Author Archives: Kat Myrman

August 21, 2016

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 21 August 2016

It’s another Sunday, another week for the history books, another week of tragedies and triumphs, truths and lies, smoke and mirrors, all fueled by our amazing technology that blasts it all uncensored into our living rooms, cars and earbuds.

Try as we may to avoid it, by taking a break, diverting our attention to blue skies, baby’s breath, wild flower-speckled fields and la-la-la happy thoughts, it is impossible to completely shut the monster we have created down. Even in moments of sublime zen the cacophony rages relentlessly on, its mesmerism droning like a train wreck. We cannot turn away once it has dipped a toe into our shuttered hearts.

I believe those of us who live live’s of good will and gentle intentions, who are most horrified, should fight our aversion and take it all in, letting it rip our souls asunder. Not because we are masochists, but because only the meek are promised earth’s inheritance. The drowning do not realize they are drowning once instinct kicks in. Fierce survival takes over causing the victim to flail and fight for air, taking even their rescuer down under with them.

It is wishfully indulgent of me to think I can avoid it. But with feet firmly planted on dry land I am compelled again and again to offer my hand in rescue. The greatest tragedy is that some will refuse my hand to be swallowed into the abyss.

These are wild and weary times for so many of us. May those of us who still have embers of hope left in our hearts fan the flames and not be afraid to let our light shine.

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 21 August 2016

remember without lingering
and don’t get too comfortable here
evil lurks in carry-ons
of souls longing for warmth
and fiery sun glows red at cusp of day,
people get jumpy
had a mind for something sweet
fire and ice collide
‘tis mesmerism
breaks my heart to see it like this
let’s leave this withering world and stroll along the ancient path to eden’s sacred garden…

kat

The Shi Sai, (formerly known as a ReVerse) is a new form I came up with during Poetry Month in April 2016. I’ve actually been writing shu sai for years but was inspired to give it a prooer name. It is a poem created by taking one line of verse from several poems of an author’s own collection. The shi sai is done as a review of a series or collection of poems and therefore, each line should flow in chronological order of the dates the poems were written (from oldest to new). The lines chosen should be the author’s favorite from each poem. This form works best if the author resists the temptation to read the full new poem before all the verses have been added. (It helps one to resist the impulse to change a line to make it “fit”.

7 Comments | tags: hope, light, Shi Sai, week in Reverse | posted in Essays, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Shi Sai, Social Issues, Spirituality, Week in Review

August 20, 2016

Come With Me – Magnetic Poetry Saturday

By Kat Myrman

ComeWithMe

come with me at
dawn my love, let’s
leave this withering
world and stroll
along the ancient
path to eden’s sacred
garden…our intuition
knows the way,
we’ll follow her
sweet song to live
there you and I always
in harmony and peace

kat ~ 20 August 2016

Another Magnetic Poetry Saturday offering for Elusive Trope’s weekly challenge. This jumble of words came from the Nature Kit at Magnetic Poetry Online.

4 Comments | tags: Challenge, eden, Magnetic Poetry, Magnetic Poetry Saturday, Poetry | posted in Random Thoughts and Musings

August 19, 2016

Seasoning – Part 7

By Kat Myrman

“Far, far away Soria Moria Palace shimmered like Gold” by Theodor Kittelsen

Hannah followed Helen past the kitchen through a breezeway that flanked the back of the house. She paused to gaze at the garden.

“I hope your green thumbs are up to the challenge dear!” Helen walked back to Hannah. “Breaks my heart to see it like this. You know, back when I was growing up, my grandmother raised climbing rose bushes over there,” she pointed at a weather worn teak arbor. “And my mum, when she had charge of the grounds, filled the raised beds with herbs and plants suitable for teas and tinctures. Our pantry’s rafters were full of drying plant bundles!

Hannah smiled as she imagined the life that once thrived in the weed tangled, overgrown mess. “I love herb gardens. We had one at Waverly, and a vegetable garden too. Every meal my mother prepared included something from the garden. And I remember too, when my sister and I couldn’t sleep, mother would take a bunch of lavender and crush the buds between her fingertips before fluffing our pillows.”

“Ah, your mother was a wise woman. I don’t have any plans for the garden, Hannah. Consider it your special project.” Helen motioned Hannah to the end of the hall.

“Well here you are.” Helen opened the door. “Make yourself at home. Tonight, a surprise! I’m cooking! Dinner is in an hour!”

Henry had retreated to his room after his rude outburst. Exhausted, he threw himself over the bed, soon tossing into fitful, restless sleep, haunted by a recurring nightmare. In it, he was a boy gazing at an elusive city that always glowed just past the horizon despite his attempts to reach it. Happiness resided there. And somehow he sensed his Alice was there too.

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This is the seventh installment of a series in response to Jane Dougherty’s Weekly Microfiction Challenge. This week’s prompt is the painting, “Far, far away Soria Moria Palace shimmered like Gold” by Theodor Kittelsen. It is based on a Norwegian fairy tale that you can read by clicking HERE.

Find previous installments HERE.

25 Comments | tags: Challenge, Fiction Series, microfiction, seasoning | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Fiction Series, Under 300 Words

August 19, 2016

Mesmerism – Friday’s Word of the Day Haiku

By Kat Myrman

mesmerism

Happy Friday! Today’s Dictionary.com Word of the Day (and prompt for my obligatory Haiku) is Mesmerism. What I find so mesmerizing about this word is its origin. Mesmerism is an eponym (an eponym is a word based on or derived from a person’s name) formed from the name of Austrian physician Friedrich Anton Mesmer*, who theorized the concept of animal magnetism and the practice of inducing a hypnotic state, and even healing.

Sounds really interesting doesn’t it? We’ve all heard of animal magnetism. Of course it makes perfect sense that we would coin a new word based on Dr. Mesmer’s amazing work…except. Yep! Here it comes…except for the fact that despite Mesmer’s repeated attempts to receive scientific or medical recognition, he was never able to provide the evidence that proved his theories.

Despite all this, old Dr. Mesmer did develop a following of “Magnetists” (practicians of Mesmer’s theory). Hundreds of books have been written about this topic between the mid 1700’s an 1925, but despite the enthusiastic support of Mesmer’s “believers” most in the scientific and medical community still consider forms of magnetism, laying on of hands, hypnosis, etc., to be quackery that preys on the vulnerable.

The modern equivalent today resides in various forms of alternative healing therapies and while the idea itself didn’t originate with Mesmer, (so-called witch doctors had been practicing long before him), he may have been on to something. There is certainly something to be said for the power of suggestion and our desire and willingness to believe in something…even something unbelievable!

As a side-note, adding insult to injury, a quick survey of Wikipedia referencing the word “Quackery” will produce the name of our friend Dr. Mesmer listed among some of the more notorious Quacks in history.

So when I think of mesmerism or the idea of being mesmerized, I am also reminded of the word’s back story. We humans are quite gullible. I worry about us and how we are so easily swayed and led astray by bright shiny objects, appealing ideologies, peer pressure, group-think. Though he was never vindicated I might consider myself open to the idea of Mesmer’s theory. Am I gullible? Perhaps, or am I just open to the possibility of an infinite universe of possibilities?! 😊 …look! there goes a butterfly! 😊