Monthly Archives: June 2023

June 7, 2023

survivor

By Kat Myrman 
fragrant hope

every spring she blooms
in crimson, sweetly fragrant
surrounded by thorns

she’s a survivor
obstacles make her stronger
surrounded by thorns
she is a beacon of hope,
lighting the way for others

~kat

The Hainka

The 17-syllable haiku is the shortest form of poetry, and the 31-syllable tanka is probably the second shortest format of verse. Precisely the new form of poetry, hainka, is an assimilation of objective sensitivity of haiku with the more subjective oriented of tanka poetry. The synthesis in hainka is based on the image linking (the ‘fragment’ of haiku acting as the ‘pivot line’ of the following tanka) to explore and interweave human nature, love, emotion, humor in a broader sense by juxtaposition of the imageries.

It is also interesting to see the syllabic coherency between the ‘fragment’ (5-syllable words) with the 5-syllable words of the ‘pivot line’ of tanka. The final structural configuration would be 5/7/5/5/7/5/7/7 (s/l/s/s/l/s/l/l) with the significance of the image linking. A breathing gap (swinging space) is preferred between the haiku and tanka for the reader to imagine and experience the essence of poetry.

This image-linking across time and space is the art of painting an integrated poetic expression and exhibiting the fervent elucidation of hainka writing. Moreover, it retains its focus on the beauty of genetic image-linking to explore the poetic spell within the broader structural framework of the aesthetic essence and rhythms of Japanese short forms of poetry. Echoing the spirit of Basho’s ‘atarashimi’ (newness), I wish that the new verse will entwine the art of gratitude encompassing nature, living beings, non-living beings, and humanity as a whole.

Read more about the evolution of this form at Poetry Digest here: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/hainka-haiku-tanka-new-genre-of-poetic-form

5 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in 2023, Challenges and Writing Prompts, Digital Art & Photos, Hainka, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings

June 6, 2023

wellspring

By Kat Myrman 
wellspring 

streams swell when it rains
carving paths through sodden loam
displacing the dross

tears well in the eyes
of true compassionate souls
displacing the dross
that clouds perception, clearing
the way for grace to flow free

~kat

The Hainka

The 17-syllable haiku is the shortest form of poetry, and the 31-syllable tanka is probably the second shortest format of verse. Precisely the new form of poetry, hainka, is an assimilation of objective sensitivity of haiku with the more subjective oriented of tanka poetry. The synthesis in hainka is based on the image linking (the ‘fragment’ of haiku acting as the ‘pivot line’ of the following tanka) to explore and interweave human nature, love, emotion, humor in a broader sense by juxtaposition of the imageries.

It is also interesting to see the syllabic coherency between the ‘fragment’ (5-syllable words) with the 5-syllable words of the ‘pivot line’ of tanka. The final structural configuration would be 5/7/5/5/7/5/7/7 (s/l/s/s/l/s/l/l) with the significance of the image linking. A breathing gap (swinging space) is preferred between the haiku and tanka for the reader to imagine and experience the essence of poetry.



This image-linking across time and space is the art of painting an integrated poetic expression and exhibiting the fervent elucidation of hainka writing. Moreover, it retains its focus on the beauty of genetic image-linking to explore the poetic spell within the broader structural framework of the aesthetic essence and rhythms of Japanese short forms of poetry. Echoing the spirit of Basho’s ‘atarashimi’ (newness), I wish that the new verse will entwine the art of gratitude encompassing nature, living beings, non-living beings, and humanity as a whole.

Read more about the evolution of this form at Poetry Digest here: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/hainka-haiku-tanka-new-genre-of-poetic-form

3 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in 2023, Challenges and Writing Prompts, Digital Art & Photos, Hainka, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings

June 5, 2023

love enough

By Kat Myrman 
love enough

honey moon rising
sweetening the dark’ning sky
rest weary dreamers

there is always hope
love enough to bear all ills
rest weary dreamers
grace flows softly from the source
moonlight, a glimpse of her heart 

~kat

Happy Monday as we begin a new week and a new poetry form, the Hainka! Read more about this amazing form below. It has everything I love in poetry, brevity, a melding of two of my favorite forms…the haiku and the tanka, and even includes a refrain line to tie it all together. 😊 This should be a fun week!

The Hainka

The 17-syllable haiku is the shortest form of poetry, and the 31-syllable tanka is probably the second shortest format of verse. Precisely the new form of poetry, hainka, is an assimilation of objective sensitivity of haiku with the more subjective oriented of tanka poetry. The synthesis in hainka is based on the image linking (the ‘fragment’ of haiku acting as the ‘pivot line’ of the following tanka) to explore and interweave human nature, love, emotion, humor in a broader sense by juxtaposition of the imageries.

It is also interesting to see the syllabic coherency between the ‘fragment’ (5-syllable words) with the 5-syllable words of the ‘pivot line’ of tanka. The final structural configuration would be 5/7/5/5/7/5/7/7 (s/l/s/s/l/s/l/l) with the significance of the image linking. A breathing gap (swinging space) is preferred between the haiku and tanka for the reader to imagine and experience the essence of poetry.

This image-linking across time and space is the art of painting an integrated poetic expression and exhibiting the fervent elucidation of hainka writing. Moreover, it retains its focus on the beauty of genetic image-linking to explore the poetic spell within the broader structural framework of the aesthetic essence and rhythms of Japanese short forms of poetry. Echoing the spirit of Basho’s ‘atarashimi’ (newness), I wish that the new verse will entwine the art of gratitude encompassing nature, living beings, non-living beings, and humanity as a whole.

Read more about the evolution of this form at Poetry Digest here: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/hainka-haiku-tanka-new-genre-of-poetic-form

3 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , | posted in 2023, Challenges and Writing Prompts, Digital Art & Photos, Hainka, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings

June 4, 2023

Sunday’s ReVerse Poem – 4 June 2023

By Kat Myrman 
As anticipated, given the Pleiades poetry form, the poems this week embodied feminine themes, with inspiration from the stars. Today, astrologers say there are over 500 stars in the Pleiades constellation cluster, though only a handful can be seen with the naked eye. The ancients named seven of these stars the “seven sisters”: Alcyone, Asterope, Celaeno, Electra, Maia, Merope, and Tygeta. Based on the Reverse below I met my goal. It was exactly what I was going for. An homage to feminine gifts and sensibilities. And because there are seven days in a week, today’s ReVerse, like the Pleiades is seven lines long. How serendipitous, I say! 

In today’s ugly social climate where being female is under attack on so many fronts I thought we could use a boost and a reminder of how amazing we are. Taking nothing away from our brothers, of course, but it is worth reminding us all, and especially ourselves, that we are beautiful, intuitive, nurturing, wise, intelligent, powerful, equal partners each day in the life of this planet, in our homes as well as in the boardroom. It is time we took our place at the table like we own it…because if you really think about it…we do. 

With that in mind my sisters, take a moment to look in the mirror today, and rather than focusing on those extra pounds, wrinkles, or whatever else that makes you feel less than, and look that woman staring back at you straight in the eye…hold her gaze long enough until you feel it..the realization that she…that you…are beautiful, amazing, worth being loved and appreciated! In fact, you should tell her…go ahead, say it out loud! 

Namasté my lovelies!
Sunday ReVerse Poem ~ 4 June 2023

she is powerful
discovering her wings,
whisperings from the muse,
calm in the midst of storms,
we are fools to cry witch,
goddess, primordial
lightning strikes where it will

~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.

3 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in 2023, Digital Art & Photos, Essays, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Reverse Poem, Shi Sai, Week in Review

June 4, 2023

life ~ a Pleiades

By Kat Myrman 
life

life’s unpredictable 
lightning strikes where it will
leveling best laid plans
lost in the aftermath…
learning to navigate
life’s plot twists is key to
letting go…unbroken

~kat

It’s been a lovely week exploring the Pleiades. Tomorrow begins a new week and a new form to chew on. It’s elements are familiar to all who enjoy the brevity of short form. It combines Haiku and Tanka creating a new form called the Hainka! Yes, it’s a real thing with some specific nuanced rules that make it wonderful. You’ll see. Until then, enjoy your weekend! 😊

5 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in 2023, Challenges and Writing Prompts, Digital Art & Photos, Pleiades, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings