black moon rising
season of the in-between
frosted blossoms withering
trees of verdant green
now softly browning
squirrels root for seed
to winter on
come dark moon, the nights
grow longer
gently rock this world
rest our souls
in deepest peace…
kat ~ 30 October 2016
(Magnetic Poetry Online Nature Kit)
Happy Sunday. Again this week’s Shi Sai is the perfect snapshot of the week that was. More ugly came out of the shadows rearing its snarling oppressive self in the world politic, but an amazing thing happened. People once ensorcelled by the droning spin started to wake up, started to speak up and declare, “it’s not okay,” “words matter” and “decent people don’t talk like this, or act like this.”
Oh there are still some mesmerized by the extravagant display of privileged unfettered power. Some who believe that words don’t matter, who’ve forgotten what it means to be a united people where everyone matters.
But somehow, even though the latest raging rants cut a little deeper, the truth found a way, like healing balm, to expose the ugly for what it is. And that gives me hope.
Have a wonderful week, breathe deeply and press toward the light! ❤️
Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 30 October 2016
how she presses toward the light
Finishing a poem.
always breathe
the sand shifts,
might look you straight in the eye,
it’s impossible
it can break a heart,
so he scanned each face in the crowd…
(She) closed her eyes, breathing deeply, losing herself in the musky aroma of damp earth that filled the air
‘midst the thorns she thrives ascending
like moths to a flame
they were ensorcelled
we choose our poison
dark coffee in a porcelain cup,
but only from dusk to dawn.
~kat
The Shi Sai, (formerly known as a ReVerse) is a new form I came up with during Poetry Month in April 2016. I’ve actually been writing shu sai for years but was inspired to give it a proper name. 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”.
how she presses toward the light
though her feet are rooted deep
how she presses toward the light
past the edge while others sleep
walls cannot contain her here
though her feet are rooted deep
tossed by tempests, numb with fear
resisting every urge to hide
walls cannot contain her here
now she sees the other side
breaks free from the shuttered throng
resisting every urge to hide
proving the naysayers wrong
darkness thwarted in the end
breaks free from the shuttered throng
even roots must stretch and bend
how she presses toward the light
darkness thwarted in the end
how she presses toward the light
kat ~ 23 October 2016
(A Terzanelle)
I am so grateful for today, for this day of rest, for the beautiful blue sky blushed gold by the sun, for the cool snap of autumn in the breeze.
How I wish I could pull blankets up to my chin, stretching my feet to the end of my bed where the sheets are soft and cool and just stay here. I’d like to turn it all off…the cacophony of insults, lies, malice and discontent. The ugly sight of the world imploding all around me. Just for a day.
At least in looking back at the words that managed to spill from my brain I can sense that there is hope. I’m going to hold that thought as I head back into the fray this coming week.
There is still and always hope.
Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse ~ 16 October 2016
I grieve for the leaf who’ll never reach home
(You don’t want to blend completely.)
I suppose the end justifies the means
a little hope is all
I was just thinking.
those who persevere
bien que nous cacher au monde though we hide from the world it’s not mutable we can depend on this truth a handful of us will always believe
as if they could quiet
her beautiful pure spirit,
the treatment involves your heart.~ kat
————————————-
The Shi Sai, (formerly known as a ReVerse) is a new form I came up with during Poetry Month in April 2016. I’ve actually been writing shu sai for years but was inspired to give it a proper name. 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”.
“Just tell me Doc. After all we’ve been through, I can take it.”
“I’m so sorry America. We thought the cancer was in remission, but I’m afraid it is back and it appears to have metastasized.”
“What does that mean? Is there anything we can do?”
“Well America, it’s very serious. I can’t know for certain until we do more tests, but your symptoms of late indicate that the cancer is affecting your brain. Your ability to reason will continue to fade. You will cease to remember lessons from the past. It is very likely that you will begin to hallucinate…to see things things that aren’t there, to believe things that aren’t true. Left untreated, it is quite possible that you may resort to violent outbursts, especially when you feel threatened by others that don’t see what you’re seeing or believe what you’ve come to believe. You might even lash out at those who love you most. You will be overcome by irrational fear causing you to isolate yourself more and more.”
“Oh Doc, is there nothing we can do? We beat this thing once, or at least we thought we did. This time seems so much worse than the last time.’
“Well America, there is one course we can try. It’s experimental and controversial but I can assure you that if we take aggressive action now we might at least save your soul.”
“My soul?”
“Yes America, it has come to that.”
“Well do it Doc. Whatever it takes. What’s next?”
“We must be swift, decisive and focused, but I do believe there is hope. The treatment involves your heart, America. It needs to be opened up completely, softened and allowed to bleed out.”
“That sounds too extreme. Won’t that kill me?”
“No America. It’s the only way to remove the cancer. Do you trust me?”
“And if we don’t do this, how long do I have?”
“Less than a month America. I’m afraid if we don’t treat this aggressively now, you will lose the battle this time.”
“Okay Doc…I need to think about it. I’ll get back to you, okay?”
(America never returned to the clinic. Eventually he lost feeling in half of his body. Just as the doctor had predicted, America started to suffer violent outbursts, shunning anyone who tried to convince him to get help, to see what he was doing to himself. Ultimately, he even rejected those who loved him, growing more fearful and isolated as the end grew near. In the final stages his heart grew harder and harder until it just stopped beating. It was a terrible death. A regrettable, senseless death that could have been avoided. But it was America’s choice ultimately. May he…may we Rest In Peace.)
kat ~ 16 October 2016
like mercury colliding... 