Category Archives: Social Issues

July 4, 2025

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

By Kat Myrman 
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 ✨✨✨💚💚💚✨✨✨ 

6 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in 2025, Acrostic Poem, Digital Art & Photos, Essays, Life Lessons, nature, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Social Issues, Spirituality, Triolet

July 2, 2025

day 181

By Kat Myrman 
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)

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July 1, 2025

day 180

By Kat Myrman 
soulless

how damaged must a person be
to spew pure hate with vicious glee
to hoard life’s treasures from the least
they lust for power…what kind of beast
denies humanity to them,
the poor, the weak, while they pretend
to care about the common folk
dismantling the words once wrote
by people seeking liberty 
from kings demanding loyalty 
clearly they have sold their souls,
to an emperor who has no clothes
the people see now what they’ve done
but it’s too late, the deed is done
when democracy dies, evil has won

~kat

It’s hard to wrap my brain around what is happening. The country I love is dying. There may be a few attempts at life support, but democracy is no longer valued. A government for the people and by the people where every person is valued and promised human rights and the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. We have become us and them, the haves that want more, and the have-nots who stand to lose everything to feed the beast.  

Today is a very dark day in our country. 

We celebrate Independence Day this weekend. The irony is stunning. 

I am clinging to my commitment to search for glimmers each day. I started this at the beginning of the year precisely because I knew there would be moments like this. A dear friend sent me this mug. It arrived late yesterday and is my glimmer to share with you too. I am going to make some tea in it now. Join me in spirit or even with a cup of your own.

What holds me together is the realization that good still exists in this world. We may be silenced for a season to suffer the cruelty of our leaders, but we are here! There is light to be found in the eyes of those of us who remember compassion, love, and kindness.

Much love, peace, hope and glimmers to you!

~kat ✨✨✨💚💚💚✨✨✨

And one more thing…the turkeys stopped by. Mama hen and chick too! That baby is growing taller, her feathers are filling in and she is a riot, running circles around the hens! Did my heart good to see them thriving. ✨💚✨

6 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in 2025, Digital Art & Photos, Essays, Life Lessons, nature, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Rhyming Couplets, Social Issues

June 30, 2025

day 179

By Kat Myrman

a fungus among us…a photo montage

This group of true mushrooms started showing their green little heads at dawn in my banana tree pot. They progressed from buttons to hooded in just one day! By night they had already toppled over and were returning back into the damp soil. It’s an ancient cycle that has been happening for eons!

Much love, peace and glimmers to you.

~kat ✨✨✨💚💚💚✨✨✨

10 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in 2025, Digital Art & Photos, Essays, Life Lessons, nature, Random Thoughts and Musings, Social Issues, Spirituality

June 29, 2025

night 177 into day 178

By Kat Myrman 
no rest for the weary…

sleep comes easy for the heartless who’ve sold their souls to hate
to those who relish cruelty while hoarding privilege, wealth, and treasure 
while the night hums with the prayers of souls, woke, who cling to hope for the dawn 

evil under cloak of night…

the lawless are positively giddy in the dark halls of power 
as they pull the plug on a dying nation’s life support 
people die everyday…they’ll get over it…we won
and yet…on a final glimmering note:

i watched a squirrel atop a birdfeeder sending bits of seed
to the waiting mouths of landfeeders: deer, turkeys, mourning doves 
even the smallest of creatures are capable of kindness

Even when I find myself exhausted from the troubling direction that the leaders of our country are taking us, the natural world draws me in to give me the assurance that everything is not lost. There is still order on the world. Night and day, the seasons, new life blooming and birthing all around me…and random fascinating acts of kindness from the smallest (my squirrel friend tossing seeds to those waiting below) to the tallest…the trees providing haven and shade on hot summer days. There is balance and a sort of routine to the natural ecosystem. Even nature’s predators are not being hateful when collecting their prey. It is survival…it is the cycle of life.

Humans, given our big brains, could learn a thing or two from the world around us. I try to focus on the things nature is trying to teach me, especially when the humans around me are acting badly. It’s tempting to retaliate, to have the upper hand, to win at all costs and then gloat over my rightness. I’m not always successful. Sometimes I get downright mad!

But at the end of the day those types of victories don’t fill me with happiness or contentment. Acts of kindness, a smile toward a stranger who receives it and smiles back, helping someone without them needing to ask, forgiving those who trample over me in word or action and hoping they might eventually figure out why they’re so angry that they have to hurt others. Hoping they find peace one day…maybe through kindness I can be a light. Those things give me peace…and a purpose, especially in times like this, when it’s easy to feel hopeless.

Much love, peace and glimmers to you…remember to be kind, let that light of yours shine. ✨✨✨💚✨✨✨

~kat

Poetry form: Sijo

A sijo is a traditional Korean poetic form, characterized by its three-line structure. Each line typically contains 14-16 syllables, resulting in a total of 44-46 syllables for the entire poem. The first line  is introduces a theme or situation, the second line develops it, and the third line introduces a twist or unexpected turn, providing the poem’s conclusion. 

5 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in 2025, Digital Art & Photos, Essays, Life Lessons, nature, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Sijo, Social Issues, Spirituality