Monday Morning Musings:
“So fair and foul a day I have not seen.”
–William Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act I, Scene 3
“To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.”–William Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act V, Scene 5
“A library is infinity under a roof.”
—Gail Carson Levine
I lust for language–
a thousand symphonies play in my head
like light on water, ripples tripling
the glowing
flowing,
sending words, like spindrift into the sky
never lies,
but truth amplified.
I see the storms of summer spring
and hear the mockingbird sing
in night and day
he stays–
wanting love and standing guard
his tiny body working hard.
I feel
(ever present)
the ghosts around me sighing
and do they fear
from year to year
what was and what will be?
The circling of time
and life beating
(so fleeting),
but renewed again and again.
We walk through galleries
and by the river
(life giver)
flowing through a city that has grown
built with wood, and bricks, and stone,
a nation conceived, and ideas flown
(now people find them on their phones).
But still—here they are gathered
scattered on grass
biking, running,
or rowing, sun-glimmered,
forward and back
like time
(the Muse says)–
they’re in their prime
now
in this clime
the moment frozen in a thought
or captured in a rhyme
but before long
they will be gone.
Museums and libraries
I celebrate–
spread my books out on a table
enabling those who pass to see them better
to read the letters and titles
though mine don’t sell
people stop by to wish me well
and support the work I do—
telling the truth
when some others seldom do.
We go out later to drink some wine
and dine in the open air
the day turns fair, then foul, then fair
where birds flutter and fly
and children cry
with delight
running in fields in the fading light.
We see the Scottish play
on a cooler day–
then again it moves from foul to fair
threatening skies to a more spring-like air.
But inside this grand library
something wicked this way comes
though there are only two witches instead of three
(something in this version that bothered me).
Yet the acting is good, and the Macbeths
both powerful and vulnerable
to fate
that they help to make.
As the drum beats. and the swords fly
time in the theater passes by,
and tales from another age verify
the universals truths of humankind
(though this production streamlined),
all the tomorrows,
and the yesterdays,
the sound and the fury,
our vision often blurry
during our brief stay—
and yet we find a way
with stories and art
to share our hearts.
Once we had leaders who valued art
and learning,
understood the yearning to know
truth and beauty.
It is our duty
then to spread such ideas,
no matter what he says
and they believe
the false faces and words
that constantly deceive.
Yes, the storm is coming
and let it blow
away the discordant tunes
and the starless nights
for bright humming moons
and radiant light.
This is almost like a continuation of the magnet poem from yesterday, but a bit discordant and askew, like the weather and there only being two witches. What a lovely show your books make! And congratulations on having the nerve to sit with them 🙂
Thank you, Jane. How observant you are! The Oracle gave me the opening. 🙂
I really was bothered by only two witches, but I guess with everyone playing multiple roles already in a condensed version of the play, they just couldn’t fit the third one in.
And thank you about the books. I didn’t expect to sell many, as they’re expensive and not light reading, but I was disappointed not sell even one this time.
So much depends on the people who visited that day. Your books are specialist interest, they probably need advertising in specialist press.
I remembered the opening from yesterday—it stuck!
Yes, most of the books are marketed to libraries or classrooms. I just hoped someone would buy one or two. 🙂 This was not the crowd.
You can’t sell crime thrillers to people who usually buy romance and vice verse. Especially vice versa 🙂
🙂
“all the tomorrows,
and the yesterdays,
the sound and the fury,”
So true.
Yes. Thank you, Ken.
Ah, the words of Shakespeare! And you riff on them so well.
I’ve manned booths when nothing sold…it’s good experience I guess. I’m impressed by all your books! And bravo to telling the truth in them.
The river and bridge photo is really magical. (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe. I was pleased with that photo, too. 🙂
They’re academic books, so I didn’t expect to sell many, but I was hoping to sell one or two.
How you ran with this, Merril. Such creative musing and rhyming. I’m pleased your display brought good comments
Thank you very much, Derrick!
After I did a double-take and reread the beginning to make sure you weren’t actually lusting for LUGGAGE, things picked up and made a lot more sense. 🙂 The Book Festival sounds like so much fun, though I wish you would have made more sales. ❤
Thank you, Rachel. I think I can say with some certainty that I have never lusted for luggage. I am glad it made sense after that. 🙂
How about shoes? 😉
Nope.
I hope the storm does “blow away the discordant tunes.” You and your books look so good together. I’m sorry you didn’t sell at least one.
Thanks so much, Robin. Yes, I hope that storm comes, too.
This was so magnificent Merril thank you – full of depth of meaning. The highs and the lows so beautifully juxtaposed … and the photographs are a treat too. I too am sorry you sold not even one … thank you also for sharing that experience with us. I hope to be more ‘present’ from now on … been AWOL for a while.
Thank you so much, Susan.
It is hard to keep up with everyone–and especially in April when people are doing various challenges. I appreciate you popping in and reading whenever you do!
Yes, my books are more academic and expensive. I didn’t expect to sell many–one would have been nice. 🙂 I think one woman would have bought one, if I took credit.
I may come back to read this but my first impressions were mainly how week you write, putting pieces of days together into a beautiful tapestry of words, Merril.
The photographs are luminous and lovely. So sorry about your book sales. Your professional books, along with the cooking and 17th century history book all are so attractive and filled with knowledge. I admire this body of work thus far.
I hope someday to read a poetry book by you, Merril. You have plenty of your original, lovely photos to illustrate them, too.
The winery would be a fine place to unwind. 🍷🍷🥂
Thank you for the lovely comment and the kind words about my writing. I’m hoping someday to publish a book a poetry.
We really like the wine at this winery, which is near where my younger daughter lives.
oops! So sorry!
week = well
This change in my wording as I pressed post comment was upsetting. I didn’t want you to think I meant any other way. ~ Robin
I assumed it was typo–but thank you for clarifying! 🙂
In our brief stay, we find a way. We yearn for truth and beauty. Excellent piece of work Miss Merril Smith.
Thank you very much!