Category Archives: Cleave Poem

day 275 & day 276

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…

trying my hand at flower arranging…happy autumn…my favorite time of the year!

Much love, peace, and glimmers to you!

~kat ✨✨✨💚💚💚✨✨✨


day 140

what goes bump in the night
(a cleave poem)

part 1

the air is heavy
just before the storm
raindrops ride the wind
dusk drifts into night
the darkness provides cover
as a fearsome interloper
steals bits of food
from the least among us
the wrens, the phoebes, the finches
destruction in its wake
the feeder stands mangled
seed tubes ravaged
what good are a few seeds to
massive beasts when
to the birds they are everything

part 2

they assembled
in hallowed halls
the murmur of opposition surges
as they spin their evil plans
the big beautiful lie, while
an unconscionable act Is executed
enriching the wealthy
over the stunned masses
the poor, the old, the sick
survival of the richest
as democracy dies
sacrificed for greed
these gluttonous monsters
hoarding more than they need
leaving the people to perish

part 3

the air is heavy | they assembled
just before the storm | in hallowed halls
raindrops ride the wind | the murmur of opposition surges
dusk drifts into night | as they spin their evil plans
the darkness provides cover |.the big beautiful lie, while
a fearsome interloper | an unconscionable act is executed
steals bits of food | enriching the wealthy
from the least among us | from the stunned masses
the wrens, the phoebes, the finches | the poor, the old, the sick
destruction in its wake | survival of the richest
the feeder stands mangled | as democracy dies
seed tubes ravaged | sacrificed on the altar of greed
what good are a few seeds to | these gluttonous monsters
massive beasts when | taking more than they need
to the birds they are everything | leaving the people to perish

~kat


Last night a huge storm swept through the hills. When I woke up and took a walk around the property looking for downed trees, surveying any damage that might be left in the storm’s wake, I discovered a disturbing scene at both of my feeding stations. Something strong and very big came through destroying the feeder stand and the see tubes. i recall seeing a few roust bucks on the property at dusk, it it is also likely that we were visited by a black bear.

Meanwhile on another hill in our nation’s capital congress huddled in committee at 1 am hoping to ram through a so-called big beautiful bill. The vilest of this crowd called in the big gun, namely Trump, to threaten the end of life as they know it if the holdouts didn’t vote to pass this atrocity. As I write this post, they are still at it some 17 hours later with no end in sight. Major sticking points include cuts to every little safety net that most people depend on to give massive tax breaks to the filthy rich. The people be damned

I couldn’t help seeing the similarities between a brown bear destroying feeding stations, and the maga politicians destroying our democracy, many because they fear the wrath of a selfish bully. Of course for this theme only a cleave poem would do. So called three poems on one the left column is one poem…the right, a second and the grand finale read in left to right for a third.


You know I have a glimmer for you… a few turkeys found love on the back end of my property! Baby turkeys are so cute! But it was the courtship that makes me laugh! This is how it went!

I noticed this Jenny hanging out inside the fenced part of my yard…
…enter a very excited tom who was pacing along the outside of the fence line. he did his darndest to woo her for a little tryst, but she wasn’t having it!
I walked to the back of the house to get a better look, only to discover that she was no longer there. But I did notice old tom hunched over something rocking back and forth you guessed it! Moments later she emerged, feathers disheveled scurrying away indignant at his indiscretion. I mean, imagine it! He had his way with her right out in the open! (I didn’t happen to get a photo of that! 😄). Countdown to turkey chicks! Can’t wait! 🥰

Anyhow, that’s my glimmer for today…the cycle of life on full display while I worked on a presentation for tomorrow.

much love, peace, and lovely glimmers to you!

~kat


day 81

milquetoast | manifesto
(a Cleave Poem ~ you know what to do*)

before I was me | when messy life happens
I was a good girl | spiraling out of control
the responsible one | a total nightmare
the go-to helper | complete and utter chaos
you could always depend on me | when everything you know
to get things done | has gone to hell
acquiescent, compliant | until there is nothing left
I followed the rules | I will fight to the death
when your way or the highway | to restore sanity and justice
forced me to choose, I chose | to speak truth to power
it is after all what we do | to defend what is precious
when we are raised to be | a lover of freedom
submissive, with a smile | out, loud, and proud
I was invisible then | this is me now…deal with it!

~kat~

•..and in case you don’t, Cleave poems are read in three parts. Essentially it’s three poems in one, best when each column divided by one of these { | }, is read as a separate poem. Poem 1 – column 1; Poem 2 – column 2; and the the grand finale, lose the divider “|” and read the entire line across. If I’ve done my job here, each poem will stand on its own and the final read will bring both opposing thoughts together. If you would like to write one here’s my best tip. Start with one free verse. Set your divider at the end of each line and write a second free verse line by line in an opposing view. Then tweak a bit to make each line flow when read alone and as a complete line. Good luck. These are always excellent mind workouts when you’re looking for a challenge! 😊


A few thoughts today…

A well-meaning friend advised me the other day that they had started the process of deleting all manner of identifiers or references to progressive ideas, thoughts or beliefs from their social media and online footprint to make it harder to be found out when the subversive powers planning revenge and retribution seek us out (which they believe is coming next after they dismantle all safety nets and accountability for the common good). It felt a slight bit paranoid to me. They suggested, of course, that I do the same…just lay low, try to survive the next 4 years. Stay as much under the radar as possible…go back in the closet of course…and hope they let us live.

The truth is, I gently reminded my friend “they” already know us, and who we are, where we live, work and play, to the finest detail. Every thing we buy, or search for online, every place we go, now that cars and phones have GPS, every click we click. They know what size shoes we wear, how we take our coffee or tea, what we like to read and what we watch on TV. Try searching for a certain style of lamp shade anywhere, and you will be bombarded with lampshade advertisements for weeks…EVERYWHERE you connect with the world. It’s too late to bow out of this circus, I’m sorry to say.

And it got me thinking. Who am I? Who is any one of us if we can’t be who we are. Is free expression reserved only for a chosen few, and who gets to choose and how? Is it power? Is it money? Is there a devil doling out sweet deals for souls? And that thought right there stopped me as I was pondering all of this. 

My soul is not for sale. Come what may, I can’t change who I am or who I am called to be, even for the safety that invisibility might afford me. I may lose the battle to be authentically real, truthful, kind and above all compassionate and loving. But I am in good, good company. We have power too. We are hope and light. As long as we stand together this world cannot fade to black. And it takes a bit more that a fierce bag of wind and bluster (even if the national weather service has been shut down so there is no warning that it’s coming) to extinguish our flame!

Much love, light, and glimmers to you! 

~kat ✨💚✨


day 59 ~ exploring the cleave

it’s okay…I’m ok…everything’s okay

it will be okay | there will be collateral
the morning sun is bright | shine a light
the sky is blue | expose the lies
the birds are singing | people will perish
wake up, stretch | as they flex their hatred
take a walk amidst the trees | and burn things down
deep breath…deep breath | don’t exhale
embrace sweet routine | as chaos churns
a day like every other | unprecedented cruelty and power
work, play, rest, repeat | their malevolent goal
here in our bubbles | no one is safe
clinging to normal | democracy is dying
make bread | those starving for justice
sip sweet tea | long for peace
dawn to dusk | dusk to darkness
as the world spins | the sky is falling

~kat~

It’s been more than a minute since I tried my hand at a Cleave Poem. Described as three poems in one it is written in two contrasting side by side columns also designed to be read fully, line by line across both columns. What you see above is the total view.  But I’m going to break it down for you below as well…three poems in one. Truly a format fitting for times such as this. Cling to every glimmer you can muster. It’s not being delusional…it is survival!

Cleave poem breakdown part 1:

it’s okay…

it will be okay

the morning sun is bright

the sky is blue

the birds are singing

wake up, stretch

take a walk amidst the trees

deep breath…deep breath

embrace sweet routine

a day like every other

work, play, rest, repeat

here in our bubbles

clinging to normal

make bread

sip sweet tea

dawn to dusk

as the world spins

Cleave poem breakdown part 2:

I’m ok…?

there will be collateral 

shine a light

expose the lies

people will perish

as they flex their hatred

and burn things down

don’t exhale 

as chaos churns

unprecedented cruelty and power

their malevolent goal

no one is safe

democracy is dying

those starving for justice

long for peace

dusk to darkness

the sky is falling

And now jump back to the top and read the entire poem line by line…3 very different poems in one.

Peace, love, and glimmers to you…be kindness and hope for someone today. ✨✨✨💚💚💚✨✨✨


NaPoWriMo 2024 Day 20: two sides, one truth

Supporters of President Donald Trump gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (CNS/Reuters/Stephanie Keith)
two sides, one truth

“It was the most beautiful day” | we saw democracy in action
“so much love in the air” | as hate and tension mounted on the hill
“the crowd was unbelievable” | with lawmakers under attack
“I’ve never seen anything like it” | it was a violent insurrection
proud patriots marched on | sending leaders blue and red into hiding
to defend democracy | but when the smoke cleared
to restore the rightful winner | they rose up to vote
believing an election was stolen | to counter a big lie
some were accused, tried, imprisoned | democracy almost died that day
now the so-called hostages | but for the brave
by those who stand | who stood their ground
to honor them | to save us from ourselves
as they sing the national anthem | we will never forget that day
let freedom ring | with liberty and justice for all

~kat

NaPoWriMo 2024 Day 20 Challenge: write a poem that recounts a historical event. In writing your poem, you could draw on your memory, encyclopedias, history books, or primary documents.

Been a while since I wrote a cleave poem. Though I’m a day late to the party, this prompt felt like the perfect opportunity given the revisionist history of recent events. My research took me down a few rabbit holes. It’s no wonder people are confused! But there is truth and reality. Sometimes we need to trust what our eyes and ears and common sense tell us!

Poetry form: A cleave poem is a poem in three (or more) pieces: the left side, the right side, and both combined. Read one side…|…then the other … then both sides line by line combined.