Category Archives: Essays

day 187

just a glimmer
is all that it takes
to spark hope

~kat
(a Lune Poem 3/5/3 (syllables or word count)

I do not have a green thumb. Houseplants come to my home to die. Last summer we had nurtured a potted banana tree plant from a few feet tall to over four feet, with a huge dose of help from Mother Nature. The warm wet climate here loves plants and we were able to keep it outside in the garden where it thrived.

As temperatures started to dip close to freezing we brought the tree inside to winter until spring. After a month or so I noticed that a thin layer of mold had developed on the soil. The treatment we applied to eliminate the mold took our beautiful banana tree with along with the mold. By winter’s end it had withered to a lone stalk. By spring only a seemingly dead root ball remained. I moved the barren pot outside to the porch. Thinking we might plant another…lessons learned, hopefully we’d manage to survive winter next time.

To my surprise I began to notice several sprouts pushing up from around the base of the root ball. I gave it a lovely spot with plenty of afternoon sun and as you can see, my beleaguered banana tree is thriving (with even a few more baby sprouts emerging nearby.)

Every time I look at it, I feel a sense of hope. It seemed as if all was lost. I had killed it, I thought, due to my inexperience and aforementioned ungreen thumb. But it decided to give me another chance. And I am not taking this privilege lightly. It was grace that dared to trust me when I’ve failed in the past. I am grateful for the glimmer of hope this gives.

And in light of the current calamitous destruction we are witnessing in our world I am encouraged to hope. Even if all seems lost, may we be bestowed with a dose of grace; enough to feed our souls to rebuild and reclaim our lives after the dust has settled. Today’s glimmer is that four letter word that gives everything meaning and purpose…hope.

Much love, peace, and hope-infused glimmers to you.

~kat

✨✨✨💚💚💚✨✨✨


day 186

More creatures enter the scene…

nature’s dark side
is fierce, magnificent perfection where
survival is life

~kat

I was delighted to see a rabbit and her young stop by the feeders this evening.

But not far from the scene a black rat snake slithered out from under a nearby log. He was on a mission making his way across the yard toward the hummingbird station.

I watched him as he watched the hummers flitting for a sip and zipping away. No harm…I thought at first but he was a bit too intense in his glare. When he shifted into a coiled position I decided to intervene by spraying water on him to send him on his way. I discovered just how fast this predator is as he rushed away from me and hid under a propane tank nearby. He’s out there. He’s always been out there. But now I know. I’ll be watching. At the ready to defend, but I also know that he will manage to hit his mark when I am not looking. It’s survival after all. Nothing personal. And I have to admit that he is a beautiful specimen. I watched him for almost an hour, fascinated by his skilled stalking method. I just don’t care to watch him eat.

Much love, peace, and glimmers to you! stay safe out there, be kind, and don’t be afraid to help others.

~kat

✨💚✨✨


day 185 ~ a ReVerse

a ReVerse…heatwaves, oppression, and revolutionary kindness

earth barely breathing…
the rising mist that smells of musk
feels like hot breath on your skin,
I am already dreaming
the fiddler plays in the rain
as they pull the plug on a dying nation’s life support
prayers of souls, woke, cling to hope for the dawn
but it’s too late, the deed is done
it takes some effort, you know, to hate
Each of us is called to stand, to show the world we care
compassionate acts touch hard hearts one by one
sometimes reality is too great a burden to bear

~kat

When I look back over the past few weeks as recorded by each day’s poetry, thoughts, and glimmers, it is no surprise that I needed a pause to rest; to assess, to realign my priorities, and most of all to recharge. It’s been a rough time for many. It can be hard to hope and easy to feel as if resistance is futile (as the saying goes). 

They…yes they…unfortunately, we are in an us and them reality now, and they would like us to believe its over. They would like us give up. They want to turn us against each other by spreading lies and  by turning up the gaslighting. 

But we did not come this far with our souls intact to concede defeat now. Revolution comes at a price and requires unflinching commitment and courage. We can’t all take to the streets, but we can all be kind. We can’t all rush to the front lines, but we can help a neighbor, or a stranger. Even the simplest thing…a smile with intentional eye contact…a nod, can change someone’s world for a moment. I have witnessed it firsthand. The moment when a tiny spark ignites in someone’s eyes when they realize that you see them and they realize they are not alone. 

So let us all recharge our batteries in whatever way we need to. And let this revolution commence, one spark of kindness, compassion, and glimmers of light at a time. We are all weary, but we are not alone. We have each other. 

Much love, peace and glimmers of light to you! 

~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.


day 182 and day 183 – half a year of glimmers with a half more to go

thoughts on the most horrible, awful, terrifyingly sad day of a crumbling nation

silence is best when there are no words
when nothing one says will change what is done
when voices of reason now quelled; go unheard
silence is best when there are no words
when lies beget lies; when truth feels absurd
compassionate acts touch hard hearts one by one
silence is best when there are no words
when nothing one says will change what is done

~kat
a triolet poem is an 8 line poem that follows the following rhyme and repeated line sequence:

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)

another irrelevant holiday

If our forefathers saw us now, this
Nation they held dear
Do you think that they’d be
Proud of what we have become?
Every word that they declared
Now silenced with a sneer
Delivering hate for all to see
Enriching greed with none to spare
Now the people live in fear
Can democracy be restored?
Each of us is called to stand, to show the world we care

Don’t expect a celebration on this day from me
As the powerful destroy what’s right and good for us, our progeny
You know it’s true this faux Independence Day

~kat
An Acrostic Poem is a poem where the first letter of each line spells out a word, name, or phrase, often related to the poem's subject

Another twofer. With, of course some glimmers to soften the blow of the last few days. We are halfway through a year of glimmers. Obviously I have shared some repeat glimmerers. You probably know I have some favorites.

Some favorite Glimmers from the archive:

I’m sorry…I just didn’t have it in me to write what I was feeling yesterday. I needed to sleep on it. I needed to see another beautiful sunrise to assure me that life can only be lived in moments now as many of us wait for that oppressive,  heavy left shoe to drop. For some of us it will come sooner than others. But none of us are immune from the hate and cruelty of the current government. I woke this morning to light! Just the glimmer I needed to get me out of bed, when in truth I’d be just as happy to stay here for the weekend, pull the covers over my head and hide…but that’s not healthy…I know. Thank you Sun for being the constant I so need in my life right now. 

And thank you Nature for holding me close under a lush canopy of green. Thank you cool morning breeze that is fragrantly sweet from newly cut grass, thank you wild creatures…the deer, the squirrels, the turkeys, the songbirds, the crows, and thank you my domestic critters, Gabby, Matilda, Frankie, Schrödinger, Mr Bean and the fishes, for loving me unconditionally and for giving me a reason to get up each day. Thank you as well to you dear readers, for stopping by and letting me know you see me. And to my family and friends, for choosing to share this life with me.

I have so much to be grateful for..so many reasons to light a fire in me to continue this little act of rebellion here. I will not be silenced. I will write from my heart what is true…and I will always, always, always choose love, and kindness. 

Much love, peace, and glimmers to you. 

~kat ✨✨✨💚💚💚✨✨✨ 


day 181

a case for kindness

it takes some effort, you know, to hate
simple kindness is easy, it flows
the potential is there, it’s not too late
it takes some effort, you know, to hate
try being nice for a change, I’ll wait
one kind act begets others, they grow
it takes some effort, you know, to hate
simple kindness is easy, it flows

~kat

I couldn’t watch the drama today as republican politicians harassed holdouts to toe the line and vote yes for trumps big ugly bill. With Independence Day and fireworks only a few days away they need a big win tied with a patriotic red, white, and blue bow. But I think the most disgusting thing that they have done throughout this horrible saga is repeatedly boasting that all the glory goes to god for bringing them this far. And bragging about their piety and prayerfulness and spending time in the capitol chapel on their knees…please spare us!

I don’t know who or what god they’re referring to, but the god I learned about in parochial school and have come to know in my later years would not endorse what they are selling.

She would not be okay with stealing from the poor to line the pockets of the rich. She would not turn away the immigrant and those seeking refuge from poverty or corrupt oppressive governments. She would not deny equality or diversity. In fact my mother, Nature, loves diversity. She provides for her children. Would never think to deny them food, or education, or opportunity. She would most certainly not demand authority over her daughters’ human rights or tell them that men should be the deciders for everything they do. She would not deny them or the children or the elderly healthcare or strip anyone of dignity. And I’m sure her heart is breaking for the innocents ripped from their families and left to rot in detention cells, or worse. And for her special children who dare to be themselves, just as they were created to be.

If these so called Christians can do such vile things to other human beings then I want no part of their god or their religion. If only I believed in hell. I’d wish them well on their way down. Maybe they will see the light one day. One can hope.

Thank you for reading if you’ve made it this far. For letting me rant. Today’s glimmer is a tiny mourning dove perched in the trees in the photo above. Their soft coos comfort me.

Much love, peace, and glimmers to you…until we meet again tomorrow.

~kat✨✨💚💚✨✨


Poetry form:

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)