Category Archives: Social Issues

November 20, 2015

Haiku Penurious – Friday’s Word of the Day Haiku

By Kat Myrman

penurious

What a tricky little word, “penurious”…today’s Dictionary.com Word of the Day. On one hand it is a descriptor for miserly, stingy, parsimonious types…and on the other hand, it represents those who are poor, destitute, indigent, lacking in means and resources. A dilemma. But not impossible to incorporate into a single Haiku.  Especially if one employs a bit of thesaurus slight of word.

(If you are new here, I challenge myself every Friday to take Dictionary.com’s word of the day and use it in a Haiku – a three line poem with 5 syllables on line 1 & 3 and 7 syllables on line).

And so, here is my attempt at capturing the dual nature of this rather timely word…I give you…

Haiku Penurious…

Penurious souls
Seek haven from stingy brutes,
Misers with no soul.

Kat – 20 November 2015

7 Comments   |  tags: | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Haiku, Random Thoughts and Musings, Social Issues

November 19, 2015

Fish Stick Jesus

By Kat Myrman

He was sighted on a fish stick,
on a pancake and grilled cheese,
Some say it was a miracle
so the faithful flocked to see.

They found him in his glory
on a toasted slice of naan
he gazed from ripe banana peels
and from unrinsed fry pans.

I know you won’t believe it
but they saw him in the clouds
as if coming for his chosen
from amongst the gathering crowds.

Ever watchful for their savior
leaving no stained rock unturned
the hopeful ever seeking
eager for his grand return.

So He came to them in person
wide-eyed, lost, without a home
in the hopes that they would know him
welcome him in, as their own.

But they ne’er saw him coming
turned away and closed their ears
for he looked too much like “others”
that the righteous ones all feared.

“We’ve just enough, we’ve none to spare,
don’t bother us,” they said,
and hovered round their idols
of his images instead.

When end of days for each one came
they waited at the gate
to give account of their life’s deeds
and learn about their fate.

“We saw you everywhere,” they said,
“and gave you proper due…
enshrined your image high and low
we stayed forever true!”

mideast-lebanon-syria-food-refugees

To their surprise the Master then
did shake his head and say,
“I only came to see you once
twas then you turned away.”

kat – 19 November 2015

11 Comments | posted in Humor, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Social Issues, Spirituality

November 18, 2015

A Call for Revival

By Kat Myrman
syria-children_2402338b

Photo: AP Photo/Khalil Hamra

Perhaps we need to have a revival.
Not the hell-fire brimstone, carnival tent,
come to the altar “just as I am,” to be saved kind.
The unsaved don’t need saving…by us.
No…we need a revival of the “Christ”
in those who claim to follow Him.
We need to regain our faith…
having let fear reign
for far too long in our hearts.
We need to see Jesus in the Other
rather than isolate ourselves more and more
behind walls of self-righteousness.
We need to be saved from ourselves
and the religion that we have created
in our own image.
We need to turn away
from deceptive “saviors” and idols,
devils who promise us the world
while hoarding power for themselves.
We were not called to faith
to have the world conform to us,
to accommodate us, to justify our desires.
We were called to serve and to love.
We are called to serve.
We are called to Love.

~kat ~ 18 November 2015

4 Comments   |  tags: , | posted in Random Thoughts and Musings, Social Issues, Spirituality

November 14, 2015

Sunday’s Week in Review – 15 November 2015

By Kat Myrman

Photo Credit: kat 2015

This week roared in like a lion as cooler blustery winds ushered in the last days of Autumn. The kitchen called for a batch of vegan chili while steamy teapots sputtered and hissed. With gilded gold paper cranes dangling, we honored those who served and remembered those lost, while petty people argued about red cups. This week of happy reunions and ghost sightings we never suspected the tragic turn that this 13th Friday of November held for a beloved nation…for all of us…as the last leaves of summer were plucked from tree limbs. So many words…so many emotions…this is the week that was as I reflect on it one last time in verse…

Sunday Week in Review – 15 November 2015

Fragile limbs exposed await
Rebirth in the Spring.
Weath’ring every storm.
but I am delighted to report that I have a keeper here.
To sputter and hiss,
Like a whistling pot
“Just blowing off steam…”
ambient lamp light glows warm
I hardly noticed
like moth to flame, besotted.
Healing dreams come true
golden delicious butter
hoarding lies, like gold.
The hopes, fears and dreams we shared back before life got complicated.
But there they are!
Starbucks Cups…REALLY?
a nation solemnly declares
Suffer(s) no critics
with all eyes on her now
For the people of Paris…
I watch you cling
to the last leaves of
summer
rising from the depths
Forgive him, she did…for herself.

~ kat 15 November 2015

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 clean the slate…reflect, and ready myself for the new week. 

7 Comments | posted in Digital Art & Photos, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Social Issues, Week in Review

November 11, 2015

Starbucks Cups…REALLY?

By Kat Myrman

I don’t often do commentary on politics, religion or fashion (threw this last one in here to see if you were paying attention), but when I do, I like to look a the absurdity of the issues we seem to lose our minds over.  This week…it’s coffee cups. Next week…hide the babies and pull down the shade, it could be something as life-changing as placemats! At any rate, because so many people seem to be so worked up about this, I felt compelled to bring a bit humor into the discussion. I’m sure some folks may not find it humorous. Oh well, I did. So free speech and all, here is my Starbucks Meme. Happy Wednesday.

Cups by Starbucks...Statement by Yours Truly...kat 2015

Cups by Starbucks…Statement by Yours Truly…kat 2015

23 Comments | posted in Humor, Random Thoughts and Musings, Social Issues