In Feathered Light

Posted on July 26, 2021 by merrildsmith

Monday Morning Musings:

The moon hums and the sun sings,
and feathered things with outstretched wings
soar into the light

dazzling white, the egrets’ flight,
the eagles’ glide, a majestic sight
above my head

and down below, the scent of dead
attract the vulture’s blooded head—
but even they fly

with graceful beauty in the sky
circling round—hello, goodbye—
life comes and goes

^{This cormorant spent several days in this spot.}

the questions everybody knows,
and none can answer, I suppose
there’s beauty in that, too–

science can tell us why the sky is blue,
yet perceiving it, is that new?
Do we name things so that we see–

or does sight come, and we feel free–
And still, we disagree
about the color of the sea,

fields of grain, and climbing vines
lost to asphalt, modern signs
of progress made,

decisions that now cascade,
a waterfall, decisions weighed
spinning in retrograde, still we shine

in setting sun, sipping wine,
fruits of field and vine,
talking as time slow-walks–

a paradox—the universe’s sleight–
time, truth, the beauty of the feathered light.

Morning— Delaware River at Red Bank Battlefield

We went to Blue Cork Winery in Williamstown, NJ this past week, where our daughter gave a talk—a brief history of sangria–and then guided us through making our own using a white and red base they supplied, along with fruit and juices. It was a fun event, and of course we bought a bottle of wine to take home, too.
I’m still finishing that chapter, so I apologize for my slow response time here. Also, I’m hosting dVerse Poetics tomorrow.

The Reflected World

Posted on May 21, 2020 by merrildsmith

Tall Pines State Preserve, May 2020

sky and water meld

in evanescent embrace,

and birds swim with the fish

through green branches,

gilded by light above and below

A gogyohka Frank’s 5-Line Japanese Poetic Forms dVerse Prompt.

My poem was inspired by the photo above that I took this morning during a walk my husband and I took at a state nature preserve that was formerly a gold course.

MTB: 5-Line Japanese Poetic Forms

Rise and Fall

Posted on March 9, 2020 by merrildsmith

Monday Morning Musings:

Through thousands of timeless changes

she’s slept, awakened, and wondered when, why–

and if—whispering wisdom in the pink petals of dawn—

in the shining silver strands of moonlight–

as the tides rise and fall

and waves tumble, wearing down rocks

and towns crumble,

she sighs at the shadows,

sings a song of healing, knowing

it may not be enough.

***

These are things that fall—

snowflakes

raindrops,

cherry blossoms,

my mother, over and over

again, the text or call,

she’s bruised, confused

about what happened

yet nearly blind,

she sometimes sees

these things that rise—

the volume of a laugh,

the sun and moon

spring flowers

spirits

at the sound of bird songs

drifting from dawn-lit trees

in the lengthening days

that sing of hope

and the renewal of life–

there the crocuses bloom

glowing in radiant amethyst

now jonquils tinkle their tiny bells

and soon sunny daffodils smile

and say hello, always friendly

robins frolic

as the worm moon lingers,

and the mockingbird sings

an aria of love and longing

from a budding tree branch.

From the buds

come leaves or flowers

and fruit–

and so, an impromptu late lunch

we drink the fermented fruit

Reflecting on wine

William Heritage Winery

Painted Horse, a mainly Chambourcin wine blend.

when other plans fell through

but the sun is shining

and so, we sip and reflect

and take this time

to laugh and talk

and then another evening, we walk

in the city awake in the almost-spring

despite the looming threats

it’s a Saturday night

we listen to the comedian

and we laugh,

even while she talks of hand-washing

she is funny,

and we needed this

we all need this–

my mother sees my dead father,

sometimes they talk

she asks me to see if he’s in the lounge

I don’t see him, I say

maybe he will be here later.

The comedian says there is no rainbow bridge,

her dead pets are buried in the ground, gone

but remembered,

perhaps we carry these ghosts within us

do we hear them whisper? I don’t know.

Super moon does an aerial act.

These are things that rise and fall and rise again

a baby,

eyelids,

civilizations,

hope–

blooming

again and again.

The only tree on the block in bloom, Walnut Street, Philadelphia.

No movies this week, but Paula Poundstone was very funny, and it was a fun night out, and our little date lunch was a wonderful little mid-week break.

Lovely Bright, The Sight

Posted on November 11, 2019 by merrildsmith

Monday Morning Musings:

“How clear, how lovely bright,

How beautiful to sight

Those beams of morning play. . .

Ensanquining the skies

How heavily it dies. . .

How hopeless under ground

Falls the remorseful day.”

–from A.E. Houseman, “How Clear, How Lovely Bright”

The line, the flow

the glow

of life, scattering

leaves, the gathering of nuts and seeds

(the sky bleeds)

reflecting the spattering

of wounds, the broken glass

before the gas

and rustlings

of war and wind

the leaves are thinned,

but hear them crunch and crackle

as squirrels scamper and play

in the fading light of autumn day

and the birds fly—geese and grackle—

and hawks and vultures soar

before the train comes, roars

down the tracks

taking me somewhere—

up and down, stairs

we go, into the wind,

the boat sails

and what tales

might it have, of rivers or sea?

Delaware River from Patco train heading to Philadelphia

And is there a lighthouse, with ghostly

glowing and horn blowing, or mostly

sunny skies?

Time must sail, too

and we a sometime crew

walk through history

18th Century garden on site of Benjamin Rush’s House, Philadelphia

how can it be otherwise,

the lows and highs

of our own lives, the mystery

of others–we see a groom and bride

and I hope they lovingly glide

into a life of love and joy

A wedding party taking photos at “my willow” at Dock Creek, Old City, Philadelphia

(Pause, we drink coffee and wine

stop for a time—

but time is coy)

and autumn comes cold and dark

but there is beauty, even if it’s stark—

see the moon rise over fields stripped of grain

Moonrise over a South Jersey field, November.

glowing, humming—this autumn sky

and the clouds and time

the time before the rain, snow, the train

of time. The movie train that circles

through the frozen world, almost eternal

but the cost

a cautionary tale

of where we might sail

and is our world already lost?

Crow calls

the remorseful day falls

setting underground

in fiery ball, unheeding

the world goes on, speeding

and we spellbound.

But I don’t celebrate bleeding—

or ferocious gods, the leaders leading

into destruction–

let poetry fly

through vast haunted eternity, die

the war-fever. Find a new function

for our minds and hearts

in words of love, kindness, and arts

that soar with feathered wings–

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how clear, how lovely bright

the sight

of what could be, of hope that sings

as the walls tumble down.

This was a week of elections, cat dental surgery, the anniversary of Kristallnaught (November 9, 1938), and the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. In the U.S. today is Veteran’s Day. It was formerly Armistice Day, but of course, war has not ended. I respect all who have served and honor all those who have given their lives in serving their country. While someone like Hitler had to be stopped, it would be better if people did not let such people gain power.

For Merril’s Movie Club: We watched Snowpiercer, a 2014 movie we had never seen, but since we recently saw Parasite, and it is an earlier movie by the same director, Bong Joon-ho, we decided to watch it. It’s on Netflix. This one’s in English, and it’s much more of an action movie than I would normally see. Like Parasite, the movie covers the issues of class and climate,and there was definitely much to think about. Overall, we both liked it. There is also fighting and bloody scenes though, so be forewarned. We saw Lighthouse in the theater. It’s also in English. I know, strange, right? (Don’t worry, we’re still watching Black Spot, so reading subtitles there.). Great acting, beautiful black and white cinematography. Very strange, surrealistic movie of two lighthouse keepers on an isolated island. Some of the dialogue is taken from Melville and lighthouse keepers’ diaries. It’s somewhat similar in style to his previous movie, The Witch.

Here and There and Here

Posted on October 28, 2019 by merrildsmith

Monday Morning Musings:

“All I know

Is you are there

You are there

And I am here.

–Irene Sankoff and David Heine, “I am Here,” from Come From Away

“Suddenly there’s nothing in between me and the sky”

Irene Sankoff and David Heine, “Me and the Sky,” from Come From Away

“Think of it as a ghost play; the actor’s older bodies are haunting these thirteen-year-old characters.”

Clare Barron on her play, Dance Nation

“Are you here?” my mother asks

as I, involved in some ordinary task

stand just beyond her sight.

The boundaries between mist and light

time and dreams, seems porous, slight

and she drifts, and we drift again and again

Reflections in a rain puddle, Philadelphia

sunshine, then rain

“Here,” says the woman in the book

“Here,” I say, “Look.”

The twilight and dawn

the days that falter, end with a song

look at them fly

nothing between them and the sky

and we drink wine, talk of movies and why

they did this or that—it’s a metaphor

William Heritage Winey

Wine Tasting at William Heritage Winery

Wine tasting at William Heritage Winer

I say, and we laugh, remember more

to discuss, remember the time when it was just us

or when we were thirteen–

remember how life seemed?

All emotions, and the dreams?

Emotions now more settled, but more stress—

Tria, Washington West

I digress.

Time right now to sit in gardens bright

to catch autumn’s glowing light

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rain and sunshine, tears, delight

I was there once, now I’m here in sight–

of what? I’m not certain, but you are here

together we’re here,

and there’s magic in theater–and deer

and nature, magic in each day’s dawning

watching the sun rise, yawning

as it sets, and the cats that sleep, never fawning

honest with their desire

for food and love, we’re the suppliers

but we get it back, their love doesn’t expire

no ghosts in their bodies, at least that I see

they can just be–

and sometimes so can we—

here together,

I am here,

you are here,

nothing between us and sky–

in my dreams, we fly.

We actually saw two shows this week: Come From Away and Dance Nation. Come from Away is heartwarming without being cloying. It’s about people doing good. It’s about the town in Newfoundland that takes in flights following the terrorist attacks on 9/11. It’s poignant, but also very funny at times. The staging is wonderful, and we saw it in the beautiful Academy of Music in Philadelphia. Dance Nation is about a competitive dance team of middle school kids, but it’s also a memory play, as we see glimpses of the girls (and one boy’s) older selves. All the actors are adults. It’s laugh out loud funny at times, but it also makes you want to cheer. There’s a wonderful speech on female empowerment.

And for Merril’s Movie Club members—we finally got to the movies and saw Parasite. Yes, of course it has subtitles. It’s Korean. It’s about class and metaphors, and it’s excellent, but you know, it’s a Merril movie. 😉 Here’s the trailer.

Autumn Questions

Posted on October 21, 2019 by merrildsmith

Monday Morning Musings:

“Autumn poses the question we all have to live with: How to hold on to the things we love even though we know that we and they are dying. How to see the world as it is, yet find light within that truth.”

–Pico Iyler, Autumn Light: Season of Fire and Farewells, quoted in Brainpickings

In the transitional spaces

of this liminal season,

sun and moon both hold their places

easing in

Morning moon over the river.

the days of swoops and shifts

where sunshine fires gold and red

and nature bewitches with magic gifts–

deer and birds, the leaves unshed

to glow in sunshine, that perfect light

too soon hidden behind the grey

of clouds, and we trudge but fight

the winter’s-coming-wind. “Stay!”

we say to sunshine and golden glow

as we struggle through “the wind tunnel of death”

in rush hour city streets, go with the flow,

see, not so bad, we catch our breath

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and onward go, sunshine, then rain

and I work, cook, bake, turn on the heat

to be certain it works, for frigid air comes again

and soon winter winds will roar, and we’ll retreat

not wanting to venture out so long or often

but yet we’ll have to carry on, do what we must

and with blankets, soup, and candles, soften

the cold (and in the dimness hide the dust).

But for now, we walk and celebrate

the accomplishments, good weather, and walk

through parks, a restaurant, a concert—a date

I suppose, we listen to the other couples talk

Park in Collingswood, NJ, Merril D. Smith, 2019

at other tables and speculate

about their lives. Then we move on—

the concert late into the night, but great

and soon comes another dawn

and more rain. A grey afternoon

my mom nods off to the TV

I make her laugh as I dance to a tune–

Que sera, what will be, will be,

not what we hear, but inevitably

transition lead to something new

leaves fall, rivers flow to the sea,

winter grey and white follows from autumn blue,

but now we watch a French demon on our screen

drink wine and gasp at horror in a world not real

enjoy the make-believe land of the unseen

even as we long for something ideal, feel

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unmoored in this world, waiting for disaster

but finding moments of joy to savor

wanting some to slow, some to move faster—

what is the flavor

the scent, of time passing and flowing?

Cinnamon, nutmeg, lilacs, and rain

petrichor rising, snow falling, and fires blowing

smoke into the air—all these over and over again–

as cats play hide and seek,

and children now grown send love in photos,

and each week brings something good or bleak—

and so it goes.

In the liminal spaces

of this liminal season,

the moon hums, traces

her course, she has a reason

even if we don’t know why,

(what questions to ask, the answers unknown)

but hush, hear that sigh?

Listen closely, the moon’s lullaby.

It’s been a crazy week with emotions blowing like the crazy winds. One deadline met, another still to go. We went to a concert at the Scottish Rite Auditorium, David Bromberg and Los Lobos. My husband joked that you had to be over 50 to get in–but wow–those musicians can play! We walked from the theater to Indiya restaurant and then back. We’re watching a horror show on Netflix called Marianne. One episode to go. It definitely made me jump a few times. It’s in French. Sorry, movie club fans, that’s the best I can do right now. I hope to get to the movies soon.

A Bit of Healing

Posted on October 18, 2019 by merrildsmith

I’ve been feeling stressed for months—deadlines, caring for my mom, trying to fit everything in, waiting for the next disaster. I take a morning walk in the riverside park before the predicted downpour arrives. There I find a bit of magic, a bit of healing. Life goes on.

russet-gold shower

leaves fall on a silent world—

time pauses, deer leaps

I’m linking this Haibun to dVerse’s Open Link Night. Lillian asked for some treats. Seeing deer is a treat for me (as long as they’re not in the road).

Life’s Labor

Posted on September 2, 2019 by merrildsmith

Monday Morning Musings:

“It is summer-gone that I see, it is summer-gone.

The sweet flowers indrying and dying down,

The grasses forgetting their blaze and consenting to brown.”

From Gwendolyn Brooks, “A Sunset in the City”

“Therefore—we do life’s labor—

Though life’s Reward—be done—

With scrupulous exactness—

To hold our Senses—on—”

—Emily Dickinson

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Dawn comes with a song colored in a blush of dusty pink

whispering secrets

I am light

glowing honey gold

through rose-tinged clouds.

I am sound,

the buzzing drone

of a cicada,

the eager chirping of a sparrow

looking for love.

Look–

Listen–

soon come the shadows

black in the moonlight–

soon comes the silence,

save the skittering of night creatures

over dry brown leaves.

***

It is a week of reflection

abjection and affection

glowering grey

and love that stays

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true in hue

though the world’s askew.

Hurricanes and guns,

the loss daughters and sons

to senseless violence

and no defenses

do we have for either wind

or fury underpinned

by those in power—

but here in a bower

a garden of flowers

we sit for hours.

We spent a lot of time in this garden.

My mother naps

as the sparrow flaps

his wings to no avail–

though he chirps and flails

the lady sparrow ignores him

as he follows from limb to limb

and along the concrete wall

calling, calling to all

“I am here,

my beauty, appear!”

On this Labor Day weekend

we labor and bend

to the inevitable end

of summer and life, we send

thoughts outward with the breeze

we tease

joy for moments when we can

flowers, family, pets, wine—and

I remember how my mother worked

and didn’t shirk

her duty to home or even nation

bucking rivets, no vacation

I’m sure, she tells me of a woman there

who stands up for her—the righteous everywhere—

when the haters hate

six million dead does not set them straight.

Still, she worked all her life

in stores, as mother and wife

and after. An aunt worked sewing

and I wonder, not knowing

what the factory was like,

and if they ever went on strike,

but my mother got to borrow her clothes

and so, it goes

she met my father who lives in her dreams–

he lives on in seams

stitched with invisible thread

in memories real and false, but we tread

lightly because what else can we do–

as we sit under a sky of September blue

knowing that autumn is coming,

but the moon will keep humming,

and we will labor, love, and play

life beyond us will go on, each day

green or barren, this earth

laboring, revolving, giving birth

to new possibilities, hopes, and fears

in endless cycles over thousands of years.

Today is Labor Day here in the U.S. The Mormon Temple near where my mom lives has a lovely little garden square that is open to the public. We enjoyed wine and cheese at Tria, where on Sunday’s they offer specials that they call “Sunday School.” My mom recently told me that a woman defended her when a man or men uttered anti-Semitic slurs at her–while she was working as a “bucker” for riveters during WWII.

For Us All

Posted on August 26, 2019 by merrildsmith

Monday Morning Musings:

“August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time.”

―Sylvia Plath, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath

“Of what is past, or passing, or to come.”

–W.B. Yeats, “Sailing to Byzantium”

A breeze drifts from blushing sky,

Robin sings reveille, a new day wakes

carrying time’s perfume,

a scent of days blended over and over

in a soft voice

the woman asks the day

and wonders where time has gone,

but it is still here—

she gazes through a window,

a young woman looks back

***

In these last days of August

as summer goes a-rambling,

and we go scrambling–

in this odd uneven time

of thunderstorms and brilliant sun

we see summer almost done

when temperatures fall,

as do a few leaves,

but it deceives

we’ll have heat rise again,

even as vultures soar

high above the shore

Delaware River, Red Bank Battlefield

and insects skitter

and crawl–

but that’s not all

Cicada-eating wasp

Great Horned Caterpillar at Red Bank Battlefield, NJ

we see as we walk

in parks and city streets,

hearing the beats

of different drums

people, creatures, machines strum

and hum, but come

see fountains glittering

with diamond droplets flying

and spirits sighing

Swann Memorial Fountain Glittering in the Sun, Philadelphia

as they dance to the sky

where sun-stippled,

and wind-rippled

they form clouds

that cross the far expanse

of blue, and dance

into the night

and daughters come with smiles

across the miles

to visit. We drink wine

on a beautiful day

wishing days like this would stay

More Bugs! Cicada comes a-calling

Wine Down Summer Wine Festival, Riverwinds, NJ

Wine Down Summer Wine Festival, Riverwinds, NJ 2019

and winter never come.

When flowers and bugs will die

and Persephone in darkness sigh

for light and mother-love.

But in the now we celebrate–

never too late, to grab a plate

to dine and drink

to talk

to walk

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to give heart-felt wishes

to laughs and kisses

to be happy for all of this

And so,

on her 97^th birthday I write:

“On this day,

this is what I wish for you–

the love in memories,

the love in now.”

And for us all

the moon hums a lullaby,

a wish for love and gentle goodbyes.

I went a bit overboard with photos, but my mom turned 97 this weekend. Since a few weeks ago, we thought she wouldn’t reach this event, it was extra-special. Older daughter came from Massachusetts, and we went to a wine festival, then visited her sister at her new part-time job at Blue Cork Winery. Then yesterday was my mom’s party. For once, the weather cooperated, too–what a beautiful weekend!

Reflections

Posted on August 12, 2019 by merrildsmith

Monday Morning Musings:

“Now I am a lake. A woman bends over me,
Searching my reaches for what she really is.”

–From Sylvia Plath, “Mirror”

“Did you ever wonder if the person in the puddle is real, and you’re just a reflection of him?”

–Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes

In the window

the world is reflected

prismed into colors bright

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the blue of sky

and clouds of white

refracted sites

ripple and sway

changing as you walk

then fading away

unlike skyscrapers

that here still stand

monuments to technology

in reflections,

magic,

a slight of hand.

Now in the puddle

the world is upside down

in shades of beige and grey

Building in a puddle, Philadelphia

diffused light

scattered over slate

and rippling away

carried to the river

then onwards

to the sea

but here

are windows closed

as eyes asleep

and minds imprisoned

in worlds of fancy

and dreams

of children

go unheeded

unheard, unseen

in cages

they perish

swept away

by the latest news

of violence

and thoughts and prayers

go out

to remove the games

and images

but not the guns

they remain–

see, they’re not to blame

and cash

wills out

with slaps on the back

for the boys

are boys

who grow to be men

and abuse

again

and again.

And what do they see

in their reflections?

Do they stop to reflect

on the people

they harm?

I read of survivors

who try to forgive

when they

can never forget–

we must never forget

the sights refracted

in sunshine and rain,

and here we sit

holding time still

for a moment,

if we could with will

in vino veritas,

and truth there is

that there is beauty

and light

and days when things

are just right,

moments granted

even when

the world is slanted

cock-eyed, the mother

becomes the child,

but when she laughs

you wonder what’s real

and see your reflection

there she and you

and she will never go

to the river again

but here a bird calls–

Hear it?

Listen and wonder

what does it see?

There its reflection

in the water

it looks at me.

Delaware River, Red Bank Battlefield, National Park, NJ

Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings

Tag Archives: South Jersey

In Feathered Light

Monday Morning Musings:

The Reflected World

Rise and Fall

Monday Morning Musings:

Lovely Bright, The Sight

Monday Morning Musings:

Here and There and Here

Monday Morning Musings:

Autumn Questions

Monday Morning Musings:

A Bit of Healing

Life’s Labor

Monday Morning Musings:

For Us All

Monday Morning Musings:

Reflections

Monday Morning Musings: