Monday Morning Musings:
“No Notice gave She, but a Change—
No Message, but a Sigh—
For Whom, the Time did not suffice
That She should specify.”
–Emily Dickinson, from “No Notice gave She, but a Change”
“The things that never can come back are several—“
–Emily Dickinson*
“But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone. . .”
–Joni Mitchell, “Both Sides Now”
We see movies about women who experience life changes
change that ranges
through ages, horrors, and time
one mother with a daughter murdered and raped
shaping the rest of her life
(ignoring her son)
she puts up billboards and rages,
feels guilt and regret in stages
for what was said and done, she can’t forget
and yet,
there are people who care
and I like that we’re made aware
that most people are not simply bad or good,
but a mixture, often misunderstood,
complex and confused
the movie is anger-charged, yet funny, too
showing how people might change–
or perhaps we see them differently—
that could be,
they might exchange their views
(or sometimes not)
though they may sigh
and may not specify,
what it is they desire or want
though the things that never can come back are several.
The other movie is about a daughter who is coming of age
she and her mother who love each other
but argue persistently and consistently
as the daughter experiences first love and heartbreak
(Remember that age when so much seems at stake?)
in family life and strategies
we see life’s comedies and tragedies
as the young woman tries to break free
while realizing there is so much she didn’t see
or comprehend–
the value of a friend–
and a home that she will see anew, perhaps long for
someday, again.
(Bonus here, the high school theater scenes
where so much goes on in-between–
from auditions to production
and a director’s hilarious instruction.)
Changes come, with a feeling of sadness imbued
such as when the old garage was torn down,
and replaced now with the new
carried by truck through town

Through the window, I see the shed delivered.
set up quickly by the men,
and here it stands
still to be painted
for now, we’ll just get acquainted
as the weather alters to winter cold
the clouds move in to block the sun
and snow falls then on everyone

and gone for now is land and sky
as winter-white flutters and flies

Watching the snow
I catch a flake upon my hand
and wake to a winter wonderland

But now I prep for a colonoscopy
(SO many places I’d rather be
than here doing this)

though right now, I’m so literally not full of shit
unlike our leaders, who sleep, leap, and wallow in it
every day, trapping us deeper in the mud and crap
our nerves so frayed and ready to snap
changes from when people felt hope and optimism
now the monsters who before were hidden
roam openly, and they will not be forgiven
by history or time–
if we survive–
still as long as the dawn still rises
and cracks get filled with light
and there is poetry, movies, books to bring delight,
we won’t give up the fight
or take flight
or be numbed to evil that lurks
but find what works
to make the darkness go.
As Christmas lights shine brightly on the snow
and we light candles and decorate
hope the season of peace and love will penetrate
overtake the hate and fear
that seems to have swallowed the year
if only the scents of cinnamon and nutmeg–winter spices–
could bring forth niceness.
For now, winter snow blankets my world in white
and I, warm inside, can savor the sight–
noticing how it absorbs and reflects the light,
I stare,
wonder if it changes the air,
if hope can rise above despair.

We saw Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri, trailer here.
And Lady Bird, trailer here.
Both were excellent movies, though I think my husband and I preferred Lady Bird. Frances McDormand (the part was written for her), Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf were all wonderful, as were the rest of both casts. Fun fact: Lucas Hedges, the young man in last year’s Manchester By the Sea, is in both movies.
*Emily Dickinson wrote this poem on the back of a recipe for coconut cake. This short article is about her and baking, and I plan to try some of her recipes soon.
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