Tag Archives: stanza

August 16, 2018

Autumn – Stanza 16

By Kat Myrman

legend has it, have you heard, so they say…
from inconceivable to the absurd, tales
of the notorious evolve from voice to page
fantastical, believe it or nots, boring history
rewritten, o’er and again, ne’er to be forgot

~kat

For Jane Dougherty’s August Stanza Challenge.

Many a tale has been spun regarding Sigurd. Most notable and corroborated by several traditions is the story of how he killed a dragon. Truly the stuff of legend, because, of course, one must believe that dragons actually existed to give it any weight. There are love triangles, a jilted lover Brünhild who called for his murder and then asks to be burned with him on his burial pyre. Honestly, I read about it all with a grain of salt. According to history, they did manage to have a daughter, Aslaug, who married Ragnor Lodbrok, another legendary figure…and down the line the links in the chain eventually led to my grandfather, my mother and me. But Dragons? You’ll be relieved to know I haven’t found a reference to unicorns in my tree…yet! 🤣

9 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Digital Art & Photos, Essays, free verse, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings

August 13, 2018

Autumn – Stanza 13

By Kat Myrman

kin can be elusive, notorious in fact with
legacies to be recalled by generations hence
more curious than how they lived, accounts
of how they died, some of causes natural
while others met the sword midst battle cries

~kat

For Jane Dougherty’s Daily Stanza Challenge.

I have found that records of how my ancestors died can be an interesting window into the times that they lived. I discovered the obituary for my 3rd Great Grandfather, Henry Orwick. Henry was born on the 2nd of July 1833 in Virginia. He married my 3rd Great Grandmother, Malinda C. Martin, in Indiana on 10 May 1855 and from census records it appears that they made their home in Indiana, where they lived for the rest of their lives.  Henry served in the Union Army, when he was 30 years old, in the 144th Regiment, Indiana Infantry. The 1864 United States Census records that Henry was a Hog Farmer, having slaughtered in excess of 100 lbs of the beasts that year.  Henry and Malinda had 5 or six children. My great great grandmother, Amanda was born in 1874. But it was Henry’s death that caused quite a stir. Here is the excerpt of his obituary,  found by a distant cousin (I assume) at the Cordyn, Indiana Library. It may actually be the most interesting thing about this common man who I call great, great, great…

Sudden Death of Henry Orwick

Henry Orwick, of Leavenworth, died suddenly at that place last Monday. He had been deputed to serve attachment papers against a steamboat tying at that place, and while holding the line attached to the boat, he was seen to throw up his hands and fall backward.  It was, at first thought he had been shot, but it was afterward learned that he had died of heart failure.

 

 

8 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Digital Art & Photos, Essays, free verse, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings

August 12, 2018

August – Stanza 12

By Kat Myrman

tree strong, sure, with roots meandering deep
elusive broken chains, some stories silenced,
ever undisturbed, to sleep between the lines
of history’s pages, glimmers only glimpsed
by those remembering, distant reminiscing kin

~kat

For Jane Dougherty’s August Stanza Challenge.

I had a thrilling find on my father’s side of the family tree this past week! A photo posted on ancestry by someone who is likely a distant cousin of mine, of my great, great grandparents August Vilhelm Johansson, his wife, Charlotta Sofia and their children take before the family emigrated to America from Sweden in 1903. I’m guessing the young girl leaning against her mother’s knee is my great grandmother, Hanna Bernhardina Johnson (surname obviously Americanized). Along with the photo I was also able to discover another link in the root of this side of my tree: the names of Charlotta’s parents, my great, great, great grandparents, Carl Gustaf Giesche and Helena Sophia, née: Martensdr. That is where the story ends for now…to be continued. 😊

9 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Digital Art & Photos, Essays, free verse, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings

August 8, 2018

Autumn – Stanza 7

By Kat Myrman

A day late. Had it ready to go last evening…life…and then i fell asleep before posting it. I owe you one more Stanza for today 😊

penned in history’s tomes the story of a clan
who’s roots trace back to greatness, to the loins
of Charlemagne; a certain noble lineage
Trowbridge, one such name, of Thomas and
Elizabeth, great grands from whence I came

~kat

For Jane Dougherty’s August Stanza Challenge.

It has been said that many people can trace their roots to Charlemagne. When one considers that families back in the day had a dozen or more children, generation to generation, it is not hard to believe that his progeny are legion. But I was certainly surprised to find my own family line weaved into that infamous tapestry. My 12th great grands, are Thomas Trowbridge born in 1598, who was the first Trowbridge to cross the Atlantic to America, along with his wife Elizabeth, nee Marshall. I am a descendant of their son James and all the begats thereafter.

I was thinking…I might even be related to some of you. It’s possible you know. From the beginning of humankind to now, Adam and Eve aside, I believe we are all kin. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all get along? 😉

29 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Digital Art & Photos, free verse, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings

August 6, 2018

August – Stanza 6

By Kat Myrman

shore along the Biscay Bay in olde Aquitaine,
came first of many troubadours, Guillaume
was his name, a roving love philanderer
crusader, duke and count but his true call,
his legacy, the poems and songs he penned

~kat

For Jane Dougherty’s August Stanza Challenge.

Here’s a poem penned by my 27th Great Grandfather, Guillaume IX deTroubador DeAquitaine (1071 – 1127)

For the Sweetness of Springtime

For the sweetness of springtime,
the woods leaf and the birds
sing, each in its own language,
according to the swing of the new song:
it is therefore right that one tends towards
what he desires most.

From the place I like and love
comes neither messenger nor missive;
because of this, I neither sleep nor laugh;
and I don’t dare come forward
until I know with certitude
whether things stand as I want them to.

Our love works
just as the hawthorn twig
which stands shaking on the tree
in the night, in the rain and in the frost
until the morning after, when the sun stretches
on the green leaf and on the branches.

I still remember a morning
when we ended a fight
and when she gave such an important gift,
her love and her ring:
god let me live long enough
to put my hands under her cape.

I don’t worry that a strange language
would part me from my Good Neighbour,
because I know the wandering ways of words:
they begin as idle chat:
some people brag about love matters,
we have the matter in hand.

And in case you think I’m pulling your leg…here’s the begats:

Relationship between Guillaume IX deTroubador DeAquitaine & Kathleen Myrman.

Guillaume IX deTroubador DeAquitaine (1071 – 1127) – 27th great-grandfather

William Duke of Aquitaine En Normandy, 8th Count of Poitou X (1099 – 1137) Son of Guillaume IX deTroubador DeAquitaine

Eleanor Duchess Of Aquataine (1122 – 1204) Daughter of William Duke of Aquitaine En Normandy, 8th Count of Poitou X

Joan Plantagenet (1165 – 1199) Daughter of Eleanor Duchess Of Aquataine

Joan De Kinewarton (1189 – 1215) Daughter of Joan Plantagenet

Richard DeBruley (1211 – 1250) Son of Joan De Kinewarton

Henry De Bruley (1243 – 1305) Son of Richard DeBruley

William DeBruley (1270 – 1359) Son of Henry De Bruley

Alice Bruley (1326 – 1390) Daughter of William DeBruley

(Sir) Guy de La Spine Baron of Coughton (1350 – 1427) Son of Alice Bruley

Agnes Andrew ( – 1466) Daughter of (Sir) Guy de La Spine Baron of Coughton

Lady Cecilia Agnes Tansley (1460 – 1515) Daughter of Agnes Andrew

William Winslow (1490 – 1543) Son of Lady Cecilia Agnes Tansley

Kenelm Winslow (1534 – 1607) Son of William Winslow

Edward Winslow (1560 – 1631) Son of Kenelm Winslow

JOHN Winslow (1597 – 1674) Son of Edward Winslow

Susanna Winslow (1630 – 1685) Daughter of JOHN Winslow

Mercy Latham (1650 – 1707) Daughter of Susanna Winslow

Mary Harris (1690 – 1727) Daughter of Mercy Latham

Sarah Packard (1714 – 1792) Daughter of Mary Harris

Judith Shaw (1749 – 1776) Daughter of Sarah Packard

Isaac Edson (1770 – 1844) Son of Judith Shaw

Hannah Edson (1798 – 1873) Daughter of Isaac Edson

Ambrose Tower (1825 – 1907) Son of Hannah Edson

Mary H. Tower (1836 – 1883) Daughter of Ambrose Tower

John Henry Collins (1868 – ) Son of Mary H. Tower

Sylvia Collins (1892 – 1972) Daughter of John Henry Collins

William Collins Cunningham (1909 – 1967) Son of Sylvia Collins

Dorothy Ellen Cunningham (1933 – 2006) Daughter of William Collins Cunningham

Kathleen Myrman (that’s me! 😊) You are the daughter of Dorothy Ellen Cunningham

21 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Digital Art & Photos, free verse, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings