Monday Morning Musings:
“For myself, I declare I don’t know anything about it. But the sight of the stars always makes me dream.”
Vincent van Gogh, letter to his brother Theo, July 1888
“I think about our ancestors. Thousands of years, wondering if they were alone in the universe. Finally discovering they weren’t. You can’t blame them for wanting to reach out, see how many other species were out there, asking the same questions.”
–Captain Kathryn Janeway, Star Trek Voyager, Episode, “Friendship One”
At night
ghosts sail to stars
dazzling the universe
with wild poetry,
that thing there—
see it?
the liquid blush of desire
Earth spins and orbits our Sun
but all is not right
(in day or night)
the heavens rage
the surface heaves
the forests burn
the oceans churn
(do you hear them sigh)
and creatures die
on the stars I make a wish
for planet, us, for birds and fish
and then under the glowing stream
I close my eyes and then I dream
I wake to see bright Venus,
high above
she sings of love
there in the eastern sky
she dances and she wonders why
(as do I, oh, as do I)
we are not swayed from the hate
and do not counter or negate
the dotard’s words of folly
but instead sink into a melancholy—
(as do I, oh, as do I)
under starlight’s beam
once again
I close my eyes and then I dream
We watch Star Trek Voyager
Earth’s greeting of friendship gone wrong
a civilization pushed headlong
into nuclear winter,
the next day—synchronicity
a radio story of the real Voyager
the golden record as it would sound to aliens
Simplicity? Specificity?
We want to reach out,
to know we’re not alone
the moon smiles and gleams
I close my eyes and then I dream
We have a holiday dinner
missing daughters, sister, and niece
still I present the soup and loaf
(a masterpiece!)
with apples, honey, and some wine
we drink and eat and we are fine
(we pour more wine)
talk of movies and van Gogh
(there’s a new movie out, you know)
wonder about Ben Franklin’s diet and life
then matter-of-factly my mother’s zinger
that he did not sleep alone
at ninety-five, she was so in the zone!
and with that, the laughter lingers
sweet
like the honeyed fingers
from the baklava and apple cake
she mangles the middle
and picks at the pieces
but sister laughter
follows after
and after
We drink more wine, again we’re fine
under moonlight sky and starry stream
I close my eyes and then I dream. . .
of the universe’s wild poetry
of singing stars and humming moons
of spirits soaring and swaying to the tunes
before dawn’s blush of desire
turns the sky to fire
I wake and look up to the sky
to see Venus shining bright
I gaze and wish
for us, for cats, and fish
for dogs, and horses, and for birds
(and yes, even for the dotard)
for the planet, earth, and trees
and for the seas
under Venus’s beaming gleam
I close my eyes and wish and dream
So, we watched Star Trek Voyager and saw an episode about the result of a probe that was sent out from Earth that was very similar to the real Voyager and its golden record. Then the next day, I heard this story on NPR’s Weekend Morning Edition and the Oracle gave me that poem. Synchronicity?
Some of you may know because I’ve ranted about it that I’ve been working on two reference books about rape. I am happy to report that both manuscripts have now been sent in. I also finished another project over the weekend, so I should now have time to answer e-mails and respond to comments and prompts. At least until, I receive copyedited manuscript (first one is coming next month).
Your stories of family events always have such warmth.
—
Good news on the manuscripts.
—
“Simplicity? Specificity?” … Synchronicity
Speaking of which, I’m planning to make an apple cake today!
Thank you, Ken.
Oh yummy–enjoy your cake! Maybe I will eat some of mine tonight in the interest of synchronicity. 🙂
Congrats on savoring family time here and finishing those manuscripts on rape. Ugh! No wonder you search the skies for comfort. We used to live close to a big box store whose parking lot lights blotted out the starry skies. Now we can see the night sky, earlier and earlier, and I often spot Venus and maybe Cassiopeia.
Thank you for this heavenly post and for reading and replying to my blog posts even when you have been so pressed for time.
poignant… there is a good reason we have holidays to bring together family and friends, to celebrate without completely erasing from out minds the world as it is (otherwise we couldn;t pray for it). Went to a poetry workshop this weekend at a church, and the priest in opening remarks quoted a Jesuit theologian: contemplation is a long, loving look at the real. This meets that definition.
And congrats on the projects. 🙂
Thank you so much for the compliment and the good wishes!
I love your meandering musings on a Monday Merril … thank you. I’m so sorry about the tragedy in Las Vegas. I’m sorry about so much. I’m not sorry for our imaginings of a peaceful world where the seas sigh with us wishing us joy and peace and always reaching for the stars.
Thank you very much, Susan. My Merril world is a much happier place. 🙂
This was really depressing until I found the food and the wine. Ugh, why can’t all of life be like your cooking and a glass of wine?
Sorry? But yes, wouldn’t that be wonderful? 🙂
It’s not your fault. YES IT WOULD.
🙂
Your poems are like family sagas, like The Waltons but without the schmaltz. And there’s always lots to eat (and drink) and things to see and hear. Thank you 🙂
Awww–thank you very much, Jane.
(I used to love The Waltons.) 🙂
I did too. I made my children watch an episode a few years ago and they sat there in silence except for the odd gasp of disbelief, then they turned to me and asked ‘You used to watch that?’
Hahaha. Richard Thomas played an FBI agent on the recent show The Americans, and my husband and I still called him John Boy. 🙂
Good to know he’s still alive! I imagine the youngest kids must be touching fifty by now.
The stars were in synch with you and the Oracle this weekend…what a lovely celebration.
And take some time to just relax in yourself! Congrats! (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe.
a day late but my monday feels now complete. Thank you Merril!!
Awww–thank you, dear Damien! 🙂
The comfort of your food photos and words help soothe. Wine and love — we can always use more, so I visit your blog; knowing I’ll find those in abundance here!
What a wonderful start of the week for you with your finished manuscripts! Hip hip hooray!! 🎉
Thanks so much, Rose. You always say the nicest things. ❤
It is nice to be able to relax a bit without deadlines hanging over my head (at least for a couple of weeks). 🙂
My pleasure. 💞
So glad I came here to read this today. In spite of the mentions of the dotard, it was joyous. Loved this:
“of the universe’s wild poetry
of singing stars and humming moons
of spirits soaring and swaying to the tunes”
And the photos! So much fun. 🙂
Thank you very much, Robin. Last week was a strange week, and I honestly didn’t know what I was going to write until I sat down to do it yesterday morning. 😉
Those photographs are such joyous love personified.
Peaceful synchronicity and dreams do have content and portent, our family feels this way.
The poems are both wonderful, Merril.
I like the photos of you and your husband, you and your sister and the gathering of those who celebrated together. 💞
Thank you, Robin. I was disappointed that my daughter and her husband were sick and couldn’t make it, but it turned out to be a lovely night.
Ah Merrill, life is good on so many fronts. I’m glad. Keep those poems coming. I will just add here that your title reminded me of a song from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Coat, now whirling in my head. 🙂
Thank you very much, Janet. I’m glad I gave you happy thoughts. 🙂