rain dance

rain dance

to dance in the rain
cool droplets bursting on skin
pools lapping our feet
drawing us deep into the one
we call mother…we call home

come dance in the rain
drenched in heaven, head to toe
blood of stone rising
familiar scent of the earth
calling us…calling us home

dancing in the rain
our feet cool and tingling
letting go at last
like autumn leaves twirling ‘round
ashes, ashes, falling down

~kat

In case you’re wondering…yes I did. I did dance in the rain this morning. Yes, I got drenched. It was glorious! Peace to you this weekend. Praying for peace. 🕊️


i’m that cat lady

i’m that cat lady

i share space with feral cats
who glare through me with wide green eyes
plotting my demise, I’m sure of it
perched up high ready to pounce
when I turn my back, waiting for me
to close my eyes, their invitation to
settle onto my neck, paws strategically
pressed over my mouth and nostrils
purring diabolically, conjuring nightmares
that rouse me awake, gasping for breath

were it not for the fact that I feed them
each day…quality pâté, tasty treats
and kibble
that they unapologetically retch
while begging for more,
i’d most certainly be a goner by now

and yet there are moments when
they brush against my leg, purring sweetly
or roll on their backs inviting me
to give their bellies a rub or two, but
never three, before nipping my hand
a reminder, they didn’t need rescuing,
my penance for lifting them from the wild,
a lifetime of servitude, and knowing my place
silly me for ever thinking
any cat could be domesticated

~kat

Another poem today… taking advantage of some down time. Hope you and yours are doing well!


just beyond the trees

just beyond the trees

i can almost see the neighbors now
their white-washed porch and blue metal roof,
the brown-white marbled coats of their horses
grazing along the perimeter, just beyond
the thinning tree barrier between us
trees still green with life, slowly fading,
tip tops aglow in shades of amber and rust
empty nests teetering like bristly blobs in the wind,
nestled in nooks high above the bustle below
at long last, autumn has settled in for a spell
season of bonfires, apple cider, pumpkin spice, sweaters
season of letting go, of gleaning what we’ve sown
and offering what’s left back to the earth and sky
I can see the neighbors now as the air grows chill
as winter looms close and days grow dark
as the veil grows thinner…thinner still
it’s comforting you know, to remember
that I am not…that we are never truly alone
i see you…i see you

~kat


chronic … for T

chronic 
for T

she spends hours coloring mandalas
in adult coloring books from Amazon,
dozens of them, I’ve lost count over time,
she needs them, she says, they help
to keep her mind from dwelling on the pain…
incessant, excruciating pain
sometimes late at night I hear the sharpener
grinding wood and pencil lead…
grinding, grinding, grinding
and occasionally, deep moans as she shifts position
the sound makes the dogs bark
and the cats scatter to the shadows
I can’t begin to imagine it,
my aching arthritic knees seem trivial
to the monster that consumes this once
brilliant, vibrant, caretaker of others
who now depends on others, on me, for everything
I can’t begin to know when it may become
too much for her to fight this impossible fight
try as I might to ease the burdens of life
I’m powerless to stop the pain…so…
I keep buying coloring books and pencils
and I cook her favorite things,
pork chops, Dutch babies, sweetened coffee cream, Italian ice cups
and I help her complete little tasks and big ones
like getting the band on that citizen’s watch
adjusted to her shrinking wrist
I’m not a watch wearer but she has always been
and it was important to her, I could tell…
little things…are sometimes very big deals
in sickness and in health, I once said
and meant it…til death…
an unwelcome visitor who taunts her daily
as I do my best to hold things together
to try to make things better
in these worst of times…do us part

~kat

Deja Vu

deja vu
we’ve been here before
history
repeating
lessons from the past ignored
this never ends well

~kat

Shadorma is a Spanish 6-line syllabic poem of 3/5/3/3/7/5 syllable lines respectively. Simple as that.