Monday Morning Musings:
“We do on stage things that supposed to happen off. Which is a kind of integrity, if you look on every exit as being an entrance somewhere else.”
–Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
“The Heart
has many Doors.”
–Emily Dickinson
Full poem here.
“our home has been nothing but a playroom. I have been your doll-wife, just as at home I was father’s doll-child; and her the children have been my dolls.”
–Henrik Ibsen, A Doll’s House
The heart I’m told has four chambers,
but every chamber must have a door
and so,
blood flows,
love comes, it goes,
the doors of the heart beat open, then close. . .
We go to the theater,
drink coffee before closed doors–
they soon open,

A Doll’s House, Arden Theatre, Philadelphia
taking us to a nineteenth-century
that seems contemporary–
how shocking the play must have been then,
it’s hints of sexuality, as well as the dissolution of a marriage.
We are caught up in others’ lives,
the doorbell rings,
people enter and exit,
the audience gasps at Torvald’s remarks,
feels Nora’s awakening
pauses, then exhales
with “the door slam heard round the world.”
We applaud, then exit, too,
down the stairs
and out into the cold.
Winter folds its icy heart around the city.
We walk and talk
past the ghosts of Christ Church
through another door
to drink more coffee.
I think of doll houses and dolls. . .
Our daughters used to play with dolls and doll houses,
tip-tapping the small figures round tiny chairs and tables
and in and out of rooms
without real doors to open or shut–
but who’s to say it wasn’t real,
a man-doll named John,
a piece of a wooden chair named Pumpernickel,
(we never knew why)
the mini American Girl dolls
they were all real,
weren’t they? At least for a time?
A door opened, unfastened hearts and minds,
as I remember . . .
a doll has no heart,
except for that which is given by love,
or perhaps they create their own hearts
and perhaps they make ours grow
as they enter our lives and exit,
leaving the door ajar for others find their way in.
We open doors,
we close doors
sometimes we perch upon them
never noticing how precarious it can be,
life, opening and closing–
sometimes we carry our hearts right through a doorway,
and keep on going.
I’m told that people can die from broken hearts,
like Debbie Reynolds after Carrie Fisher died,
the heart no longer beats,
the four chambers, silent.
The doors of the heart open and close—
until they open and close no more—
Exits and entrances.
Another dollhouse.
Another doll.
There was also this.
For those outside of the U.S., yesterday was Super Bowl Sunday. My local team, the Philadelphia Eagles won. It was a big deal, and even family members and friends who are not particular sports fans were excited. I made my husband goodies to eat, and sat with him for about half an hour, but I then went upstairs to watch other shows and read.
As long as there are doors to open as well as close. I love your musings. They seem to bring back my week too, which is strange, given the circumstances 🙂 Ireland beat France at rugby, but it wasn’t a big deal—the French team is pretty useless at present.
Thanks so much, Jane. I’m glad this struck a chord, or opened a door. 🙂
I was glad we don’t live in the city–it got pretty crazy there last night. Crazy morning here already–the Save button on my WP isn’t working–and I have to go to a meeting for my mom.
Hope things calm down/work out 🙂
Thank you, Jane.
I’m home now. We’re trying to get Medicaid services for my mom–assessments and lots of paperwork. Fortunately, my sister is doing most of it. As for calming down in the city–well, there’s still a parade coming up. I’m across the river though. 🙂
It sounds as though you get quite enough excitement. Sending friendly thoughts your way for you and your mom.
Thank you, Jane!
🙂
It was a good game, and I was thrilled to see the Eagles win. I haven’t talked with him yet (will call him after lunch which is our usual time) but I’m sure my father must be flying high this morning.
Wonderful musings, as always. I love the comparison of the chambers of the heart with doors. 🙂
Thank you, Robin, for your kind remarks. 🙂
I’m sure your dad must be excited.
Marvellous musing with some fun portraits
Thank you very much, Derrick!
Love your musings. I am ecstatic that the Eagles won. I am on the side of anyone that beats the Patriots. Once again though, my Chiefs bombed out in the playoffs. I’m getting pretty tired of saying ,”just wait til’ next year.)
Thank you very much!
I don’t know anything about football at all, but lots of people here are very happy! 🙂
Life as a series of doors leading from one chamber of the heart to the next makes a lot of sense. Our place within each door is as significant as the door, itself.
Your theme is riveting today, even as your city is going bonkers over the BIG WIN. I watched some magical plays by the Eagles last night and then snuck into my den to catch the latest episode of Victoria. I wonder if you did the same.
Thank you very much, Marian.
I’m behind on Victoria, so I wasn’t watching it. I was catching up on other shows. 🙂
The dollhouse memories made me smile. My younger daughter still has her (handed down from older sister) dollhouse, and a few dolls too. We never finish with those doors and thresholds, or those chambers in the heart…(K)
Thanks so much, Kerfe. Yes, there are always doors, aren’t there?
That is so cool that your younger daughter still has her dollhouse. My daughters don’t have a dollhouse, but they do still have lots of dolls in boxes here!
It’s interesting what we choose to keep. But when you’ve given an object life, it’s even harder to let it go.
Infinished Victoria last week, so I was actually looking forward to the big game and watched it all the way to the end. Thought of you and my other Philadelphia friends. Great game. First one I watched in years.
Thank you, Shirley. My husband enjoyed it, and there is certainly a lot of excitement in this area.
Not knowing when the dawn will come I open every door. Emily Dickinson- lovely musings Merril thank you!
Thank you, Susan!
I enjoyed reading your ruminations on doll houses, doors and love. I found it all very beautiful and thought provoking.
Thank you so much, Suzanne!
I’m reading and re-reading this poem. So much here. When a door closes, another opens. When a door opens, does another close? Our hearts are as one, yet they are many chambered. I do believe we can die of a broken heart. May ours stay happily chambered and opened until it’s time for them to close …. to a new door. xo
Thank you so much, Pam. What a lovely comment! ❤
I was excited for the Eagles’ win!! Yay! What a good wife making snacks and keeping him company, too.
I have seen Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll House” more than twice. I love it (a little) more than Shakespeare’s, “Taming of the Shrew.” Yay for Katherine and Nora!
Thank you, Robin. I only kept my husband company for about 30 minutes, then I went upstairs to watch other shows. 🙂
I’m sure it made him feel good when you sat and watched 1/2 hour plus made him snacks, Merril. I like “Kiss Me, Kate,” “Taming of the Shrew,” and Nora’s character from this Ibsen play. I wonder if I ever wrote about them on my blog. . .