Category Archives: Random Thoughts and Musings

July 31, 2016

A Key is a Key is a Key

This is for Haiku Horizon’s weekly haiku challenge, prompt word “Key”.

Did you know that their are quite a few meanings and applications for the word “key”? It can be an instrument that unlocks something, a guide for reading symbols on maps, or a guide to colours and symbols used in a data chart, graph, plot or diagram or something that directs one to the answer of a test, riddle or to the solution of a problem. It can be a sandy island formed on the surface of a coral reef, a type of coupling used to transmit rotation between a shaft and an attached item in engineering or a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm. It can be the name of a person, place or company. With all these options to choose from for my haiku this week I thought I would have a little fun and combine three meanings in one 5-7-5 verse! I give you the sad story of Mr. Key…😊

Poor old Mr. Key…
retracing his steps would be key
to finding his keys!

~kat – 31 July 2016

4 Comments | tags: Challenge, Haiku, haiku horizons, key, Poetry | posted in Haiku, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings

July 31, 2016

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 31 July 2016

By Kat Myrman

A look back, and a reflection. I spent this past week in usual fashion with the bulk of my days working at the job that pays for my existence. My evenings however were spent engaged in part two of my country’s political ritual…the nomination of presidential candidates midst a cacophony of rhetoric and bombastic assertions, most always in dogged opposition to the competing faction.

As a citizen who seeks truth and attempts to participate fully in the process, I availed myself of both spectacles, the republican brand two weeks ago and the democratic version this past week. Political platforms and ideologies aside, there was a stark difference between the two conventions. Fear, exceptionalism, and a chaotic, off-script program of events colored the first call to meeting; hope, inclusiveness (while not without murmurs of discord), and an organized, well-executed program informed the second. The republican sea of white faces became even more obvious when contrasted by the rainbow of diversity that filled the democratic auditorium. On display these past few weeks for all to see was a snapshot of the two Americas we have become.

I admit a predisposed affinity for the latter. In fact, I mentioned this last week as well. That being said, I struggle to find the appeal of the republican view of the world; a world that must become smaller, walled off from others in order for its citizenry to feel safe. I fail to understand how so many can follow such ideology blindly. It is a terrifying commentary on this country…my country…the anger and hatred that has risen to the surface. This election season, like no other that I can remember, has exposed the truth about how un-united and in need of a revival and return to our founding principles we are.

It was a busy week to say the least! While I did not have as much time to write, what I did manage to eke out captured the angst and fragile hope that I feel. Oh to be a skylark (this week’s dictionary.com word of the day) indeed! To rise above the fray with a song on my lips…joy and peace intact!

I cling to hope…

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 31 July 2016

love on the wind
strands of fine-spun gold
promote peace not walls
take care to notice red dawn skies
oh let me be a skylark
fungus among us
danger lurks in the hollows
peace lies in ruins…
deepest dark murmurs pure poetry

~ kat

The Shi Sai, (formerly known as a ReVerse) is a form created by Kat Myrman in April 2016. It is a poem created by taking one line of verse from several poems of an author’s own collection. The shi sai is done as a review of a series or collection of poems and therefore, each line should flow in chronological order of the dates the poems were written (from oldest to new). The lines chosen should be the author’s favorite from each poem. This form works best if the author resists the temptation to read the full new poem before all the verses have been added. (It helps one to resist the impulse to change a line to make it “fit”.

6 Comments | tags: hope, Shi Sai, week in Reverse | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Digital Art & Photos, Essays, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Social Issues, Week in Review

July 29, 2016

Skylark – Friday’s Word of the Day Haiku

By Kat Myrman

skylark

Today’s Dictionary.com word of the day is Skylark. I love, love, love today’s word. The Dictionary.com photo for today only shows the more recent definition of the word. The other definition refers to particular type of bird and I learned something wonderful and new today! I had no idea that skylarks are so named because of their unique quality of singing while flying and hovering high above the ground. Skylark the noun, which refers to this amazing bird, entered the English language in the late 1600’s. The verb version didn’t show up until two centuries later.

I have this recurring dream. In it I am always flying. It feels so real. I am swept up in the thrill of feeling my feet lift off the ground and ascent into the sky, higher and higher. Ironically, in my waking moments I have a debilitating fear of heights. My knees turn to jello and my head spins whenever I find myself in a high open place. But not in my dreams. In my dreams, I swoop and glide and take in the sights below…and I had not really thought about it before, but in my dreams, my heart sings.

When the burdens of life weigh me down I have this dream and am encouraged to rise above. When sorrow hangs like a dark cloud above me, I am encouraged to break through the clouds into the sunlight and beautiful cerulean blue sky, light as a feather, wind in my hair…and to let my heart and soul sing!

In my next life, I think I would like to be a skylark. Or perhaps my dreams are merely hinting at a previous incarnation to remind me that I have already learned to rise abover and to sing while flying!

Happy Friday to you! Have a wonderful weekend. Here’s my haiku!

Skylark Song

Next incarnation
oh let me be a skylark
flying high in song!

kat ~ 29 July 2016

3 Comments | tags: Challenge, Haiku, skylark, word of the day, word of the day haiku challenge | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Haiku, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Spirituality, Word of the Day Haiku

July 27, 2016

you’ve been warned

By Kat Myrman

Franz_Marc-In_the_Rain(Im_Regen)_(1912)

when planning for a lovely stroll,
with dog in tow,
to play some fetch
at river’s edge

take care to notice red dawn skies
-word to the wise-
you might regret
the plans you’ve set

if you ignore the coming storms
when you’ve been warned
you’ll feel the pain…
relentless rain.

kat ~ 27 July 2016

A Minute Poem for Jane Dougherty’s Poetry Challenge based on the painting by Franz Marc entitled “In the Rain”, including the following word prompts: Rain, Red, Relentless, River, Regrets.

19 Comments | tags: Challenge, Jane Dougherty's Poetry Challenge, Minute Poem Form, Poetry, rain, red, regrets, relentless, river | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Life Lessons, Minute Poem, Poetry

July 26, 2016

Lock – Haiku Extremes

By Kat Myrman

This week’s prompt for Haiku Horizon’s weekly challenge is the word Lock. Lock is one of those words that has multiple meanings or applications. I would venture to say, more than most! It can mean all of these things (from Dictionary.com):

As a Noun:

1. a device for securing a door, gate, lid, drawer, or the like in position when closed, consisting of a bolt or system of bolts propelled and withdrawn by a mechanism operated by a key, dial, etc.

2. a contrivance for fastening or securing something.

3. the mechanism that explodes the charge; gunlock; safety (def 4).

4. any device or part for stopping temporarily the motion of a mechanism.

5. an enclosed chamber in a canal, dam, etc., with gates at each end, for raising or lowering vessels from one level to another by admitting or releasing water.

6. an air lock or decompression chamber.

7. complete and unchallenged control; an unbreakable hold.

8. Slang. someone or something certain of success; sure thing: He’s a lock to win the championship.
9.Wrestling. any of various holds, especially a hold secured on the arm,leg, or head:
leg lock.
10. Horology. (in an escapement) the overlap between a tooth of an escape wheel and the surface of the pallet locking it.
11. Metalworking. a projection or recession in the mating face of a forging die.

As a Verb (used with an object):
12.to fasten or secure (a door, window, building, etc.) by the operation of a lock or locks.
13.to shut in a place fastened by a lock or locks, as for security or restraint.
14.to make fast or immovable by or as if by a lock: He locked the steering wheel on his car.
15.to make fast or immovable, as by engaging parts: to lock the wheels of a wagon.
16.to join or unite firmly by interlinking or intertwining: to lock arms.
17.to hold fast in an embrace:She was locked in his arms.
18.to move (a ship) by means of a lock or locks, as in a canal (often followed by through, in, out, down, or up).
19.to furnish with locks, as a canal.
As a Verb (used without object)
20. to become locked: This door locks with a key.
21.to become fastened, fixed, or interlocked : gears that lock into place.
22. to go or pass by means of a lock or locks, as a vessel.
23. to construct locks in waterways.