Tag Archives: week in Reverse

May 14, 2017

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 14 May 2017

By Kat Myrman

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It is Mother’s Day in many parts of the world. If you are a mother, I wish you a wonderful day. You deserve to be loved and honored. If you are missing your mother I wish you warm memories, healing, and grace. And if you are a child or mother whose relationship is fractured, I wish you hope and reconciliation.

Life is complicated isn’t it? So complicated and so fleeting. How many minutes, how many hours do we spend each day worrying, working to survive, taking up space, wasting time? How many breaths do we consciously take…how many moments do we savor?

I am woefully caught up in the whirlwind of life’s distractions. I spend most of my days in a an oblivious, vapid haze. My existence is a breathless blur. Each day is like a bulbous speck of mercury colliding into the blob of previously squandered days. But it doesn’t have to be.

Being present is hard. Sometimes it’s painful. But it is also what frees us from the blur. A single moment of mindfulness can open the door to wonder, gratitude, peace, and healing. It is balm for our fading souls.

Of course, when I get to thinking about all this I always resolve to do better, to be better at being present in the moment. I’ve been through this head-talk enough times to know that even my intent is a fleeting wisp of hot air. But every now and again a moment catches me unaware and I am captivated. Another memory blooms from the sludge.

I know I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating. As for myself, I need reminding…

Breathe in deeply, slowly; savor the moment. Smile at your incredible fortune to be alive right here, right now. Exhale even more slowly. Let go. You are magnificent. You are a miracle. You are living proof of grace. This moment is everything.

And here’s the thing. There is nothing stopping you from having another moment and another. So go ahead. The cares of the world can wait. You know you want to…breathe…

Love and Peace to you…

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 14 May 2017

dawn rustles beneath
when the heat is on
some find comfort in it’s warmth
fleeting as a blink
but dreams die hard…
…and i smile though my heart is sad
needing no imprimatur
draw me like one of your French dogs
don’t ask me why.

~kat

5 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Essays, Life Lessons, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Shi Sai, Social Issues, Spirituality, Week in Review

May 7, 2017

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 6 May 2017

By Kat Myrman


It’s the first weekend in May after a busy week on the world front. Sometimes I wish I could live each day blissfully oblivious to current events; wrapped up in friends, family and fun stuff. You know, the everyday normal that is possible because you know you have elected good, decent people to be in charge of managing the workings of our government, and the details that make our society civil.

Occasionally I do have weeks where I can do that. Where no one has gone over the edge, taking innocent people with them, where my job is secure, where everyone close to me is happy and healthy, no drama, where I actually manage to get some sleep at night.

This was not one of those weeks. I wish I didn’t care, but I do. The people who voted for this are likely not paying attention. Their engagement ended the minute they cast their vote. But for those of us who feel compelled to be involved and part of the process, who take democracy and “we the people” seriously, this was not a good week.

In times like this I need to remind myself that we, the collective we, have survived other weeks like this; darker times than what we are witnessing today. But even if I post happy pictures, flowers or kittens on social media, even if I smile and wave at the neighbors, even if I laugh and engage in happy conversations, never crossing over into anything deeper than the weather, my mind is burdened with truth and reality’s heavy presence and I know that I am lying when I say, “I’m fine.

I’m not fine. Things are not fine. But no one wants to hear that. So I post pictures of flowers and kittens and smiley faces.

Have a great week. Not lying. I really hope you do.

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 6 May 2017

forget the pain | and hopefully,forgive ourselves
it’s the magic of poetry
one moment, she’s warm and bright
Making all that racket, crapping everywhere!
the elusive missing link,
verdant roots planted in soil
a beautiful sunset spoilt
embrace with your heart
dreams of girls aching

~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.

7 Comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Essays, Life Lessons, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Shi Sai, Social Issues, Spirituality, Week in Review

April 30, 2017

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 30 April 2017

By Kat Myrman


It’s been another interesting week. They’re all interesting in their own way, don’t you think? That’s what is so great about living and life. Stuff happens. We get distracted and busy and sidelined but the clock keeps ticking. Each moment gone in a moment never to return and we barely notice their passing. How sad is that?

Moments. What does one make of them if one even notices them at all? What makes them so special? You don’t have to answer. I’m just thinking out loud. (Or writing it out, as it were).

What I do know about moments is that when I am able to notice one, I breathe a little deeper, I often smile to myself, and I am overcome with a sense of wonder. It’s like the feeling you get when you witness a magic trick and all you can say (or think) is “Wow”. And then it’s gone. Just like that. Oh, there is another moment in the wings ready to be; ready to dazzle you, but it is not the same. Nothing compares to the moment you just had a moment with.

I’ve had a few of those kinds of moments this week. I’m having one right now, now that I think about it. Like fireflies in a jar, they pulse pale yellow-green and eventually fade. Fireflies aren’t meant to live in jars any more than moments are meant to be saved from dying. But that’s the beauty of it…and the wonder.

So savor the moment when you can. Let it warm you, inspire you, then set it free. There will be new moments to have a moment with, in the blink of an eye, in fact. I promise.

Peace, love and moments to you!

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 30 April 2017

each moment is a gift
If there is a message, what could it be?
Only once
fill jelly jars with fireflies
greyscale just won’t do
I think it’s time we got reacquainted.
what wonders do you behold?
slow, smoldering burn
…ultimately undone
what are you whispering for?
wispy pastel clouds of sweet fluff
demand to be
honey and tobacco tinged
in a loopy sort of way
include peaches and cherries
the fish are dying
my heart…it is ferocious
there is no stronger force than an empowered “miss”

~kat

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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.

3 Comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Digital Art & Photos, Essays, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Shi Sai

April 23, 2017

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 23 April 2017

By Kat Myrman


Happy Sunday! It’s been a soggy week here in the mountains. I love the rain, but in small doses…I need sunshine. Oh and did I mention Mercury’s in retrograde? Given that I’m a Gemini, mercurial to begin with, it’s a wonder I have been able to come up with anything coherent this week!

What that has meant is that things have been a bit wacky. This week’s ReVerse is reflective of that retrograde lunacy. It’s a bit nonsensical…which I suppose makes sense.

Mercury gets back on track on May 3rd. Until then, expect more spinning, sleepless nights and scrambled words. But I am not daunted. Writers write and I am determined to keep the words flowing, even if right now it is an annoying drip!

Have a great week! Keep moving forward…keep writing! 😜

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 23 April 2017

I wonder where you spend your nights
withering
rock-a-bye hush, the children sing
do you see them
booger butt, slobbery schmush
I couldn’t sleep
and truth was just an inconvenient blur
‘neath shallow skin-deep façades,
cursed are your fragrant blossoms
endless drops of rain
ultimately, “do no harm”
I thought, ‘how ironic is that!’
we should all be so jammy
it’s what lies beneath
she murmurs gently

~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.

4 Comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Digital Art & Photos, Essays, Poetry, Random Thoughts and Musings, Shi Sai

April 16, 2017

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse -16 April 2017

By Kat Myrman


It’s Easter for some of us. A day of hope, new life and rebirth after a season of darkness, denial of self and comfort. I remember when my greatest sacrifice during Lent was chocolate; only to be rewarded with a basket full of the stuff on Easter morning.

But these days I realize that some of the things I have let go of may never be restored. They cannot be found nested in fluorescent green faux grass in a brightly colored ribboned basket like chocolate eggs. and that is okay. With maturity comes reality.

I have given up more than chocolate on this, my 60th dark night of the soul. Most of it centers around my expectations and my optimistic view of the the world. It’s true. I generally believe that truth comes to light in the face of lies, that good overcomes evil, that love is more powerful than hate, that family is family, that all people are good and will do the right thing if given the opportunity.

This season I didn’t wrestle with cravings for sweets or any number of “things” that I vainly considered sacrifice in the past. This season I wrestled with truth and darkness and my belief that the world is a beautiful place. It’s not. Always. 

So I gave up my expectations. They’re a hard thing to let go of. They are so sweet on the tongue but they are bitter in the belly. Expectations contain a certain element of privilege…a quid pro quo for being honest and good and decent. This world, this life, don’t owe me anything.

I didn’t expect any sort of Easter morning basket of blessing this year. But surprisingly that is exactly what I received; just not in the places I normally expect to find them. Giving up my expectations allowed me to see things in a new light, to find blessings in the things I have spent a lifetime not noticing.

I rise today with new found hope surprised by grace. That’s better than chocolate. Really it is. You can trust me on that. Happy Easter.

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse -16 April 2017

I can’t bring myself to close it, not yet
is it any wonder that we bleed
if they only knew how many dives, we played to get here.
pale full moon lunacy
with hearts black as coal
it’s all perception
unless you’re a rock
savor each moment’s bliss
shock and awfulness
the door was padlocked
no one ever suspected
people don’t really want to know
sympaths say “poor you”
noshing on beautiful chocolate cake,
i die a bit each day to pass the time,
a hint of summer in the air, raindrops
sweetness

~kat

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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. 😊

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