Monday Morning Musings:
In the movie
the men go back
to where they were boys
in a cult, a camp
where birds fly strangely
as they tramp
through the woods
and things are the same,
or perhaps they’re not,
fraught with pain
answers to questions
gained, or unknowable–
lives lived in loops,
moving in phases like
the moon—

Morning Moon
or moons–
one, two, three–
watch and see.
Circles and cycles
nature, each life,
day following night
light of summer
dimming in fall
all the seasons
and the years
painted over,
scraped away
traces left, secrets
uncovered in time,
pentimento of Earth.
Once giant creatures
roamed here
a shallow sea
leaving traces in the sand
a mosasaur
and ancient clams,
but now the geese fly
from humming moon
to dawn’s fog-scumbled river
the little deer grows older,
has children of her own
the cycle continues–
and we cycle through the city
once a place of forests and rivers
where indigenous people hunted,
fished, and gathered,
following the seasons
migrating with the wildlife
until newcomers came
with diseases, death to old
and a new nation created
And now—
another cycle,
we wait to see if all
will fall,
calendars and lies
those willing to abide
with corruption
and destruction of truth
when all could gain.
And so, we pedal
endlessly in a loop
looking for a break
finding joy
with loved ones
food and drink
hoping we haven’t
reached the brink
But that we can circle
back,
begin again–
this time
better.
As summer blossoms fade
and autumn’s golden leaves fall,
we’ll soon brace for winter’s chill

Part of the scarecrow display outside of the West Deptford Public Library
and wait
for the promise of spring
awakening again.

Dock Creek with Carpenter’s Hall in the background.
We watch the movie The Endless on Netflix. Trailer here. It’s a quirky, indie film. We liked it–lots to talk about afterwards.
And we went on a Big Red Pedal Tour in Philadelphia.
Good morning, Merril. 🙂 Yes to this:
“this time
better.”
That’s my hope, too. Beautiful musings, as always. You have such fun and full weekends. 🙂
Good morning, Robin, and thank you very much.
Well, you see some beautiful sights and sites. We’re not that far from Cape May, but somehow we never get there. 🙂
This was my first time there. I had no idea how beautiful it is. I loved the Victorian houses, the beach, the lighthouse, the great restaurants and food… pretty much all of it. 🙂
🙂
Love the way you linked cycles and circles (the pedaling) with life’s pattern.
Thank you very much, Luanne! 🙂
This was beautiful, Merril. Great pictures, too!
Thank you, Jill!
Ultimately optimistic, yet realistic, musings
Thank you, Derrick.
Good morning, Merril! I like all the photos, especially the ones from the POV of the steering wheel. Your lines reminded me of a memoir chapter “Circles, and Cyles, and Tubs,” which you may or may not remember. Your reflection and my chapter have very little in common except, of course, the cycles . . . and circles!
Hi Marian. I didn’t get this till afternoon. 🙂 I would probably remember your chapter, but not the title.
I was thinking about you yesterday. There were some young men and women playing frisbee (I think) in the park in my town. The young women were wearing what look like the head coverings you wore, and they were wearing long dresses, too. I thought at first from a distance they were reenactors, but their dresses didn’t look like Revolutionary era.
Actually, I posted this in the afternoon, not morning. You know how time gets fuzzy when you’re editing and revising! 😊
🙂
I’d hate to think it’s all for nothing, that all we’re destined to be is fossils puzzled over in the future (all though that last is most likely true).
I’ve added “The Endless” to my queue for next weekend.
Thank you, Ken. I guess we won’t know till it happens. . .and even then. 🙂
I hope you like the movie.
Let’s hope that wheel is turning in the right direction. What goes up must come down…(K)
I certainly hope so!
‘…we pedal endlessly in a loop looking for a break…’ what a great line. And always that line of hope throughout, here’s to the promises…
Thank you so much, Damien!
May we not be on the brink. As long as we have family and friends to cycle through life with, I think we’ll be okay. xo
Thank you, Pam. I hope so!
So many cycles. That spinning life wheel.
I too was at a wedding, but in New Mexico 🙂
Fun photos!
Yes, many cycles. Thank you, Jules.
Weddings are always fun!