Monday Morning Musings:
“Thus having prepared their buds
against a sure winter
the wise trees
stand sleeping in the cold.”
–From William Carlos Williams, “Winter Trees”
The first of December is mostly grey,
but not so cold—winter held at bay
for a while, but we smile to see the glow–
the sun on remaining leaves of trees slow
to sleep in winter’s arms,
and we walk to see the city’s charms
even in the bleakness of late fall—
almost winter—some magic calls
there, Diana shines atop the stairs
gilded anew, she seems aware
of her strength, though she charms–
with arrow frozen in her arms
goddess of the hunt,
a moment, centered, upfront
there, I greet her like a friend
each time I visit, happy to see her send
(not the arrow), no never,
but she seems much too clever
to harm–such determination in her face–
perhaps she could send us hope and grace
we see dolls reflecting the passion
for both play and fashion
the bisque baby catches my eye
or the phrase captures my ear, why?
it sounds funny to me,
and so, we wander and see
a sibyl and monuments and Eve
through museum and streets, we weave
our way, and see the sights,
some Christmas lights,
drink mulled wine
feeling fine—then laugh to see that sign
we walk back and down the hill
where no joggers jog, all is still
except the duck, who with quack and flap
jumps into the river—a slight slap—
against the surface, he swims
the sound, a chorus, a winter hymn
before the start of winter rain
with sun gone, shadows come again
bringing a misty afternoon twilight,
yes, this is December’s light.
Then Hanukkah comes with candle light
to bring us wonder and delight
I fry latkes in a pan
listening to a man
discuss his life
some of the strife
escaping the Holocaust
in Kindertransport, crossed
to Sweden, his stuffed monkey with him*
the object now brings some joy, an era dimmed
by tragedy and time—family reunited
evil not forgotten or righted
exactly, but comforting to know
that helpers were there, not so long ago
and still, that there are people who did good
and do it still, do what they can, should and could
and so, we light the candles on this first night
eat latkes and smile at the sight

Latkes!
of them burning till the flames die,
watch them belie
the darkness of night and soul
as believing in miracles makes us whole
more perhaps than what we seem–
the sum of what we hope and dream.
Hanukkah seems both more poignant and more important to celebrate this year.
I think I shared this story before from a previous All Things Considered segment, but Michel Martin interviewed Uri and Gert Beliner again last night.
We visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art during the members’ weekend and the Christmas Village.
Happy Hanukka Merril to you and family. I LOVE potato latkes … and I loved your poem and photos. May the light of the candles spread throughout the world.
Thank you very much for your kind words, Susan!
I left out the 2nd h in Hanukkah – sorry …
No worries, Susan. It’s one of those words that is spelled different ways in English. I don’t think I even spell it the same way all the time. 🙂
Happy Hanukkah to you and your family, Merril!
Thank you so much, Jill!
I like the idea of Diana sending out hope and grace. Thank you for sharing the rich cultural offerings near Philly and the miracle of Hanukkah.
Thank you very much, Marian.
Diana once stood atop Madison Square Garden. I think she’s happier here. 🙂
I liked the way you featured the feminine aspects of the museum. I especially love the beauty in Diana’s sculpture! The lighting was captured so wondrously by you, Merril. I hope you and your family have a special Hanukkah. As Marian expressed, “May the light of the candles be spread throughout our world.”
Thank you, Robin! If you ever come to Philadelphia, we will go to the museum. There’s more to it than the “Rocky Steps.” 🙂 There’s a Calder mobile hanging across from Diana–she probably watches it. They had the holiday lighting there. A couple of years ago we were there before Halloween, and they had Day of the Dead decorations around her.
Oops, gave Marian Beaman credit for Susan Scott’s words. Please edit for me, my friend. ❤ Thank you!
🙂
Happy Hanukkah Merril, as always I am knocked out by your beautiful words and images!
❤
You are so kind, Holly. Thank you! ❤
Just to be different, I’ll say Happy Chanukah! 😉
Wonderful recap of your week, told in beautiful poetry.
I’ll have a plateful of latkes, please 😉
Thanks so much, Dale. We’re having the leftovers tonight. 🙂 I’ll be frying more with my daughter later in the week.
Yummy.
Happy Hanukkah, Merril! We partied early for Hanukkah because that’s when son and DIL could come visit. We had such a good time! My son makes the brisket and latkes every year, and I love that part almost the best!
Thank you, Luanne. Happy Hanukkah to you! I’m glad you had a such a great time. Our first night was low-key. We’re going to celebrate with younger daughter later in the week. Last night, it was just latkes for my husband and me.
My son made extra latkes. Can you IMAGINE? But now they are gone, so . . . .
I always make extra. Well, I always make a ton because I have that “what if there isn’t enough?” gene. So that means there are always extra. And I like to get the frying done at once.
Yes, extra, but is there ever really extra? hahahaha
Hahaha. Probably not.
I can’t imagine finding one at the bottom of the refrigerator, uneaten. That image strikes me as hilarious.
It seems like the punchline of a joke. 🙂
LOL!
By the way, I have a long-standing disagreement with my rangetop. The grease spots are horrible on it, so I have taken to keeping big pieces of foil to cover the range around the burner(s) I’m using. I don’t know why this is worse than the ones I’ve had in previous houses, but it is stainless . . . .
I hate cleaning all that stuff. 🙂
Thank you, Luanne. Happy Hanukkah to you! I’m glad you had a such a great time. Our first night was low-key. We’re going to celebrate with younger daughter later in the week. Last night, it was just latkes for my husband and me.
And I was thinking of you with the doll exhibit!
I would like to see MORE of the doll exhibit, actually!!!!
Happy celebrations!!!!
I only took a few photos. I think there might be more on the Philadelphia Museum of Art web site. Happy celebrations to you, too!
Beautifully crafted with not sense of contrivance
Thank you, Derrick!
Happy Hanukkah, Merril. I so love these musings that meander your neighborhood and home. I’ve said before your words, your poetry make me feel as if I were alongside you. And I really wish I had been because those latkes look great 😉
Thank you so much, Marie!
The latkes were delicious, if I do say so myself, and it would have been fun to have you here. 🙂
“slow to sleep in winter’s arms” – my favorite line
Thank you so much, Ken!
🙂
Happy Hanukka, Merril, to you and your family. I am drooling over the latkes (my keyboard probably doesn’t appreciate that). I really do need to get back to Philadelphia. I’d love to visit the art museum again. I’m sure I haven’t seen half of what’s in there.
Thank you, Robin. The latkes were so good–more this weekend. : )
It is such a wonderful museum. And it’s fun to go walking around outside it, too.