Monthly Archives: May 2023

Landay – Day 4

How are we so different from them, 
our women treated as chattel by power drunken men.

There are women I don’t understand,
who deny themselves, follow in lockstep with a man.

Burning burst of water, blood, and flesh
birthing is a beautiful, exhilarating mess.

~kat

Landay – The Landay is the poetic form of Afghan women. The poem is 22 syllables long and contains 2 lines. 9 syllables in the first and 11 in the second. Subjects can include, but are not limited to, war, separation, homeland, grief, or love.

Pronunciation/Etymology. In Pashto, “landay (LAND-ee)” means “short, poisonous snake,” likely an allusion to its minimal length and use of sarcasm. Landays (or landai) often criticize traditions and gender roles.


Landay – Day 3

The blood of children is on your hands.
You, with your guns, tell me how pro-life
you are again.

~kat

Landay – The Landay is the poetic form of Afghan women. The poem is 22 syllables long and contains 2 lines. 9 syllables in the first and 11 in the second. Subjects can include, but are not limited to, war, separation, homeland, grief, or love.

Pronunciation/Etymology. In Pashto, “landay (LAND-ee)” means “short, poisonous snake,” likely an allusion to its minimal length and use of sarcasm. Landays (or landai) often criticize traditions and gender roles.


The Landay – Day 2

In my youth, god was a mean, old man...
Now I’m old, she’s wise, maternal, like me, a woman.

~kat

Landay – The Landay is the poetic form of Afghan women. The poem is 22 syllables long and contains 2 lines. 9 syllables in the first and 11 in the second. Subjects can include, but are not limited to, war, separation, homeland, grief, or love.

Pronunciation/Etymology. In Pashto, “landay (LAND-ee)” means “short, poisonous snake,” likely an allusion to its minimal length and use of sarcasm. Landays (or landai) often criticize traditions and gender roles.


The Landay – Day 1

Self portrait with a little help from AI on PicsArt. ~kat
Eye contact’s not an invitation, 
when I smile, it’s me being kind, not flirtation.

~kat

Learn more about the Landay and read some amazing examples translated into English HERE!

Landay – The Landay is the poetic form of Afghan women. The poem is 22 syllables long and contains 2 lines. 9 syllables in the first and 11 in the second. (While there is no mention of rhyme in the description above, most of the examples I have seen do include rhyme at the end of each line.) Subjects can include, but are not limited to, war, separation, homeland, grief, or love.

Pronunciation/Etymology. In Pashto, “landay (LAND-ee)” means “short, poisonous snake,” likely an allusion to its minimal length and use of sarcasm. Landays (or landai) often criticize traditions and gender roles.


A ReVerse Poem – 14 May 2023

It’s been a fortnight since I did a ReVerse poem. In that time I explored the Elfchen and the Than-Bauk, with a detour into a magnificent spring day! A happy digression. 😊 I must say, I love this ReVerse poem. All those short little micropoetry lines add up nicely. I imagine it is because the brevity of short form forces one to be succinct. At any rate it is a good look back!

I hope this day finds you well and happy. It’s been an overcast damp few days here on Bramlett Mountain, but I can’t complain. Everything is magnificent! Green and lush. How many springs have I rushed through on my way to summer? I am just glad that I am finally noticing the gift of spring. It would have been such a shame to exit this life having missed it! Peace, love, and spring bliss to you! 💚🌷💚


A ReVerse Poem - 14 May 2023

gather ‘round the bonfire
solving the world’s problems
work to live
treasured gifts
idle chitchat
sunlight tendrils streaming through
day fading into night
me, watching you
don’t say, “love you”
you make me wait
how green the earth
my cue to breathe
assuring us all is well, all is well
‘til the page turned
fine lines were real
they were deceived
charming untruths
joy and tears…
mind your business
I could go on
takes a pure heart
funny thing, bliss

~kat

A ReVerse poem (a practice I started many years ago) is a summary poem with a single line lifted from each entry of a collection of work over a particular timeframe and re-penned in chronological order as a new poem. Unlike a collaborative poem, the ReVerse features the words of one writer, providing a glimpse into their thoughts over time.