Monday Morning Musings:
“That was how evil spoke. It made its own corrupt sense; it swore that the good were evil, and that evil had come to save mankind. It brought up ancient fears and scattered them on the street like pearls. To fight what was wicked, magic and faith were needed. This is what one must turn to when there was no other option.”
–Alice Hoffman, The World That We Knew
“Grey Rock centers on the idea that human curiosity is stronger that gravity. I believe that art, which has no boundaries, can influence dialogue.”
Playwright and Director of Grey Rock, Amir Nizar Zuabi
I am here
in the space between–
sunrise to my front
and moonset to my back,
in between past and future
I sit
holding the moment
in my thoughts,
where it remains
though the earth continues
its revolutions round the sun,
turning on its axis.
We gaze at the moon
with longing,
a part of us
that rock
I see rising silver
then gold–
not grey
like the sodden clouds

Taken from the Commodore Barry Bridge
blown away by the wind.
Windswept our dreams fly
free–
we all have the right to dream
the Palestinian man in the play
dreams of building a rocket,
sending it to the moon.
He loves his daughter,
he loved his wife,
and love is magic
the people in the novel find,
though evil is real,
it is all around them–
the Angel of Death is kept busy
but love has its own power.
And so,
we talk as we walk
through city streets
reflecting the past
as we think about our future.

Pennsylvania Hospital in a window reflection.

Spring by David Guinn Philadelphia Mural Arts 13th and Pine
There is beauty,
there is magic,
all around us–
are we blind or too afraid
to see it,

Finding signs of spring
hear it call
in the trill of birdsong
the tumbling crash of waves
the humming of the moon
and the music of the stars
floating down to us.
Listen–
it shimmers
and echoes in our hearts,
beating
free–
a dream flying
into orbit,
a thing of magic and beauty—
and here around us.
I fear we’re in scary times, but we can’t lose hope or the ability to dream.
It’s the start of birthday month here with more to come.
We saw the play Grey Rock by Amir Nizar Zuabi and a Palestinian cast performing in English. It was commissioned and produced by the Remote Theater Project. It was also part of Philadelphia Theater Week. We both really enjoyed the play, which was funny, tender, and moving.
I read Alice Hoffman’s The World That We Knew. It is magical realism mixed with Jewish folklore and history. It is set during the Holocaust, and it involves the bond of mothers and daughters. There is a female golem and birds. A heron also figures prominently in the story. As you might suspect, I absolutely loved it.
No movies this week, but we watched Season 1 of Counterpart on Prime. J.K. Simmons is wonderful, and he gets to play two characters, in this spy thriller that involves parallel worlds.
I love this one, especially
hear it call
in the trill of birdsong
the tumbling crash of waves
the humming of the moon
and the music of the stars
floating down to us.
That novel sounds like my kind of thing too 🙂
Thank you!
I’ve read a few of her books, but I really loved this one. I did keep thinking about you because most of the story takes place in France. I didn’t know about Izieu and some of the other places.
Izieu is commemorated every year here. It’s a source of national shame, like the rafle du vel d’hiv. Rumour has it that the children of Izieu were shopped by an Alsatien refugee who was promised his farm back by the Germans as a reward.
It’s good that it’s regarded as a national shame. The Nazis could not have done what they did without collaborators and willing participants. Though it’s difficult to know what one would do in such a situation, and if coerced, sending children to their deaths is indefensible. But the novel also focuses on people who helped.
I think the whole village helped hide them, the man who betrayed them, they say was a bitter farmer who lost his land when the Germans annexed Alsace and Lorraine (again). Yes, the French police were instrumental in rounding up Jews, even French Jews that the Germans hadn’t asked for. There’s been no attempt to whitewash that particular episode of history.
I’m glad they’re not whitewashing it.
Honesty is always the best policy.
🙂
There are so many things I love about this post, Merril.
There is beauty,
there is magic,
all around us–
are we blind or too afraid
to see it
So true! I love the table your husband made for his mother…it’s gorgeous. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much, Jill!
My mother-in-law had asked him to make the table, so it wasn’t a surprise, but she was thrilled with it!
Lovely musings of the beauty all around us.
Thank you very much, Derrick.
Your words are lovely as always. You’ve been on my mind a lot lately — I was writing a new MS about a woman who survived the Holocaust — story takes place in 1968 — and there was a lot of yummy Jewish holiday food in there to research and include! 🙂 I hope you’ve been well! ❤
Hi Rachel! Thank you. It’s so good to hear from you, and it’s nice to know you were thinking of me. ❤ I hope everything is going well for you.
I especially like the opening, Merril – between past and future, yet not standing still.
Thank you, Ken. It’s funny to see the sun rising in the windows in front of me, and the moon setting in the window behind me. 🙂
Beautiful, I love you thoughts 🙂
Thank you very much!
Sorry letter R is missing again.
🙂
As always, a beautiful. read.
Thank you very much!
You find words that connect us to the wonder around us. I admire how you take in the beauty of the moon, stars, signs of spring, etc. which we tend to forget in this scary, insane world. Invaluable reminders. I thank you for those! xo
P.S. What an amazing table your husband made for his mom! 🤩
Thank you so much, dear Rose! ❤
beautifully written. from top to bottom
Thank you very much!
always a pleasure
I’ll just second what Poet Rummager said … and simply add that I also appreciate how you remind us all of the beauty around us. These are scary times and trying to be positive seems to take a Herculean effort but every so often I see something–a young ibis, a hawk, a turtle, colorful clouds–and I’m reminded of what still gives me joy.
Thank you very much, Marie. These are very scary times, and I’m often upset and depressed, but I guess I tend to be a natural optimist–and the natural world is beautiful.
The natural world is indeed beautiful. I’m a natural pessimist and perhaps that’s one reason why I love your poetry and view of life and things. I need that sense of hope but also the reminder of what good is still out there 🙂
Aww–thank you! ❤