Category Archives: Essays

May 13, 2016

Trophic – Friday’s Word of the Day Haiku

trophic

Happy Friday! Today’s Dictionary.com Word of the Day is Trophic. I don’t think I have ever heard this word before. Though I am familiar with trophic levels as they relate to the steps in the food chain. So it is likely that may have seen it in the course of my biology studies. At any rate, it is an adjective.

The Oxford Dictionary defines Trophic as:
1Relating to feeding and nutrition.
1.1Physiology (Of a hormone or its effect) stimulating the activity of another endocrine gland.

Origin
Late 19th century: from Greek trophikos, from trophē ‘nourishment’, from trephein ‘nourish’.

The definition above tests the limits of my left brain! When I set about to research the word, the term, trophic “levels” kept coming up, complete with PICTURES. Now THIS, I can wrap my right-skewed brain around. Thank goodness! Or I might never have been able to wrangle a haiku out of the word. I give you then… Trophic in Haiku…with pictures. 🙂

Breaking the Food Chain

Human consumers
top food chain trophic levels
unless they’re vegan.

kat ~ 13 May 2016

5 Comments | tags: dictionary.com, food chain, Haiku, trophic, word of the day | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Essays, Haiku, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Word of the Day Haiku

May 8, 2016

A Perfect Mother’s Day Weekend

By Kat Myrman

A perfect Mother’s Day weekend is coming to an end. Perfect, not because it was perfect…perfect because it was not…perfect.

Like life, the weekend was peppered with disappointing mishaps…the gift that didn’t arrive on time and a flat tire that derailed our plans for the rest of Sunday morning after a lovely breakfast.

To my daughters who were disappointed that their gift didn’t arrive on time, knowing that it is on its way stirs memories of the months I waited for each one of you. You have already given me the best gift of all. You have each given me your presence, your sweet smiling faces, your laughter, and the precious gift of watching you grow into amazing human beings. I’m glad to wait a day or two longer for your special gift. Each time I look at it, I’ll think of all of these things, ponder them in my heart because that’s what mothers do.

And about that inconvenient flat tire. To my first born who delayed her busy schedule to help us get the tire repaired, I admit I was almost grateful for the detour. It gave me a few more minutes with you and reminded me of what I already know. Though we are all busy with work and school, spiraling in different directions day to day, family, our family is the gravity that holds us together and keeps us close. We are connected by an invisible cord.

My idea of perfection might seem a little odd to you. But it is the messy imperfections in life that touch my heart the deepest.

Happy Mother’s Day!

10 Comments | tags: heart, mother's day, perfection | posted in Digital Art & Photos, Essays, Life Lessons, Random Thoughts and Musings

May 8, 2016

Shi Sai Sunday, A Week in ReVerse – 8 May 2016

By Kat Myrman

Happy Sunday. And Happy Mother’s Day! Today’s shi sai doesn’t really need an introduction or summation. It stands alone. It says it all.

But this I know. Having a mother, being one and having the joy of watching my own daughters become mothers is a mysterious, miraculous, demonstration of grace. Grace….embracing, releasing, forgiving, healing…with love unconditional, deep and infinite.

“Mother” is a word that conjures up a full range of emotions. For some, love and nurture, and for others, it can be…complicated. But for all of us there is grace to be who we were born to be.

Shi Sai Sunday, A Week in ReVerse – 8 May 2016

grace always makes room
flooding the earth slaying the soul
every morning before dawn
shades of soft wisteria
dreams, sweet dreams, quenching
those guilty of turpitude,
so I couldn’t pass this one up
you already know
surrounded by your favorite flowers, thorns and all, I would like to thank you Mom, for inspiring me even in your brokenness to become the daughter, woman and mother I am today….
hug your babies while they’re young
time passes in a blink!

~kat

6 Comments | tags: grace, mother's day, Shi Sai, sundays ReVerse | posted in Digital Art & Photos, Essays, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings

May 6, 2016

Turpitude – Friday’s Word of the Day Haiku

By Kat Myrman

Happy Friday! Today’s Dictionary.com Word of the Day is Turpitude. It finds its roots in the Latin term turpis meaning “base, vile”, entering English in the late 1400’s. Today, it is often paired with the word, “moral”. (See below)Happy Friday! Today’s Dictionary.com Word of the Day is Turpitude. It finds its roots in the Latin term turpis meaning “base, vile”, entering English in the late 1400’s. Today, it is often paired with the word, “moral”. (See below)

From Wikipedia:

Moral turpitude is a legal concept in the United States and some other countries that refers to “conduct that is considered contrary to community standards of justice, honesty or good morals. This term appears in U.S. immigration lawbeginning in the 19th century.

The concept of “moral turpitude” might escape precise definition, but it has been described as an “act of baseness, vileness, or depravity in the private and social duties which a man owes to his fellowmen, or to society in general, contrary to the accepted and customary rule of right and duty between man and man.”

Perpetrators of turpitude can be found, of course, filling our prisons, but I can think of a few other places where they might hang out! Here is my haiku then. Have a great weekend!

Some fill our prisons,
Those guilty of turpitude,
Some are elected!

kat ~ 6 May 2016

6 Comments | tags: dictionary.com, Haiku, turpitude, word of the day | posted in Essays, Haiku, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings

May 1, 2016

So This is Grace – A Bref Double

By Kat Myrman

Magnolia

My little Magnolia tree, bursting with buds, soon to experience her first blooming! I am reminded to pause this first day of May, in the presence of this grace and others, to count my blessings. Sometimes I get so busy, caught up in the cares and worries of life, and I forget. I forget how wonderful life is. I forget to notice the treasures waiting for me in each moment.

i’ve grown accustomed
to fragrant spring blooms
to woodnotes and rain
to sweet morning dew

i’ve come to expect
sunrises and sets
star dusted night skies
moons full to new

rather ungrateful
my sad life’s beset
with busyness, soon
my time will come due

though I may forget
grace always makes room.

©kat – 1 May 2016