day 196

as the crow 

we have good neighbors here…we rarely see each other, but
if we need them or they us, we’ve an open border policy
where fences are for leaning while talking about life and the weather

~kat

Living in the hills is a breath of fresh air (literally). Unlike our urban friends whose homes are packed tightly into neighborhoods, with walls and windows mere feet apart, artificially lit by humming street lamps, the scent of exhaust fumes and hot rubber settle in the air, the rural space I call home are green, our neighbors, acres away, rarely seen but occasionally heard on crisp quiet nights when sounds carry in the mist…blips of muffled conversation, laughter, the sound of tires crunching gravel driveways.

It it understood, that we look out for one another. Not in the creepy, peer through shades, nosy neighbor way, filling one’s head with juicy gossip to share at the quick stop. I may only see my neighbors these days a few times a year, but we are community.

Isn’t that what we all want after all? A place to call home, to live out our pursuit of liberty and happiness in peace. Somewhere in this devolution of our humanity we’ve lost our way. It’s ironic to me that living so far from civilization makes me feel less alone than I ever felt in the city. Here where scarce neighbors are neighborly and kindness is an unspoken code.

much love, peace, and glimmers of community to you!

~kat ✨✨✨💚💚💚✨✨✨


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. 


day 195

the fog

when you wake up in a cloud, a pea-soupy shroud, thinking out loud…
it’s easy to dismiss the day, bury your head, grab more sleep
but the clock ticks away, there are bills to pay, promises to keep

~kat

Sometimes a glimmer can be bittersweet. Today I mourn the removal of the ash tree that first greeted us when we moved to the mountains nearly 5 years ago. It was clear she was on her last legs. Each spring her blooms and leaf sprouts became less and less. This year it was time for her to move on. But not before leaving me with a heart shaped burrow into her trunk. I have no idea how the layers of bark wore away so perfectly. Whether it was a creative insect or a bird that burrowed this simple message. But I like to think she knew how much I loved her… of course I told her so. (Don’t you talk to your trees? If not, you should…and give them a hug if you’re so inclined.)

A nice man and his son happened by looking for work. He’s a tree trimmer by trade and offered his services for a number of trees on our property. He was hungry, he said, and needed the work. He pleaded in broken English (obviously not his native language). After quoting us a very fair price, we hired this man and his son to help us put my heart tree to rest. They worked meticulously, moved the timber to the edge of the woods and cleaned up the debris. We parted ways with a promise to hire him in the future to trim other trees in need of TLC.

The side yard where the tree once stood looks barren now. Ironic how the removal of a barren tree can make an area look more barren. I plan to plant a few trees in its stead. A magnolia, dogwood, or maybe a weeping cherry tree. Ash trees do not do well in this area.

The crows are most upset by her removal. She was their favorite perch. We had many conversations, me on my back porch and them, high above surveying their peanut station, letting me know when it was running low. They gave me quite a talking to yesterday evening from the nearby hickory trees. I hope they forgive me.

Things change…life goes on and the timber of this great old tree will return to the earth becoming shelter for small critters, and food for fungus, lichen, moss and insects. Even in death we, like this old tree have the potential to leave glimmers behind.

Much love, peace , and bittersweet glimmers to you!

~kat ✨✨✨💚💚💚✨✨✨


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. 


day 194

Storm on Bramlett Mountain ~ kat July 2025
Gaia and the storm

cool
gray
painted clouds
illume her greenness
tranquility amidst the storm

~kat

It is said that the color green symbolizes a myriad of lovely attributes. Among them, tranquility caught my attention. I have noticed when a storm is looming the darkening gray sky flips a switch on the earth below, and every shade of green glows greener. Even in the afterglow of a storm the earth takes on a brilliant tone of green. 

Tranquility in the midst of a storm. It feels like mother nature is nudging me toward another lesson that I can emulate in my own life. When the storms of life come, if I remember my roots, who I am, and allow the light within to sustain me, I can weather anything. I came here to live life to the fullest. Anything less is like thunder with no rain during a heatwave. 

Much love, peace, and glimmers of you…yes you. 

~kat ✨✨✨💚💚💚✨✨✨


Fibonacci poetry was founded by Gregory K. Pincus last year as a 6-line poem that follows the Fibonacci sequence for syllable count per line.

For the 6-line poem that means:

  • 1 syllable for first line
  • 1 syllable for second line
  • 2 syllables for third
  • 3 syllables for fourth
  • 5 syllables for fifth
  • 8 syllables for sixth

day 193

lifelong strangers

tell
me
something
anything
that might convince me
you have a soul…I don’t know you

~kat

One day I hope those who voted for what is happening in this country see the truth. Until then, I grieve for the people they were. I grieve for the people who are suffering. I grieve for what our nation could have been if not for a madman at the top with an army of cruel followers intent on destroying all that is true and good and honorable.


I am so grateful for the beauty that surrounds me. For life emerging all around. For glimmers that give me hope that there is still goodness in the world. Today’s reminder came in the form of a tiny sprouting banana tree leaf. In one day’s time it grew from a nib to a sprout.

Much love, peace, and glimmers to you!

~kat ✨✨✨💚💚💚✨✨✨


Fibonacci poetry was founded by Gregory K. Pincus last year as a 6-line poem that follows the Fibonacci sequence for syllable count per line.

For the 6-line poem that means:

  • 1 syllable for first line
  • 1 syllable for second line
  • 2 syllables for third
  • 3 syllables for fourth
  • 5 syllables for fifth
  • 8 syllables for sixth


day 192 – ReVerse Sunday, 13 July 2025

ReVerse Sunday, 13 July 2025

there is a whisper of light
survival is life
just a glimmer…

ignorance,
I won’t confuse you
is hard to believe
would they care?
lunacy ensues


sunlight shimmering through trees
when it’s our time we’ll fight to stay


~kat

I love today’s ReVerse poem! It perfectly encapsulates the past week that vividly reminded me how fragile and temporary this little life of ours is. So many incidents of loss in the midst of indescribable beauty and resilience was the theme of the week. The highs and the lows. The rollercoaster that is life where we are often holding on for dear life, trying not to lose our hats or our heads as the wind (and water) sweeps through us. Moments of quiet, of peace, of life going on, with barely enough time to look back, reminding me that the past and not even my assumptions about the future are as important as the present moment. The right here, right now, and the urgency of needing to breathe deeply as this moment settles my soul. 

That was last week. Before I wish you well in the coming week, I invite you to pause with me for a moment. Take a deep breath…settle into your skin and feel your heart filling…and exhale slowly. The coming week is inevitable, but this moment is everything. 

Much love, peace, and glimmers to you. 

~kat ✨✨✨💚💚💚✨✨✨


Today’s glimmer…a photo of an African Violet plant I adopted yesterday. A bit of water and feeding and it has nearly doubled in size overnight. Isn’t it amazing what a little loving tenderness and care can do! ✨💚✨


A ReVerse poem (a practice I started many years ago) is a summary poem with a single line lifted from each entry of a collection of work over a particular timeframe and re-penned in chronological order as a new poem. Unlike a collaborative poem, the ReVerse features the words of one writer, providing a glimpse into their thoughts over time. I use it here as a review of the past week.