I promise I got this one in under the wire (midnight), but I fell asleep. Long stressful day. I’m sure I needed the rest more than meeting my self-imposed deadline! At any rate here is yesterday’s poem written in Magnetic Poetry form (the Love Kit) online.
last dance
when the dance comes to an end and the music fades, please promise me you will be by my side, the two of us together in the quiet hours of the night remembering the light
~kat
Today’s glimmer actually just happened. My wife volunteers at a wildlife rescue nearby. She has spent a few months nurturing baby squirrels, who, for whatever reason, found themselves abandoned. She bottle fed them until they were big enough to move to an outdoor habitat to learn foraging skills. And today, five of those little angels graduated back into the wild right here on Bramlett mountain. Run free little ones, enjoy the hickory nuts from our trees. Welcome home!🥰
how I remember those long blurry days, the short sleep deprived nights suburban crawls, toddlers in tow, strollers draped in crocheted lace young mothers in passing, smiles and nods masking insecurities
if only we knew then that this time would fly by, children grow up and we grow wise, midst a litany of if only’s and what if’s to realize how perfectly flawed we were, wouldn’t change a thing
~kat
I don’t have a photographic glimmer to share with you today. This evening’s glimmering moment of zen happened on my evening walk with Gabby. Something caught her fancy and off she darted into the darkness, into the woods that edge our yard. She never does this, usually staying close by…doing her usual business and happily dancing around me once we’re safely back inside, expecting a little treat for being such a good girl!
Tonight I had to go after her, calling for her several times. She ignored me of course which only added to my angst. These woods are not all happy squirrels, butterflies and graceful deer. The predators wander about at night. Coyotes, brown bear, cougars, foxes, screech owls, hawks and other raptors, and snakes. The thought that she might have cornered a skunk…or taken a roll in fresh scat also crossed my mind. I called for her again and saw her white furry self heading toward me. None of my fears were realized, of course. All that concern and fear for nothing. But what if?
We were lucky that whatever she was chasing was not bold enough to turn around and chase her. Once I got her safely inside I stepped out on the porch to take a moment. It’s getting cooler. Just the right temperature and there was a lovely breeze. As you will hear…the wind chimes were singing as an occasional gust tickled its pipes.
From all this, a remembering poem was born. The form I used was a pair of Sijo* stanzas.
You can click on the soundbar below if you want a listen. Windchimes and Crickets on a Breezy Autumn Night!
Much love, peace and glimmers to you!
~kat ✨✨✨💚💚💚✨✨✨
A sijo is a traditional Korean poetic form, characterized by its three-line structure. Each line typically contains 14-16 syllables, resulting in a total of 44-46 syllables for the entire poem. The first line is introduces a theme or situation, the second line develops it, and the third line introduces a twist or unexpected turn, providing the poem’s conclusion.
the veil is growing thin whispers of ancestors haunt those who will listen, their sins on repeat
~kat
A Cinquain ~ syllable count: 2-4-6-8-2
I stayed away from the news over the course of the day. It was good. Got my work done. Fed the critters, chatted with several friends. Today’s glimmers are those conversations with present friends…and cautionary reminders from those passed. Nothing happens in a vacuum. But life goes on living…once upon an era to here and now…to me, with memories of when etched in my soul.
let us stand in the balance spent storm clouds disbursing not through division and hate, silenced by fear peace in the foothills one word transports us a lovely chorus of life living even whispers waiting for a swift wind as if debating was still a thing normal to feel nothing inside Please Be Quiet | for being different it’s already too late Please Do Not Feed a freight train with no breaks
~kat
The hummingbirds seem to have gone. The temperatures have dipped for days now, the dawn is darker and dusk comes sooner. I’m not sure what flips the switch in their little heads to set them off on a trip to the tropics…even more puzzling, what causes them to return here in the spring? Surely it’s not my jars of simple sugar water. It definitely is not safe for them to stay here through winter. At any rate, I will fill a few feeders one last time for any stragglers from the great migration, and I shall wish them well…a safe journey…a lovely holiday…and look forward to their return come spring.
When our government changed hands last January I had considered leaving for more a hospitable destination to live out my days. I knew it was going to be frightfully horrifying. The hatred and vengeance had just had four years to simmer and fester into the monstrous reality we all find ourselves in today. It’s much worse I must say than I could have imagined.
Needless to say I’m still here. For one thing, I don’t have the means to pick up and relocate to another place. And honestly, the grass is not always greener. This fever of hate is catching on everywhere these days. It knows no bounds. This is my home. Leaving won’t change anything. Staying, resisting, standing up to cruelty, using my voice just might shine a little light. Whether we all make it through this dark time is not promised. But we can decide how we face it together.
I’ll leave you with glimmers as I always do. These are my favorites from the past few weeks… ✨💚✨
Much love, peace, and glimmers to you!
Resist.
~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. I use it here as a review of the past several weeks.
Catching up today with two poems or four if you consider the second poem is a Cleave poem (3 poems in one). All following a theme. The United States has gone over the edge. Shutdown…apparently now is the fulfillment of the promised project 2025. The government is in full propaganda mode, sending out political messaging from every agency switchboard, blaming the democrats…is this legal? Doesn’t matter. They don’t care. All this is being used to fuel and justify DT’s vengeance campaign. Attacks on states and cities led by progressive leaders, targeted as enemies of state for not kissing the ring. Middle of the night raids on US citizens as well as immigrants of various statuses…though that doesn’t matter either. The scotus gave DT a green light to declare every immigrant he hates illegal. Cruelty against children. Terror is the point. If you already know about all this, I’m sorry for dredging it up again. But for those who haven’t been paying attention and most importantly for myself to document it all. No one will believe things were this crazy years from now if we don’t record it as it happens.
On a personal note, I received an updated anti-discrimination notice from my employer and health insurance company. It no longer protects me and members of my community referencing a federal mandate clause. I suppose going forward it will be up to the benevolence and backbone of my employer to treat me and my wife (who is disabled and my dependent) fairly. Whether, as time goes on they will be mandated to recognize our partnership of 25 years at all. It’s all happening so quietly…so quickly. First it was all immigrants of color. Next it was DEI. It was stunning how quickly businesses and institutions fell in line by firing and removing protections for people assumed to have been hired because of diversity, equity inclusion. Now the LGBTQ+ community is in the crosshairs. A simple redefining of who is protected from discrimination based on a new law. Who’s next? Healthcare is the latest hot topic on the hill. The poor, the vulnerable, the disabled, the elderly…
I should probably hide myself away and be quiet. But I can’t be complicit in this. This is my way of resisting. So, without further ado.
Poem 1 …a Triolet
triolet:
A (first line) B (second line) a (rhymes with first line) A (repeat first line) a (rhymes with first line) b (rhymes with second line) A (repeat first line) B (repeat second line)
set in motion
it’s already too late the end of us is set in motion a freight train with no breaks it’s already too late the frog boil is ready to plate to feed the beast’s lust for devotion it’s already too late the end of us is set in motion
~kat
Poem 2…a Cleave poem (two columns…poem 1 -first column, poem 2-second column, poem 3-each line across both columns.
1- signs (a List Poem)
Please Do Not Feed Slow Children Slippery When Wet May Contain Nuts Yield…Yield…YIELD Watch Your Step May Cause Severe Drowsiness No U Turn Take A Number The Line Forms Here Do Not Disturb Please Be Quiet Surveillance Cameras in Use Left Lane Closed No Outlet May Cause Death
2- already too late (Free Verse)
Fascists are never satisfied they will divide and conquer proclaiming superiority one way to look, to believe, to be their way the opposite of woke no compassion for humanity weaponizing labels stoking hate and fear they will punish you for being different they will find you it’s just a matter of time fascists are here now it’s already too late
3- signs | already too late (Cleave Poem)
Please Do Not Feed | Fascists Slow Children | are never satisfied Slippery When Wet | they will divide and conquer May Contain Nuts | proclaiming superiority Yield…Yield…YIELD | one way to look, to believe, to be Watch Your Step | their way May Cause Severe Drowsiness | the opposite of woke No U Turn | no compassion for humanity Take A Number | weaponizing labels The Line Forms Here | stoking hate and fear Do Not Disturb | they will punish you Please Be Quiet | for being different Surveillance Cameras in Use | they will find you Left Lane Closed | it’s just a matter of time No Outlet | fascists are here now May Cause Death | it’s already too late
~kat
phew! Now that that is over with, I owe you and myself some glimmers. Life goes on in the midst of chaos. It may not always be a smooth journey, but as I have said before, glimmers are everywhere, every day, just waiting to be noticed by us. Waiting to restore our soul.
Here’s a few glimmers that have kept me going the last few days…
the cusp of the full harvest moon ~ katmy woodland familytrying my hand at flower arranging…happy autumn…my favorite time of the year!
So it is easier for you to find all the parts/chapters of my ongoing fiction series, I created a new page that lists all the links. You can check it out HERE!
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