Category Archives: Challenges and Writing Prompts

February 15, 2025

day 45 ~ and we wait & day 46 ~ affirmations

By Kat Myrman
Spent several hours in the office space where I worked for 7 years before the pandemic sent me home to work remotely. It felt like a ghost town, but was a haven in the storm where I was able to recharge our generator batteries. Thankfully we didn’t need to use them for more than a few hours. in case you missed it… a huge glimmer her and gratefulness for access to resources.

Some random thoughts as I catch up on the past two days 

day 45 ~ and we wait

blackout 

the prospect of one more night
of bitter cold, of darkness, of death
our tropical fish succumbing one by one
it’s an unbearable burden 
my best attempts to sustain us
woefully inadequate but I keep fighting
the warm-blooded souls under our roof
huddled, hanging on to the promise
that the services we depend upon
will be restored before day’s end 
heartened by activity, tree removal 
and utility trucks, in the neighborhood
trust slipping away by the hours 
as darkness once again swallows the light

but I digress…
is this what it will be like
In coming years as safety nets
are eliminated, as our country crumbles
as the loyalists of the king are rewarded
and those of us opposed or other are
excluded to fend for ourselves…
must prepare, must be better prepared 

huddled under layers of clothes and 
blankets I close my eyes in hope
that at least this night the light 
will break through, that power will
be restored, that we will be safe again
and then
a sputter, the hum of electronics, the
computer screens flash on, the printer
reboots and the heat growls to a start
i lay motionless, while the grid surges 
wondering if it is temporary or real
…waiting…wondering…waiting
hoping…as the room becomes warmer
a sigh, a full breath of relief … such relief
short lived, as my mind rudely intrudes must be better prepared…must prepare

~kat

An update. Just lost a few tetras…the other fish held on!
day 46~affirmations 

repeat after me…

I’m still here
I matter
I have value
I am worthy
I am brave
I am a survivor
I deserve respect
I deserve to be happy
I deserve to be free
I am smart
I am compassionate 
I am kind
I am light
I am love 
and yes I am here…I AM SO HERE!

Peace, love, and glimmers of affirmation to you, and remember, you are a magnificent soul. 

~kat

7 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in 2025, Challenges and Writing Prompts, Digital Art & Photos, free verse, Life Lessons, List Poem, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Social Issues, Spirituality

January 12, 2025

Day 12 – glimmer and grace

By Kat Myrman 
deer at the bird feeders

how lovely, these three
deer friends happened by, their grace,
prompting me to breathe
we coexist peacefully
sisters from different mothers

~kat

14 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in 2025, Challenges and Writing Prompts, Digital Art & Photos, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Spirituality, Tanka

January 9, 2025

Day 9

By Kat Myrman

Frankie Napping ~ January 9, 2025
today

I remembered 
to breathe today,
drenched in the warmth
of the morning sun.
savored slow sips 
of earl grey, sweet with cream
feasted on hearty lentil soup
and buttery biscuits
worked a bit, tended to
my little dog, the cats, 
the bird, and the fish
joined our nation vicariously 
via tv to bid a final farewell
to a good man…a very good man
a life, lived well, inspiring 
honesty, integrity, and justice…
we need all those things
and more, these days
it was a full day 
it was a good day
I remembered to breathe

~kat

Today’s glimmer…actually succeeding at living intentionally….remembering to breathe. Peace and glimmers to you!

6 Comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in 2025, Challenges and Writing Prompts, free verse, Poetry

January 6, 2025

Day 6

By Kat Myrman 
cardinals in snow

eternity smiled
helping me remember
there is magic here

~kat

Another dazzling glimmer. Today, as our nation honored our democratic ideals and peacefully handed over the power of the presidency to a criminal, a felon, a despicable abuser of women, a liar, a grifter, an insurrectionist … several cardinals stopped by my feeders reminding me that my ancestors are always with me. Watching, guiding, inspiring me to reach higher, to carry on the legacy in my bones, to make them proud. Today’s glimmer is the most meaningful by far, redirecting my focus from those triggers of angst and dread to a moment of joy remembering who I am because of those who have gone before me. We’ve got this. Peace and glimmers to you!

Poetry Form: haiku (5-7-5)/ magnetic poetry online – the poet kit

9 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in 2025, Challenges and Writing Prompts, Digital Art & Photos, Haiku, Magnetic Poetry, Poetry

May 1, 2024

NaPoWriMo 2024 ~ the ReVerse

By Kat Myrman 
the windows in this house have never been dressed 

1-
when terrible truths rise up from the dead
ancients who reside on veil’s cusp 
I felt it in the deepest part of my soul
entranced, though certain death awaits 
happiness is this moment
a sure antidote for the insanity
Ordered a tea. Wish you were here.

2-
when my time comes, I hope it’s quick
centuries old, with eons of history 
so have a day, good, bad, don’t care
what worked in winter is not a good look for spring
we might have been friends, perhaps we were
We saw it with our own two eyes and lived to tell. 
I think I’ve learned a bitter lesson

3-
Wait until the time is perfect, 
a thought, we speak in code, 
begging to be touched, to feel 
it’s a worn out saying…no regrets
sweet on the tongue with power to sting
like birds to seed
we will never forget that day
is it gray or is it grey?

4-
to know the truth; what is truth?
you love deeply, so deeply
what will be, will be, it’s all good, whatever…
ask me anything
stars bursting ‘midst a sea of green
I’ve spent three days boiling driftwood,
like a tidal wave, you flood my senses, 

denouement-
don’t smile, avoid eye contact, let them be!
her entrance, well, it caused a stir

~kat

Happy May Day to you! Time to look back at the challenge that was, NaPoWriMo 2024, with a ReVerse poem!

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. I use it as a review of the previous week…or in this case, the past month broken into 7 “day” increments.

4 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in 2024, Challenges and Writing Prompts, Digital Art & Photos, napowrimo, Poetry, Reverse Poem, Shi Sai