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.
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