I.
What was and is
When what we were
was dreams
black all around, no shadows
till the wind blew blue, purple, and pink
in storm sprays, pin pricks of
elaborate dazzle, like love—
scarlet dawns, cocoa clouds, and diamond stars–
but love like lies lathers,
leaving traces of different,
lingering perfumes.
Some would heal with poison,
others with smiles,
but see how the sun devours
the clouds? Timeless stories retold.
II.
Woman With Will
if I live less like one asleep,
stop, hear sea’s music that
we together sing
then that which we are,
and that which we were,
is part of after and always–
moon mist and flowers.
The Oracle kept giving me phrases, including the title of the second poem, so I decided there were two poems here. Perhaps they go together or a part of something larger.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Good morning, Merril. I don’t have a literary comment for this poem today although I enjoyed your lines as always. What struck me is that the illustration matched the artist’s palette on the frosting of Cliff’s (early) birthday cake.
Thank you, Marian. 🙂
I love what the Oracle gave you this morning and what you did with her offerings. Beautiful and yes, two that could be part of a larger picture.
Thank you very much, Dale! 😊
🧡
We all have similar messages–the colors and music of nature is where we must go–singing, together.
So true. Thank you.
This invites repeated reading just for the sights and sounds it stirs
Oh, what a lovely comment, Derrick! Thank you. 💙
Merril, what’s your creative process like when you’re creating these magnetic pieces? ❤
~David
Hi David! I hope that means you like them. 🙂
Hmmm . . . I look at the tiles and start picking out words and sometimes phrases. Then I type them into a Word doc and start moving things around, and those word and phrases begin to assume a poetic form. I go back to the tiles, refresh, switch tiles as needed.
Then often after I write a rough draft, I go for a walk or do something else for a little while. Then I look at the poem again, and perhaps visit the Oracle again for a last bit of inspiration. That’s kind of the usual process. 🙂
Merril, this is so beautiful, Perhaps I’ll visit the Oracle and be inspired someday but couldn’t hold a candle to your incredible writing!
Oh, Rene! What a kind and lovely comment! Thank you so much. 💙💙
You don’t seem to lack for inspiration, but you can treat the Oracle just like a word prompt.
Going to give it a go!
I definitely think these two poems are part of the same whole. I was surprised to encounter “poison” in the penultimate stanza of the first poem.
Thank you very much, Liz.
I think poison was a word from the Oracle? But I don’t remember now.
You’re welcome, Merril.
I like the idea of living ‘less like one asleep’ – so hard to do, but good to master!
Thank you, Ingrid. The Oracle offers good advice. 🙂
I love the last line of ‘moon mist and flowers’…and I like the part about listening to the music of the sea. I so loved as a child holding a shell to your ear and ‘listening’. I wonder if any children do that nowadays. One of my favorite things is to walk beside the ocean and just listen to the wind and the breaking waves.
Thank you so much, Linda.
I would be sad if children didn’t still hold shells to their ears.
I also love listening to the wind and waves.