Category Archives: Life Lessons

April 2, 2016

April Poetry Month – A Poem a Day #2

By Kat Myrman

Today’s poetry form: Free Verse

* Free verse poems have no regular meter and rhythm.
* They do not follow a proper rhyme scheme as such; these poems do not have any set rules.
* This type of poem is based on normal pauses and natural rhythmical phrases as compared to the artificial constraints of normal poetry.
* It is also called vers libre which is a French word.

I often write free verse at 3 am mid-REM. This is one of those brain-flushing poems, particularly poignant for me. Free form is my raw unfettered side with no boundaries to keep me from spilling out. Its form title, “FREE Verse” echoes the soul of this particular piece. Both of my parents suffered from severe, undiagnosed, untreated mental illness. Each eventually ended their own life to silence the madness. I have chosen life. The lunacy stops with me. I am free.

Childhood Crazy

He was obsidian in a naugahyde recliner,
a red hot cigarette tip, heavy with ash, suspended in the blank space between us,
Inconsolable shell of burdensome flesh smoldering in silence,
clock ticking, refrigerator humming, faucet dripping,
Sepia Jesus scowling from the frame on the wall.

He was white deafening noise.
A dizzy streak of laser precision, constructing pyramids of tin,
preoccupied with aliens, reincarnation and escape plans,
dismantling, rebuilding, obsessing over the unfitted, left-over parts,
ever seeking the subtle smiling approval of happy, golden-haloed Jesus.

Terrifying and thrilling, monster and superhero,
doomsdayer, naysayer, cheerleader, dragonslayer,
fragile broken parent figure, angel, demon, candle burning at both ends.
A short-fused powder keg, self-combusting,
disillusioned by fickle wishy-washy Jesus, pulling a trigger to end the pain.

His poison festers in my cells, lethal shards of DNA,
catching waves of white and crimson coursing through my veins, settling in my brain.
A childhood refrain of mania to gloom, neglected, undiagnosed crazy.
Daddy, if we had only known, we might have saved you.
Consoled with pharmaceuticals, severing the chain…at least I can save myself.

kat ~ 2 Apri‪‪l 2016‬‬

28 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Life Lessons, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Social Issues, Spirituality

March 31, 2016

Points – A Haiku

By Kat Myrman
tlt-w9

Photo Credit: Moritz Schmidt

Sincere compliments
like well-placed Scrabble tiles
will earn extra points!

~kat – 31 March 2016

A Three Line Tale for Sonya of Only 100 Words’ Three Line Tale Week Nine prompted by the photo above by Moritz Schmidt. If you would like to read other tales or add your own, click HERE.

29 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in 3 Line Tales, Challenges and Writing Prompts, Flash Fiction, Haiku, Life Lessons, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings

March 27, 2016

Dark Night of the Soil

By Kat Myrman


I realized this morning, as I gazed at my barren flower bed, its parallel to Easter and Spring’s awakening.

Death of unruly weeds and a sweeping of rocks and debris was necessary to ready the bed for planting. It required pulling up some deeply imbedded roots of certain weeds who disguised themselves in delicate, colorful blooms, hiding their malevolent intent to choke, encroach and overtake my beautiful garden. If I left even a hint of root behind, my garden would be at risk. Just to be safe, once the soil was sufficiently churned, a barrier was laid and new enriched top soil was added to prepare for new seeds and plants. Of course, there is still a bit more to do, and keeping the weeds at bay is a daunting task, but it is a necessary step to give my beautiful garden its best chance to thrive.

My soul is like a garden. It is affected deeply by nature, the changing of seasons, the light and darkness, the raging tempests and gentle rains, sunrises and sunsets, the clear open blue canopy, the subtle embrace of foggy bottoms, the star-speckled night sky.

As I look at the empty flower bed of my soul, especially on this Easter weekend, I am reminded of the despair and revelation of humanity’s dark nature that led to death, but I am also filled with a sense of hope for the new life that is promised to me if I am faithful.

When darkness overcomes me, I know I should pause to reflect. Is my current circumstance a result of happenstance? It is true some things just happen. Or is it a debacle of my own doing? The latter, if I’m open to considering it, requires a bit of work. Like my garden bed, my soul must be swept of weeds, taking care to remove the roots. The soil of my soul will likely need a bit of churning. It will take a conscious effort on my part to employ the barriers required to prevent any weed remnants from rising again to choke out my best intentions. And it will also take laying a new foundation of “soil”.

My life has the potential to be a beautiful garden! To be a light and a blessing. As I consider the hope of Easter and Spring’s promise, I embrace the new life that grace affords me today and every morning!

Peace, grace and life in all its magnificence to you! May you thrive in beauty!

-kat

9 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Essays, Life Lessons, Random Thoughts and Musings, Spirituality

March 6, 2016

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

By Kat Myrman

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 🙂

9 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Digital Art & Photos, Essays, Life Lessons, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Week in Review

February 14, 2016

Sunday’s Week in ReVerse ~ 14 February 2016

By Kat Myrman

 

creeper2

Photo Credit: Kat Myrman 2014

 

Happy Valentine’s Day Sunday! If I may wax poetic, this week’s ReVerse is rather poetic…poetic in its melancholic musings, sentimental walks down lanes of memories wrapped in chocolate and flowers. Did I plan this? Most certainly not! It is a game the Muse plays with me. How very clever of her, don’t you think?

Not to worry, the week wasn’t all sappy and sweet. There were hints of poetic justice as well. Enter the scoundrels…the handsome blind date (or was he just a rude stalker!), politicians (no comment…), time…if time was a scoundrel (I have no doubt that our modern electronic clocks have an evil plan to drive us all crazy!), scary nature (requiring a safety net of creature comforts for those brave souls who venture off the grid), the corporate scoundrel…jerk! creep! *#%%%*#!!!!! (forgive me…too soon), and finally Jack Frost (well, he was certainly implied. Soon to sweep the blush from the daffodils.) As exciting as all this has been…what do I do? I take photographs!

I’m going to digress for a bit…but I promise to bring it home…trust me.

The greatest technology of the 21st Century for me is the phone camera! A few decades ago, I did labor in the bowels of my amber-lit basement, elbow deep in smelly chemicals developing my own photographs. Editing required cutting and pasting (really!…cutting with scissors and pasting with glue), re-photographing and developing. All things being digital has opened up a whole new world to us all.

But here’s the thing…yes, there is a thing…

My last story this week reminded me of a lost art that needs a revisit…letter writing. Lovely handwritten notes on pretty paper penned by one’s favorite pen (for me it is a fountain pen loaded with cerulean blue ink). I even read last week that schools are considering dropping cursive writing lessons from their curriculum! A very sad turn of events indeed!

And so as I look forward to next week, I’m planning to pen a few letters to those friends who do not frequent social media…and maybe even a few who are digitally savvy. I have become woefully out of touch with them. What better day for inspiration than today, Valentine’s Day!  Join me if you’d like. If there is one thing I’ve learned in life it is this, those who love you don’t want your chocolates or flowers…they want your words…<3

Sunday’s Week in ReVerse ~ 14 February 2016

A treasured timepiece,
here or hereafter.
sweet dreams to all you dreamers.
They are forever etched on my heart
She always reserved room for chocolate.
He knew she was lying.
fair blooms in waiting.
you certainly cannot win
abstaining from all pleasure
take a moment to breathe
proving their own lack.
She had the last laugh.
to appear able
a luddite’s nightmare!
But not without a backpack of creature comforts.
He took credit for her work.
So I took a photograph for you.

~ kat

If you’re new to this blog, 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. A snapshot review of the week. It helps me to prepare for the upcoming week with a clean slate.

9 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Essays, Humor, Life Lessons, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Week in Review