Monday Morning Musings:
Almost and Being So
“An answer is invariably the parent of a great family of new questions.”
“The truest reason for anything’s being so is that it is.”
–John Steinbeck, The Log from the Sea of Cortez (quoted here)
November passes in brilliant color
and black and white
in clouds that gather in ominous grey,
then glow as if to say, stay
for this is the call of ancient light
without, within,
despite hateful lies and
the punch-drunk, punchline, punching sting
of voters’ votes and natures’ flinging
rain and fog and morning moons
that sail through blue
to you–
and you shiver in the cold
and delight in the sun—
ignore alarms, embrace the charm
and glory of an eagle swooping by
and vultures dancing in the sky—
Vultures, Eagle, and Turkeys
you wonder about the almosts—and fate—
questions without answers, and answers that can wait
as you tread, momentarily awake,
through leaves of brown and red.
crunching dead, but hearing life
in squirrel rustle and birdsong,
the existence of because it is.
I used some of Jane’s Random Words for my poem.
On Saturday, we had planned to go into Philadelphia to visit the art museum and see a show. Unfortunately, our car hit a rock or piece of concrete on the road. It ruined our transmission, but my husband managed to get the car off the highway to a side street. We are fine, and things could have been much worse.
Theater, Movies, TV:
On Sunday, we took my husband’s car to the train station, and went to see a different play at a different theater. The Lantern Theater Company’s production of The Royale. I was not particularly excited to see this play, which I thought would be only about boxing and boxers. I have zero interest in boxing and no desire to see men hit each other. However, this play, inspired by the life of Jack Johnson, the first Black heavyweight champion of the world, was about racism, Jim Crow, and family dynamics. The acting was powerful, and the staging and choreography were outstanding. I’m still thinking about it.
We watched Enola Holmes 2 (Netflix), a totally delightful movie with a message about female empowerment. I think this second one was better than the first one.
We also watch the new show, Inside Man (Netflix). It’s only 4 episodes. Stanley Tucci as a murderer on death row who solves cases, and David Tennant as a vicar in England. Their lives become entwined. There are other fine actors involved, too. A bingeable show.
We started the new Interview with a Vampire (AMC). Two episodes in, and it’s very good. Much better than the movie was. It’s a new present-day (re)interview, and Louis is a gay Black man/vampire.
Pre-theater Walk in Philadelphia:
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Those skies are amazing! and I love your quotes. Glad your car problems left you OK. (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe.
They are good quotes. 🙂
Yes, things could have been much worse with us and the car.
Complementary photos and poetry. Sorry about the car. We enjoyed the first Enola Holmes, so will probably watch the second. We didn’t progress beyond the second instalment of Inside Man.
Thank you, Derrick.
I remember you had watched the first Enola Holmes.
Good morning, Merril! I like your variations on the word “punch.” Sorry about the transmission problems but happy you were unscathed. We are watching the next season of The Crown.
Thank you very much, Marian, for sharing what you liked and for your kind words. Yes, we were fortunate. It could have been much worse.
Enjoy The Crown!
The poem is intriguing, the light in the phots startling, but I’m so sorry about the transmission.
Thank you, Luanne! 💙
spectacular poetry.
Thank you very much! 😊
This is so beautiful Merril. 🌼
Each photo is breathtaking – the first, a portal to the tree. Those skies, the eagle – and, aside from Nature’s delights and the possibility of falling prey to Stendhal syndrome, your words provide another sensation. Thanks for saying about Netflix shows. Thanks Merril, thoroughly lovely.
Dear Merril,
I concur with Susan Scott! Thank you for featuring my avian colleagues so commendably through the fruitful results of your bird-watching and excellent photography as well as your poetry and prose. As a reward for your effort and to resonate with the spirit of your post, you are cordially invited to come and fly alongside SoundEagle in the following special post that can resonate with the (embodied, corporeal and/or transcendental) being and feeling of soaring like an eagle, whether symbolically, intellectually, aesthetically or spiritually:
https://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2021/11/08/soundeagle-guided-imagery/
In addition, please turn on your finest speakers or headphones, as the said post will be playing my musical composition to you automatically for about two minutes. Please enjoy!
The 13th of November was World Kindness Day. Wishing you and Susan a productive November and a wonderful week doing or enjoying whatever that satisfies you the most!
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle
Thank you! It’s always extra special when I see an eagle. There are several eagle nests around here.
Thank you very much for your kind and thoughtful words, Susan!
It’s a pleasure Merril!
What lovely photos and accompanying verses! The opening quote is excellent.
Sorry to know of your car troubles but great to know you both are fine.
Yes, your poem has wings. I love your reflections on life, the questions it raises that don’t really have or need and answer.
Thank you very much, Jane. 💙
🙂
I’m sorry to hear about your transmission getting trashed but glad there were no injuries involved.
These are the lines that most resonate with me today. I think they could stand alone as a short poem.
November passes in brilliant color
and black and white
in clouds that gather in ominous grey,
then glow as if to say, stay
Thank you for letting me know what stood out for you, Liz, and for your kind word.
We may have the car back by the end of the week. It could have been worse.
I had a transmission freeze up on me. I had to buy a new car.
Yikes! We have a good mechanic who is replacing it–but we may also consider buying a new car . . .
Amazing photography, Merril. I love the weather and the atmosphere 😍
Thank you very much, Lamittan! 😊
Feel most welcome, Merril. 💖
💙
My favourite photo is the street carpeted with yellow leaves! The autumn colours here are a blaze of glory also. Pleased you weren’t hurt in the car!
Thank you very much, Ingrid. I liked that photo a lot, too. It just looked so pretty as we walked by. There are many little streets like that in Philadelphia.
Thank you about the car. Yes, it could have been so much worse.
“as you tread, momentarily awake,
through leaves of brown and red.
crunching dead…”
I see and hear autumn in your poem. 🍁 🍂 Lovely how you begin with words describing the sky and end with the leaves on the ground. I’ll check out Inside Man. Stanley Stucci is one of our favorite actors. Glad all is well after the slight bump in the road. 🙂
Thank you very much, Rose!
I’m pleased you could see and hear autumn.
Yes, things could have been much worse with that accident!
So glad you and Doug are okay and your car was fixable. Now, I might have to renew my Netflix account. We saw the first Enola Holmes and enjoyed it. I also like Stanley Tucci so that’s another incentive 🙂
I love your photos and your poem. “Shiver in the cold, delight in the sun”–that’s autumn all right 😉
Thank you very much for your kind words, Marie.
There are a few other Netflix series coming up that I want to see, too. 🙂
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Thank you!
Lovely musings, Merril. Your words are exceptionally flowing this Monday morning.
The pics are fab, and I’m going right now to see if we can get “Inside Man”! It sounds great!
Thank you so much for your kind words, Resa!
I don’t think Inside Man was great, but it’s good. 🙂
🙂🙂