Category Archives: Essays

Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 20 March 2016

 

 
Happy Sunday! And it is a happy…Sunday. But a look at this week’s ReVerse one might suggest that things had taken a turn. Well…they did.

I blame it on the time change. It’s not healthy you know. Saving Daylight? As if daylight needed saving!

Last time I checked Nature had everything running smoothly. Seasons come and go with only a few hiccups, those random, off-season cool snaps and heat waves, that stir our senses in the transition. The sun rises and sets each day without a hitch. Who are we to prescribe it’s coming and going  on a schedule to our liking?

Well, for the record, I don’t like it. And back when it was first proposed as a national energy conserving tactic neither did the farmers. One should not mess with Mother Nature. She does a splendid job of lengthening our days in the warmer seasons if we are patient. We are not.

Daylight Saving is unnatural. Ask any toddler who is sent to bed at their prescribed 8 or 9 pm bedtime in the middle of summer, or better yet, ask the weary parents who must try to convince them to settle down at “night” when the sun is still shining!

I must admit that I have been lulled into acceptance this past week. Leaving my cubicle to beautiful sunlight has been wonderful. But it is a guilty pleasure! I know I am only enjoying it because we are cheating the moon and night of their full measure. Lovely night, with its promise of rest and regeneration, does not deserve our contempt.

And so yes, things are a bit out of whack. Subliminally, the words that spilled out this week are trying to tell me to fall back, to accept Nature’s perfect timing and perfection. We humans are not good at leaving well enough alone!

Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 20 March 2016

shifting my circadian bleeps
catchy talking points,
not a “joker” smile
always have a plan
as if things matter
I was beginning to think
like being cooked in a microwave oven…
from the inside out!
she wished she had said, “no”
no wonder we turn our stereos to “11”
but eventually they died,
never much liked that mutt,
we all build nests to feel safe
defying the years
can’t get there from here!
~kat

If you’re new here, a bit of background to explain the verse above. It is a line from each poem or prose from the previous week, lifted and placed in the order written to create a new poem…a ReVerse snapshot review of the week. It helps me to prepare for the upcoming week with a clean slate.


Echoes of my Neighborhood

Happy Thursday! I decided to send you some actual echoes from my corner of the world. I realized in the preparation for this post that I am forced to listen to a lot of NOISE!!! Loud, grating noise that I have learned to tune out as I go about my day.

Spending 30 seconds actually listening to the droning cacphony of my life, I wonder how I can possibly hear anything pleasant at all!

No wonder we turn our stereos to “11”. As for me I’ve developed a habit of humming…nothing particular. I just hum random notes, which makes my significant other crazy! It’s self preservation. I hum to hear myself think! At any rate, I will share some random noise from my day. I’m sure you’ll agree after listening, 24 hours a day of this, and you too might take to humming!!!!

This first clip is the lovely morning sounds that greet me as I take my little blind and deaf dog, Lucy, for a wee. Fortunately she can’t hear what I hear. I live near a train yard that houses dozens of cars that transport coal. This is the sound of the cars grinding along…CLICK HERE

Then, after a quick breakfast, I hop into my car and drive 20 minutes or so to THIS! More NOISE!!!

And then at work, if I have to go out into the warehouse…THIS!!! Thank goodnees I have my cubicle with a view to escape to! My desk however, sits underneath the heat/air system exhaust vent. At random times throughout the day it kicks in…I’ll leave that one to your imagination. 

But there are times when I do manage to turn off the noise…or at least find a moment of Zen…when it’s softly raining and birds are chirping. I live for these moments! They are what keep me sane! 

Have a great week. I hope you find your own peaceful moments in the midst of your noisy corners of the world! Here then is a bit of Zen…

Thanks to Jacqueline at a cooking pot and twisted tales. Click HERE to see other neighborhoods from around the globe!

 


Friday’s Word of the Day Haiku

 
Happy Friday! Today’s Dictionary.com Word of the Day is Psittacism. Originating around 1895, it is Latin for “parrot”.  Polly may “want a cracker” but is it a cracker he really wants or just attention?

Though we may not use this word today, we are all familiar with a plethora of examples…those annoying platitudes that rattle around in our head. Think catch phrase, cliche, slogan or talking points and you get the the picture. It’s what we say when we don’t know what to say. Manipulative masters use psittacisms to sway, entice or elicit fear. How often have we heard the phrase, “if you repeat a lie often enough it becomes true.” 

Most of us can rattle off a psittacism or two, but the wise will challenge, debate or expound on these rote assumptions. Oft repeated psittacisms can shut down intelligent debate. 

“It was all for the best.” Well, I suppose that depends on one’s definition of “best”.

“Wait an hour after eating before getting into the water.” Why? Who knows? And yet, when at the seashore many of us will think twice before taking a dip right after lunch!

“They’re coming after your guns…” Hasn’t happened yet…and likely won’t, but many people continue to cling to this talking point, hunkering down in fear of the impending “they”.

I know I’ve been guilty of psittacisms when I repeat something I’ve heard just to fill space. It’s all just meaningless noise! True communication requires thoughtfulness and open dialogue. 

You can’t speak your mind if you’re using a script! ~ kat 2016

Have a great weekend! May it be filled with great conversation and enlightening insights!

a few Haiku…

Some psittacisms
like a Mother’s do”s and don’t’s,
haunt the guilty.

Smug bible thumpers
drone vapid psittacisms…
Actions speak louder.

Catchy talking points,
When fools use psittacisms,
There is no debate!

kat – 11 March 2016


Echoes of my Neighborhood

Happy Thursday! It is that time again! Time to take a look at my neighborhood! This week we had an interesting development! I remember sharing a photo of one of our neon landmarks downtown…the Dr. Pepper sign. Back then it had a few visitors…Spider-Man and the Hulk, I believe. This week Batman and Super Man are gracing the platform! 

Let the epic battle commence while an unsuspecting but hopeful population sleeps! 

     
 
  
 The local paper getting ready to run tomorrow mornings paper.  
  
    
    

Thanks to Jacqueline at a cooking pot and twisted tales. Click HERE to see other neighborhoods from around the globe! 

 


Sunday’s Week in ReVerse ~ The Extremes ~ 6 March 2016

cloud9Happy Sunday, The signs of spring are all around here in the Northern hemi. Winter is having a few final hurrahs but her days are numbered. It’s just a matter of time. How comforting to know that the seasons follow their prescribed paths year after year. Just as we weary from the extremes…the cold, the heat…the transitional seasons slip in, right on cue, to give us relief. Spring with its warm, wet fecundity and Autumn with its vibrant, surrendering release. We need the in-between to pause, take a breath and gain perspective.

Today is my in-between. As I lifted verses from the poetry and prose of the past week I began to see that I played a balancing act each day within each piece. Happily I have arrived here today relatively unscathed by the entire rollercoaster ordeal, my usual optimistic, positive self.

It is fascinating to me in retrospect, for truly there were some dark, emotional moments last week. The added burdens of being a caretaker took its toll, exhaustion finally having its way with me Saturday. I slept most of the day. Sleep is good. Generally, life is good. Here in the in-between it’s easy to see. And this is the most interesting thing…I maintained balance through it all precisely because I embraced the extremes, letting the pendulum have its full sway each day eventually settling me back to center softly swaying, giving me pause, time to breathe.

To illustrate this amazing contrast of extremes I give you two lines of ReVerse from each post this week. It is evident from my words that I could have easily lost myself on either side. How clearly the chaos makes perfect sense in retrospect. I know that no matter what the coming week presents, I will survive, thrive even, because of the amazing balancing act of my subliminal self in its ability to center me. It’s a reminder that I am equipped with everything, the tools I need to live this life of extremes…beautiful perspective always to be found in the in-between.

Have a wonderful week!

Sunday’s Week in ReVerse ~ The Extremes ~ 6 March 2016

diurnal dance
                             waning flush
polarized rivals
                            “soft launch”
hint at hidden truths
                            images captured in silhouette
a voyeur is thrilled
                            sitting front row center
while she fumed
                            dilly-dallied
much maligned
                            to bloom
some prefer routine
                            chaotic bliss
stir my imagination
                            Cloud 9

unsung, unpaid
                            also called

duties as assigned
                           do-it-all
when something breaks down
                           a hero with tools
on the wing…
                           fragrant sweetness swirls faintly on the wind   

kat ~ peace out y’all 🙂