. The Gov’t keeps saying – get boosted, get boosted, yet the supply of vaccine is not to be found.
A bit of a story….. but I’m getting Moderna… not as popular as Pfizer here. I am thrilled. Besides the name Moderna is more Art Gowns like.
Whatever you get is good!
Agree!
Santa gave me COVID for Christmas, so I definitely felt the “still plagued” aspect! (It is a mild case and I don’t celebrate Christmas so this is not devastating” but still.)
Hi–thank you for stopping by, reading, and leaving a comment. I’m so sorry you got COVID! But still is right. I hope you feel better soon!