we grip the edge of the abyss, braced against winds of change when true freedom is in the letting go
~kat
And this concludes a week spent exploring the Naani. It sounded simple enough, four lines, 21-25 syllables in total, but as with all micropoetry, saying what you want to say in literally few words always leads to copious tweaking, rewriting and refining to get it right. I have attempted to do that here, but not without the assistance of my trusty online syllable counter. Now you know one of the secrets hidden in my toolbox of writing assists. That and a good thesaurus are lifesavers when it comes to being succinct and syllable count correct!
Because I love torturing myself with these micropoetry challenges, next week I’m going to revisit the Gogyohka. And finally if you’d like to try the Naani yourself, here are the rules:
Naani Poem
The Naani poem has its roots in India. It’s a modern day type of poem. It has four lines only. The entire poem can have 20-25 syllables. there is no restriction concerning the theme of the poem.
There are wildfires in Canada. And though they are thousands of miles from the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills where I live, the hazy air tastes of ash and sulfur. We are eerily connected by the very air that we breathe. Our man-made boundaries rendered meaningless by our mother the earth.
fallout
smoke settles in the hollows mutes the blue in ruddy haze breaching vain borders we breathe the same air
~kat
Naani Poem
The Naani poem has its roots in India. It’s a modern day type of poem. It has four lines only. The entire poem can have 20-25 syllables. there is no restriction concerning the theme of the poem.
Something told me to wait a second week before attempting a reverse poem last Sunday. It was probably the Muse. I don’t give her enough credit. Though I’m ready to blame her for forsaking me. At any rate, the last few years have been a challenging season for us. Last year…the loss of four beloved fur family members. I still don’t feel I have grieved them properly, each one leaving so suddenly just a month or two out from each other.
This year started with a bang on December 31st…my wife’s health plunged considerably after major emergency back surgery, post op complications, and what now may be a chronic disability, having lost the use of her right leg. Life as we had planned, interrupted. Me, working a demanding full time job, while learning how to manage full time caretaking, our new one income budget and all the other household tasks…with grace. Honestly, it is only grace that has gotten me through this. Grace, and forcing myself to stop, to breath deeply often, and to write.
I would be a nutcase without this platform to spill my thoughts. You may have noticed that I have focused on short forms…micropoetry. Short does not always equate to easy. Some forms are structurally complex, but I take comfort in the boundaries imposed. It grounds me. Gets me into my head and out of thinking too hard about every what’s next scenario. We still don’t have conclusive answers…4 MRI’s, X-rays, CAT scans, ultrasounds in, and a few more specialists to see for third, fourth and fifth opinions. We just want a plan that moves us forward. The status quo is understandably not working for us.
All this to say, I am so grateful for this moment today. I baked a lovely Lemon Blueberry cake today. The house smells sweet and citrusy. There is a Carolina Wren pair nesting in my peace lily planter on the back porch, my other fur kids are content and happy. And the world is so very green, the wild blackberries are growing plump and dark on the vines. All this sustains me…sustains us as we traverse this challenge together. I can’t decide if this is the for better or for worse part …a little of both perhaps. I am learning it is not an either or condition. Life is not a rollercoaster if you take time to enjoy the wind tossing your hair.
And I just have to say…I’m so glad I gave today’s ReVerse an extra week to percolate. It is exquisite. A perfect snapshot of my brain. Makes me smile.
Peace, Love, and Good Health to you and yours. 🥰
ReVerse Poem - Sunday, 25 June 2023
the world blurs from view before all doors were locked her glance will pierce you through adorned in gray, mourning long held dreams, forsaking sets tongues a-twittering i know you well, your truths, golden streams breaking through but a breath away amidst fleeting bursts of bliss blue as insomnia falling with every breath I think too much about nothing, rent free I write stories about them in my head i heard from a friend who’s friends with a friend
~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.
As anticipated, given the Pleiades poetry form, the poems this week embodied feminine themes, with inspiration from the stars. Today, astrologers say there are over 500 stars in the Pleiades constellation cluster, though only a handful can be seen with the naked eye. The ancients named seven of these stars the “seven sisters”: Alcyone, Asterope, Celaeno, Electra, Maia, Merope, and Tygeta. Based on the Reverse below I met my goal. It was exactly what I was going for. An homage to feminine gifts and sensibilities. And because there are seven days in a week, today’s ReVerse, like the Pleiades is seven lines long. How serendipitous, I say!
In today’s ugly social climate where being female is under attack on so many fronts I thought we could use a boost and a reminder of how amazing we are. Taking nothing away from our brothers, of course, but it is worth reminding us all, and especially ourselves, that we are beautiful, intuitive, nurturing, wise, intelligent, powerful, equal partners each day in the life of this planet, in our homes as well as in the boardroom. It is time we took our place at the table like we own it…because if you really think about it…we do.
With that in mind my sisters, take a moment to look in the mirror today, and rather than focusing on those extra pounds, wrinkles, or whatever else that makes you feel less than, and look that woman staring back at you straight in the eye…hold her gaze long enough until you feel it..the realization that she…that you…are beautiful, amazing, worth being loved and appreciated! In fact, you should tell her…go ahead, say it out loud!
Namasté my lovelies!
Sunday ReVerse Poem ~ 4 June 2023
she is powerful discovering her wings, whisperings from the muse, calm in the midst of storms, we are fools to cry witch, goddess, primordial lightning strikes where it will
~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.
It’s Sunday, and time for another ReVerse poem, looking back at the Tricube. I think this ReVerse captures the past week very well. It’s a meandering journey through my scattered brain, that at least found a few moment of lucidity to write poetry. It was a gentle week. Though life threw me a few more lemons to squeeze through, writing helped me find the present. Helped me to pause, to breathe, to find peace…to silence the what-ifs, woulda, coulda, shouldas. Rereading each day’s thoughts has been a calming exercise.
All is well. This moment. All is well. Peace to you and those you cherish. 💚
A ReVerse Poem ~ May 28, 2023
me…breathing wistful thoughts all is well unspent still no regrets
earl grey tea it takes time
I miss touch
~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.
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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