A look back at the last few weeks of verse by line. The nightmare is almost over. Four years of chaos is spiraling like a whirlwind. I suppose the most shocking thing for many of us is the number of people who voted for the chaos. America, we thought we knew you. Many of us believed, given the chance, you would choose decency, honesty and compassion over corruption, lies and hate. Those of us who declared, “this is not who we are” are learning that, for almost half of us, it is sadly who we are. Who they are. How we had hoped for reconciliation, for healing, for bridging the divide that has broken us. Half of us are okay with lawlessness, with separating children from their parents, locking them up like animals and throwing away the key, half of us are okay with racism, misogyny, white supremacy, isolating ourselves from the rest of the world, from our allies, aligning with dictators, our president turning a blind eye to a virus that is raging out of control, killing us by the thousands. It is shocking and heartbreaking to see the truth. The coming years will be challenging. And it may surprise you to know that I still have hope that we can do better…be better. It won’t be easy but at least for me, it means treating others with kindness. It is the least and the most that I can do. I hope you’ll join me.

Sunday’s ReVerse - 29 November 2020

innocence slipping away
fading away in waves
we shouldn’t be surprised at all
the forever greenness of our minds
when blood was thick and skin was deep
we pick and choose what to believe
but opinion can’t make it so

~kat

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 as a review of the previous week…or in this case, the past few weeks.

I heard my first mourning dove this morning at my new house. When I lived in the city, they were regular residents on the power lines, nesting in the eaves. But here in the woods I had not seen one. I wondered if mourning sieves were just city dwellers. The following clip is something I found that speaks of the symbolism when a mourning dove happens by…

“Doves teach us that, regardless of external circumstances, peace is always a touch a way – within us – and always available. It is said that if a dove flies into your life, you are being asked to go within and release your emotional disharmony. The dove helps us to rid the trauma stored deep within our cellular memory. Doves carry the energy of promise. When inner conflicts are banished from our thoughts, words and feelings, goodness awaits.

The dove’s roles as spirit messenger, maternal symbol and liaison impart an inner peace that helps us to go about our lives calmly and with purpose.”

I must admit, I’ve been a bit stressed lately. Reduced hours at work, sheltering in, how long has it been? The days run together. My partner is having surgery tomorrow. Worry. It’s a silly niggling emotion, and what good does it do? What will be will be. Worrying just diverts me from the present moment. It causes me to hold my breath. I know what I need to do. Close my eyes in the fullness of the moment…and breathe. Hearing that dove this morning reminded me of that.

I managed just a few entries this week, but just enough. Just enough is in no way a negative thing. Some people might assume that it means I am settling, but there is an important distinction to my just enough…gratefulness and the peace in knowing that I have everything I need. I have a home that fits me just right, my health, family, friends, animals that depend on me and love me unconditionally, I have a job that pays the bills. Yes, I am grateful and my life is just enough.

And so, while I didn’t manage to write every day this week, what I did write was enough to craft this three-line reflection of the week that was. Each time I reread it I breathe in and sigh. “Peace is a touch away”…yes it is!

Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 12 July 2020

the hum of gratitude whispered,
the night’s embrace,
days like this happen once in a blue

~kat

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 as a review of the previous week.