Tag Archives: Rhymed Verse

day 90 ~ Na/GloPoWriMo 2025 off-prompt 4.1

s(h)elf life 

I passed my “best if used by” date
over a half a century ago
exposure to the elements
has taken quite a toll

my skin is leathery and dry
my hair is turning gray
I need bifocals for my eyes
my hearing’s fine…wait, what’d you say?

my plumbing’s gotten leaky
my pipes are filled with gas
I‘ve lost control completely
might toot toot as i walk past

expirations come, no warning
and the end, I’m sure, is near
luck will keep me ‘til the morning
may the fates grant me a few more years

believe me when I tell you
though I’m slowly losing steam
my mind still thinks I’m twenty-two
filled with hope and unspent dreams

~kat

Na/GloPoWriMo 2025 April 1: Well, I’m not sure where that came from based on the prompt. I started looking at musical terms and artist terms and paintings and ended up considering the concept of shelf lives and expiration dates and how they relate to aging in humans. I blame this detour partly on my day job which bothers itself with product lifecycles, expiration dates and the like. I suppose it’s a sad commentary on the reality of my lack of work-life balance. But I digress. 

And…there goes a butterfly…will ya look at that!

Much love, peace, and unlimited, unspoiled glimmers to you!

~kat

Here’s a link to today’s Na/GloPoWriMo prompt, just in case you want to give it a try. 


Day Two


she never was 

behind these insulated walls
I’ve everything I need, and all
manner of life’s pleasantries
words spinning into poetry
books to read, trees for shade
an office where I work for pay
running water, air and heat
pillows, a soft place to sleep
the perfect view of dawn and dusk
I needn’t leave, but if I must
I make my ventures short and sweet
to gather mostly food to eat
the great pandemic sent me home
to work remotely on my own
this eremition’s grown on me
when time slips and I cease to be
will anyone remember me
no matter, i am quite content
to simply be, it’s time well spent
behind these insulated walls
I’ve everything I need, and all

~kat

Today’s “glimmer” is the joy of learning a new word and applying it in verse! 

Eremition (eh-ruh-MIH-shun)
(n.) The act of gradually fading from the lives of others, not out of malice but a desire for solitude or renewal.

Example: Over the years, his eremition went unnoticed, until one day he was simply gone.

I saw this word in my social media feed. A new word to me. What a thrill it was to happen upon it. I found resonance with its meaning. Since migrating from a brick and mortar cubicle to work from home during the pandemic, I have enjoyed the solitary aspect of working remotely. I don’t miss the petty office politics, the gossip, the backbiting, the time sucking commute. I’m more productive. Truly. Who knew that making a living could actually support having a life?

the graces

the graces

time and once upon ago
Euphrosyne’s amber tresses flowed
on wisps of autumn’s frosted breath

dear Aglaia, the tall and slim
in elegance, slow danced with wind
cloud-kissed, her raiment golden flecked

and Thalia, sweet Thalia blushed bright
her supple shallow roots held tight
as fledglings flitted from their summer nests

yes time and once upon ago
from seed to sprout these beauties showed
resilience when the tempests raged
they met each season shift with grace
flowered, fruited, shed their seed
the most magnificent of trees
and lovely still, though worn with age
if they could speak what might they say?

embrace each season of this life
dwell on the good, let go the strife
time steals away before you know
so learn to bend when fierce winds blow
let your roots spread deep and wide
reach to heaven’s North Star guide
then soft surrender to the loam
leave not a trace, but grace, come home

~kat

late summer encounter

late summer encounter

I spied a lovely doe today
she held my gaze, then leapt away
into the brush deep in the hollow
I fought the urge to rush and follow
to think I’m kind would not be safe
we humans are a cruel race
I kept my distance glad to see
her intuition made her flee
run free sweet forest sprite run free
it’s best to fear the likes of me
as hunters plan their autumn sacks
be swift, stay safe, and don’t look back

~kat


NaPoWriMo 2024 – Day 4 – Lemmings

Does this fellow’s face looking disturbingly familiar? ,,, nah! SMH! 🤣
The Suicide Marches of Lemmings

every four years or so, or eight
lemmings emerge and fall in line
entranced, though certain death awaits
undeterred, they lose their minds

resistant to all reasoning
when truth is plain, as plain as day
pressing on, it’s frightening
to watch them sell their souls this way

and as each one succumbs to lies
their numbers dwindle as they go
over the edge, shutting their eyes
and ears to what onlookers know

how tragic is the lemmings’ fate
as if they never had a choice
deceived, thinking things could be great
they drank the koolaid, lost their voice

~kat

NaPoWriMo 2024 – Day 4 Challenge: write a poem in which you take your title or some language/ideas from The Strangest Things in the World. First published in 1958, the book gives shortish descriptions of odd natural phenomena, and is notable for both its author’s turn of phrase and intermittently dubious facts. Perhaps you will be inspired by the “The Self-Perpetuating Sponge” or “The World’s Biggest Sneeze.” Or maybe the quirky descriptions of luminous plants, monstrous bears, or the language of ravens will give you inspiration.

My inspiration:

The Suicide Marches of Lemmings