Tag Archives: essay

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 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.


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

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 ✨✨✨💚💚💚✨✨✨