Tag Archives: Poetry

November 12, 2017

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 12 November 2017

By Kat Myrman

With every sensational soundbite, those who are paying too close attention (I am all to easily sucked in…guilty as charged) are reeling from the downward spiral of our uncivil civilization. I happen to have an American front row seat, but from your comments; you my friends across the pond, and from the north, south and east, this current state of unrest seems to be global. With nuclear options being flexed and monsters being exposed, I have even heard the “A” word mumbled under pundits baited breaths. “A” for apocalypse…oh my!

But I’m not buying it. And, well, if I’m wrong….that’s okay. I can deal with being wrong especially since there won’t be anyone around to say “I told you so…” Why am I not buying it? Not yet? There is still enough good in the world to hold this implosion at bay. Patriarchy is going down. Hate is being exposed for the ugly blight that it is. And we are starting to believe the women…and the innocents when they point at the emperor declaring that he is buck naked. He’s always been naked. I know it’s a shock, but that’s how truth rolls.

At any rate, the bad guys will still try to distract us from the truth, blame the victims, call monsters heroes. I don’t expect them to go down without a fight. But they are clearly desperate. That’s a good sign.

I know you’re weary. But we’re in the final stretch it seems to me. The apocalypse may be coming, but for a chosen few. I expect to be standing when the smoke settles.

Peace, truth, love…resist! ❤️

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 12 November 2017

she lights up a room / she’s a sorceress cackling, tock-tick-tick-tock-<
ainful<
..sorry to interrupt your eternal bliss<
ool nor-eastern zephyr whispers<
aging from coal soot nostrils<
rumbling to dust<
he burning stench of liquid iron, oozing<
hoose me, choose me<
..haven for hoards of crude middling beasties<
irtue is disdained<
oo beautiful to bear<
o not lose heart<
hey’re going down<
eartless fools who<
ish that you were here instead<
..brief glimmers of recognition

~kat

A shi sai or ReVerse poem 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 shi sai features the words of one writer, providing a glimpse into their thoughts over time. I use it as a review of the previous week.

6 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Digital Art & Photos, Essays, Life Lessons, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Shi Sai, Social Issues, Spirituality, Week in Review

November 12, 2017

Through the Breach of Tar and Pebbles

By Kat Myrman

‘He made the world to be a grassy road

Before her wandering feet.’ -W.B. Yeats

Through the Breach of Tar and Pebbles

iron spires wrapped in nettles
splintery oak and knobby pine
iron spires wrapped in nettles

facades eroding, lost to time
penetrating every crevice
splintery oak and knobby pine

tendrils snaking ‘round a trellis
ghosted spaces, gently greening
penetrating every crevice

vibrant once again and teeming
blooms emerge and bumbles fly
ghosted spaces, gently greening

traces of human touch, disguised
Gaia’s voice calls forth the living
blooms emerge and bumbles fly

bursting forth from clay forgiving
iron spires wrapped in nettles
Gaia’s voice calls forth the living
iron spires wrapped in nettles

~kat

A Terzanelle for Jane Dougherty’s A Month With Yeats -Day Twelve Poetry Challenge inspired by the verse above from Yeats’ poem, ‘The Rose of the World’.

15 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Digital Art & Photos, nature, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Terzanelle

November 11, 2017

Tea for One

By Kat Myrman

‘Where time is drowned in odour-laden winds

And Druid moons, and murmuring of boughs,’ – W.B. Yeats

Tea for One

misty streams of sweetened jasmine
encircling my sleepy head
echoes of our conversations
misty streams of sweetened jasmine
memory’s a poor companion
i wish that you were here instead
misty streams of sweetened jasmine
encircling my sleepy head

~kat

A triolet for Jane Dougherty’s A Month with Yeats – Day Eleven inspired by the excerpt above from ‘The Harp of Aengus’ by W.B. Yeats.

This verse brought to mind the ways that certain scents can rouse memories. I have a dear friend who lives far away, but everytime I have a cup of jasmine tea, a favorite we shared, I think of her. in thise moments, time stands still and I am transported by memories of the many conversations❤️ we had over a cup of tea. ❤️

12 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Random Thoughts and Musings

November 11, 2017

Magnetic Poetry Saturday

By Kat Myrman

how broken must
a heart be to
open fire on babies…
but more dark are the
heartless fools who
look away and do
nothing

the fiddler’s
playing a
lively lick
driving suits
delirious, for soon
they’re going down

do not lose heart
my friend, though
tiny men use power
as if they are gods…
a thousand better angels
are fighting for truth and
honor in the wings

too beautiful to bear,
the forest falling
gently, frosted breezes
murmuring, as leaves
cover quiet paths in
vivid shades of brown

~kat

Magnetic Poetry Online

6 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Magnetic Poetry, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings

November 10, 2017

Arete – Friday’s Word of the Day

By Kat Myrman

Today’s word of the day at Dictionary.com is arete, a noun that means the aggregate of qualities, such as valor and virtue, making up good character.

It is Greek in Origin as Dictionary.com summarizes:

It is hard to imagine a more Greek word than aretḗ “excellence.” The excellence is of all kinds: military (bravery and prowess), sports (footracing), but also intelligence, public speaking, and good character. Aretḗ applies to the gods and women as well as to warriors and heroes: Penelope in the Odyssey (book 18, line 251) complains that “The immortals destroyed all excellence of mine, in beauty and stature, when the Argives sailed for Troy, and with them my husband Odysseus.” Aretḗ also applies to land (“productive”) and domestic animals (horses, dogs). Socrates pursues aretḗ “virtue, excellence” even if it costs him his life. In the Septuagint and New Testament, aretḗ also means “rewards of excellence, distinction,” as also in classical Greek. Arete entered English in the 16th century.

Here’s a nice bit of info to round out the application of this word. According to Greekmythology.wikia.com:

Arete was the goddess or daimona of virtue, excellence, goodness and valour. She was depicted as a fair woman of high bearing, dressed in white. Her opposite number was the daimon Kakia, lady of vice.  The best known story of Arete is when Arete and Kakia approached Heracles and offered him a life of valour or a life of luxury.  Based on his numerous adventures it is clear that he chose the life of valour.

Arete is the theme Aristotle’s philosophical virtue theory. You can read more about it HERE. Basically Aristotle believed: Arete roughly means “moral virtue”. It refers to an innate “Excellence” or “Essence” in all things, and the striving toward that potential or purpose.

Incidentally, for obvious reason, businesses love to use arete or symbols of arete in their titles and logos. If you google arete, you find a long list of companies who advertise their excellence in this way.

Well, before I get lost in my thoughts as I consider the arete of the various aspects of my life…this could take some time. I better give you a Haiku.

Go forth the, and prosper. Be the best you can be. Strive for arete!

when arete is scorned
by ignominious fools
virtue is disdained

~kat

6 Comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Essays, Haiku, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Word of the Day Haiku