Tag Archives: Week in Review

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 9 July 2017

There is a full moon outside my window. The sky is almost cloudless and the moonlight is washing everything in a pale frosted glow. 

During the day when the sun is bright and high in the sky we are told as children not to look directly at it for fear of damaging our eyes. But it is in the cool shadowy hours of the night when we can gaze directly at the sun’s reflection on the face of the moon. It is not in fact moonlight that we see, for the moon has no light of her own, but it is the sun’s reflection. 


Sometimes I feel like the moon. Face half hidden in cool gray matte while the other half brightly glows … or like the moon in its phases, in full face glow or completely hidden, shadowed in gray. 

I need to remind myself that I am not a moon. I am not meant to be a reflector of everything around me. But that can be a daunting task when faced with the troubles of our times. It seems so much easier to turn inward when the going gets rough. 

But the truth is I am much more like the sun. Reminds me of the little Sunday school song many of us happily sang as youngsters…”this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…let it shine…let it shine…let it shine. 

We can’t afford to brood; to become reflectors of light hoping to deflect the darkness, because we are suns. If we don’t let the little sparks within us shine the world will just get darker.  

Thank goodness for the dawn and its daily reminder that offers an example to each of us to rise anew, to be light and hope, warmth and healing from the inside out. 


“This little light of mine…I’m gonna let it shine…let it shine…let it shine…let it shine…Have a wonderful week. Your light gives me hope.

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 9 July 2017

natureโ€™s song in green
got her
it was a good death, as deaths go
but it could be true
parched, we are drowning
those who dream dance on
their dreams frail as dust
to greening flush and browning
driving us mad
with longing
as though they are gods
out on digital screens

~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.


Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 2 July 2017


“Happy Sunday!”

“Happy, you say?!”

“Well, in a transcendental, metaphysical, quasi-spiritual, dreamy, optimistic sort of way, yes, happy. And it is a fact that it is Sunday…unless you reside in the Far East…then it is almost Monday…but I divagate.”

“You what?”

“Divagate….as in digress? Remember? The new word we learned this week.”

“You’re such a diva!”

“Am not! You are! But back to your original question, ‘happy, you say?!’ … yes, I take it you’re not.”

“Well, how can anyone be happy when everything in the world is spiraling out of control?”

“Take a Dramamine?”

“Come on! Global warming, a heath care bill that is going to kill people, an insane, mean old man running the country, Russia (need I say more?), collapsing infrastructure, the assault on our public schools, voting rights, gerrymandering, voter suppression, nationalism, travel bans, ageism, misogyny, racism, homophobia, religious profiling, insane tweets, the wall…”

“Feel better yet?”

“No, I’m just getting started. And just you wait. Tomorrow something else will happen to prove  we’re all up shit’s creek without a paddle. So forgive me miss giddy twinkle shoes if I can’t be happy right now! I’m mortified! It’s terrifying!”

“Oh, but you can. Be happy that is. It’s all a choice. It only takes a second.”

“Harrumph! Delusional you mean!”

“No. Happy. Right here, right now, this moment. Let me show you. First, close your eyes…now think about something that makes you happy.”

“You mean used to…”

“Give it a chance. And you opened your eyes…start over. Close your eyes…think happy something…anything. Got it?”

“Yeah. Okay now what?”

“Now take a deep breath in. Imagine yourself completely enveloped by your happy thing…don’t breathe out just yet…imagine…okay now…slowly…let it go. Feel better?”

“I do actually. I get it. I remember. Thanks self for pulling me off the ledge one more time.”

“Don’t mention it. We’re in this together you know. Happy Sunday?”

“Yeah, I’ll give you that. It’s happy enough, given the circumstances.”

“You’re exhausting!”

๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ˜Ÿ๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿ˜œ๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ˜ข๐Ÿ˜ฃ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜˜๐Ÿ˜Œโ˜บ๏ธ๐Ÿ˜’๐Ÿ˜…๐Ÿ˜ฎ

And…welcome to my world! My mind battles itself regularly. Yeah, the world is a bit, chaotic these days, but it’s important to unplug when it gets to be too much.

We’re gonna survive this, like we have survived every trying time in our history. I’m not going to tell you, “don’t worry, be happy”. That is a bit delusional, and it is important to stay engaged as a member of “we the people”. But…there is nothing wrong with divagating into your happy place every now and again.

Look! There goes a butterfly! A beautiful graceful butterfly…and there! Look! A flower! Oh, and I just noticed someone being kind…Wow! It’s not as hard as you think.

So…Happy Sunday y’all! I hope you can find your happy, if even for just a moment, this week. Just remember to breathe. โค๏ธ

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 2 July 2017

If people only knew
never say itโ€ฆonly
smoldering remains
weeps perfume when crushed
from obsidian to glass
Some souls find heaven in hellโ€™s corridors.
look! a butterfly!
divagating tweeted blips,
because that is what those with the truest hearts do
softly
magic is in the air
make love bloom
dreamers ask,
โ€œwhy not?โ€

~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.


Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 4 June 2017

There is little one can say the morning after another round of hate-filled violence. When one of us suffers, we all do, be it at the hands of terrorists or nature herself as she burns and heaves from our neglect and abuse. Blessings and peace to our friends in the UK.

Certain oligarchs may try to separate our nation from the world community, but they do not speak for the majority of us who watch in horror and disgust at their reckless and greedy actions. It’s not important to name him and his ilk. We have seen the likes of them before.

History has proved us resilient in times like these. In our ignorance and refusal to heed the warnings from the past, we may find ourselves doomed to repeat it. But I do cling to the hope that just as our ancestors were able to turn the tide eventually, we too will be able to right the course we are on.

There is still so much goodness and joy in this world. When sorrow looms, remember that we are here because those of good will before us pressed on.

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 4 June 2017

darkest of times
was it reincarnation
she teases her clueless guests
just beyond the lattice weave
like the yin and yang
it was much too soon
but the tempest has no power over memories that emerge in the hearts of those left behind
sinkers dipped in morning brew
how the gullible gobble up lies
vile cesspools called sinkers
we can wish
for healing
we are prisoners
again, we mourn

~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.


Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 26 March 2017


Another week, another Sunday. It was an emotionally exhausting week. I realized late on Friday that I have been holding my breath since November. Well, not literally of course. That’s not something I would recommend. But I have been holding my breath, figuratively, watching the world crumble with each executive order, congressional bill and lie that has gone unquestioned and unchallenged.

Some of us dodged a bullet this week. We, as in 24 million people still have healthcare; we, as in senior citizens, immigrants, the mentally ill, refugees, women, mothers, and those who hope to be. It was a tiny victory, but the battle rages on. While I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief, the world lost innocent souls to terror from radicals as well as from coalition forces. “Bombing the hell out of them…” as our fake president likes to boast, is not a sustainable nor advisable foreign policy, especially when innocent victims are part of the collateral damage of such actions. It only makes things worse.

I breathed on Friday. For the first time in months I didn’t feel helpless or hopeless. Resistance to this speeding runaway train is not futile. Still, those wielding power in the name of privilege, greed, hate and yes, even religion, will not let go of the reigns willingly. But they mustn’t win. It’s personal. It’s important that those who are suffering know that they matter. It’s important that they feel loved and that they know there is a seat at the table for them, for all of us. Because we’re in this together; because…Love is all. โค

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 26 March 2017

what are your intentions?
it is the sweet things
heaven’s awaitin’
selling love over death
death disguised herself in fleeting sweetness
sometimes what you search most for
(is) first to root in frosted earth
breeze by, nose upturned,
they whisper in soft kisses
sleeping with me, then leaving,
what was it with these people
proving they are fools
especially one whose gentle nature informed her conscience early in life
Love is all

~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. ๐Ÿ˜Š


Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 4 February 2017


Happy Sunday! We have made it to the end of another crazy week! When I can pry myself away from the daily news, breathe and give the moment it’s due, I am swept up in hopeful anticipation of spring.

Though the ground hog had his say this week, warning us of Winter’s unwelcome extended visit, I also found myself swimming in a sea of beer (figuratively speaking) as I marked St. Brigid’s feast day and the sure coming of Spring celebrating the rich history of our brothers and sisters of color, and even had the presence of mind to notice a sunset or two. It was a good week.

Silly humans. meanwhile, busied themselves unraveling and dismantling the past 8 years, banning innocents and building walls. It’s a bit upside down for such mayhem and destruction to sweep the landscape in the Spring! We’re obviously not paying attention to our “Mother”.

But like all good mothers She will set things right, swooping in as frigid winter wanes, to light a spark under our feet, one budding bloom at a time.

Be patient my dears and most of all, be kind. โค

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 4 February 2017

my breath lingers
it had been years
pleasing want not need
somee have said that we should get along.
my consolation for working late,
despite the lingering darkness of the night,
I sprout magnificent wings
Spring plans a coup!
a brilliant sea of colors and voices

fear makes us do crazy things.
is life eternal?
happiness is everything…
do you think?
you know sheโ€™s not pleased!

~kat