Category Archives: Challenges and Writing Prompts

A ReVerse Poem ~ Sunday, 13 August 2023

It’s an interesting ReVerse Poem today. Much of my time this past week was spent seeking out the tiniest details of the world around me, and noticing that perfection is not spared even to the smallest cell. Attention to detail. It’s actually listed in my day job description. I’m good at it. Perfected over the years. And while I have a razor sharp gift for finding typos and planning every possible scenario of a project, itinerary, or event, my personal life has been rather frazzled of late.

Perhaps it is because I have been feeling small and vulnerable as we manage our way through an unwelcome plot twist that has challenged our plan for a leisurely retirement. Retirement? Haha! What was I thinking back before things got so complicated. Facing the fact that your partner is likely permanently disabled and you are the primary caretaker is a lot to take in. The little things matter all the more to me these days. They remind me to pause, to breathe, to rest. I’m not good at any of those things.

So, thank you tiny miracles that have caught my attention this week. I need you more now than ever. My soul devours you like a great blue whale sweeps through schools of krill. Nature and nurture is not an either or proposition. Nature IS nurture. Be well this coming week. I wish you happiness and peace.


A ReVerse Poem ~ Sunday, 13 August 2023

storms rarely come without warning
don’t ask unless you want to know
when my soul’s in need of healing
underneath the juniper tree
just beyond the blackberry hedge
facing eternity with grace
perfection takes more than a day

~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.


musings of an impatient gardener

musings of an impatient gardener

lily flutes need time to bloom
perfection takes more than a day
each stage, a beautiful display
from pregnant stem to dew kissed flume
perfection takes more than a day
lily flutes need time to bloom

~kat


The Biolet

The biolet was invented by the Brazilian poet Filinto de Almeida and first appeared in print in his book Lyrica in 1887. It is a six line poem where the first two lines are repeated as the last two lines, however in reverse. The rhyme scheme is ABbaBA (with the capital letters representing the repeated lines). Most of Almeida’s original biolets in Portuguese were in iambic tetrameter (8 syllables), but you could also try iambic pentameter (10 syllables), iambic hexameter (12 syllables), and unmetered lines of random lengths as well.


a sycamore leaf

a sycamore leaf

she dresses in sunlight and lace
raiment once green now rose-gold hued
thinning skin, her bones showing through
facing eternity with grace
raiment once green now rose-gold hued
she dresses in sunlight and lace

~kat

And yet another treasure discovered in these 2 acre woods here under the shadow of Bramlett Mountain…a young sycamore tree, her leaves fading in this hot summer heat. More lessons to be gleaned from this natural wonderland I call home! Happy Saturday to you!


The Biolet

The biolet was invented by the Brazilian poet Filinto de Almeida and first appeared in print in his book Lyrica in 1887. It is a six line poem where the first two lines are repeated as the last two lines, however in reverse. The rhyme scheme is ABbaBA (with the capital letters representing the repeated lines). Most of Almeida’s original biolets in Portuguese were in iambic tetrameter (8 syllables), but you could also try iambic pentameter (10 syllables), iambic hexameter (12 syllables), and unmetered lines of random lengths as well.


I’m fine, it’s fine, everything’s fine

I’m fine, it’s fine, everything’s fine

don’t ask unless you want to know
I’m over it…won’t over-share
with busybodies who don’t care
a pleasant “fine” is all they’re owed
I’m over it…won’t over-share
don’t ask unless you want to know

~kat

The Biolet

The biolet was invented by the Brazilian poet Filinto de Almeida and first appeared in print in his book Lyrica in 1887. It is a six line poem where the first two lines are repeated as the last two lines, however in reverse. The rhyme scheme is ABbaBA (with the capital letters representing the repeated lines). Most of Almeida’s original biolets in Portuguese were in iambic tetrameter (8 syllables), but you could also try iambic pentameter (10 syllables), iambic hexameter (12 syllables), and unmetered lines of random lengths as well.


ReVerse Poem ~ Sunday, 6 August 2023

a bonded pair of mourning doves ~ photo by Kat Myrman ~ 2023

Today’s Reverse draws its inspiration from each stanza from the past week since I fell out of my daily cadence for a few days. Sometimes my hard drive just needs a reboot or two to stop spinning. I hate that sound, the whirring out of control ringing, causing my RAM to scatter as my operating system slowly glitches to a crashing blank monitor. Yep, reboot is the only remedy when this happens. Or, in case you’re not following my geeky summarization, identifying the need for intervention, self care, deep breathing, very long naps, several of them.

So that’s how our week went…high anticipation…tentative, compounding disappointment, biting reality suckiness…high anticipation, again, tinged with trepidation, disappointment looming, biting reality suckiness…my beloved and I, as her caretaker, learning the hard truth that life will not be going as planned, and me racking my brain for plan D, E, F or G…I’ve lost count. To be honest we’re long past A, B and C. The villain? A rare disorder called CRPS (aka an incurable chronic disorder comprised of angry nerves and excruciating, unmitigated pain). I don’t know how she endures this day in and day out. She inspires me every day as she shows up to life. As for me…I’m girding my loins…I’m not really sure what that means, but I’m girding nonetheless, for the battle ahead in search ways to manage this, our new normal, for meaningful treatment, and ultimately for a cure. Plot twists are a bitch! Through it all we remain optimistic, and hopeful, and grateful for each breath. It’s life. It’s our life.

Oh…did I mention that I was privileged to witness the Carolina fledglings take their first flight? There was that too this week. 💚

I hope this finds you and those you love healthy and happy. Find someone…anyone really, and hug them. They probably need it. 💚


ReVerse Poem ~ Sunday, 6 August 2023

I’ve settled softly into my skin
lulling sleeping fools along
I’d dream of sleep, if only
slow drip, struggle is all I know
the cow jumped over the moon
but what’s a truth seeker to do
nothing’s left to be debated
signs are everywhere, can’t miss it
deceived by the cool breeze at dawn

~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.