the chanter

it begins with breath and

your hands upon its warmth

seeking the rise and fall

over the long smooth wasted form

each time reconnecting building

familiarity with heart and brain

those neural pathways defining newness—

union between heart and soul

breath in and out, a tantric rhythm

seducing with touch coaxing sweetly

melodic wales, haunting and taunting

spilling forth in sacred crescendo

you stand one cold fog-laden day

upon the ocean shore

her edges lap quietly at your feet

frothy and white, playfully so

and you, naked beneath the tartan

breathe into her—all rises

over ears catching the song

you rise beneath the heaviness of cloth

I wait for the day you tease and

coax the chanter to sing its songs

at the ocean edge where I will dance

in jubilation knowing you are free

and the notes coalesce in the misty brine

tears indistinguishable in the wetness

that envelope us all

in that moment we awaken

Kat

27 December 2017

Ric's Poetry Mic 2 January 2018

Hello fellow writers

In the spark of new expanding light, I nearly forgot to welcome everyone to our upcoming "Ric's Poetry Mic."    "Welcome!"

With the intention of celebrating in between the lines this holiday season, out cropped love and joy.  An expression of peace on earth, good will to men.  The outflowing of laughter, understanding, sharing, and hearts co-mingling while harmonic energies flowed abound.

Taking no extra resources to create this magic, the bells did ring on Christmas Day.  With skies clear and sun bright against the chill.  The ocean beaches shy of people and the Mother sang strong.  Her voice always there, her froth nipping at the edges of her incoming breath- spewing her foamy self.  Plump sea birds nimbly caught those wet edges toppling like ornaments on a Christmas tree in a light breeze.

Renewal present in every glimpse--blue, white, and all the shades between on Her waves forming walls of motion colliding in a festive square dance sallying forth and back.  The vastness, a Universe of will and surrender.  Of love, self-love.  Compassion.  The holiday came and went, and on its heels is a New Year.  To embrace mightily.  To sing it in with our heart's content.  This is it, fellow writers.  This is live time.  We are on air.

Wishing you a merry week and a Happy New Year celebration.


Come join us and share your creations at our 17th  "Ric's Poetry Mic".


Be well and inspired,


Kat

Ric's Poetry Open Mic 2 August 2016

Hi everyone,

With August nearly over, we are once again reminded of the passage of time--summer waxing into autumn, daylight dimming earlier, crinkled leaves and falling ripe apples amassing on parched grasses. We have thrived and survived another summertime.  And it has been heavenly.  Nothing short would be a loss for each and every one of us.  To celebrate this chaotic dance called life, we are holding our:

Third "Ric's Poetry Mic".  Please mark your calendars:
Date:   Tuesday, 2 August  2016


See you all soon.

Be well and inspired,
Kat

Ric's Poetry Open Mic 8 November 2016

Hello everyone,

The time period between our writer's readings from one month to the next has been feeling truncated with each passing month.  It is nearly November, and by the time we meet for the upcoming open mic, the "Day of the Dead--/Día de los Muertos/ " will be instilled within our global consciousness, the federal election will be at its fullest fury, and the winter solstice will be easing into our radars.

I have a sense that time is being commodified, hijacked, and it seems nearly impossible that so much living is passing before me since I last sat, listened, and read, at Winecraft just a short time ago.

At moments like this I like to recall my piano teacher's direction--"There is all the time in the world between two notes."  It calms my soul.  Deep belly-breathing does as well, and I have begun the practice, just to feel human at a time when our humanness seems under attack--under-valued, in the greatest of ways.

Yet, this past "Ric's Poetry Mic" offered some of the finest writings I have heard of late.  Thoughtful, rich, soulful pieces spun out of creative minds, truly representing how magic appears.  We are fortunate to have these writers who capture and share again, and again, and again.

Please join us for another evening of the magic created from the hearts, souls and minds of our fellow writers:

Our Fifth "Ric's Poetry Mic".

Please mark your calendars for the coming week:
Date: Tuesday, 8 Noveber, 2016

See you soon fellow writers.  Be well and inspired, and dry!!! :D

Cheers,
Kat
 

Ric's Poetry Open Mic 6 December 2016

Hello everyone,

The rains continue drenching my garden beds that lie naked in standing water. What grew in sunshine and warmth of longer daylight hours is absent now from the view through my window.  Alongside on the walkway, thick moss builds up in cushioned patterns--dense, low and vibrantly green.  The key to all golf course greens lies in the amount of water. I conclude.  No wonder there are some that look like deserts all year 'round and others, like my moss garden!

Another month of shorter days before we turn about at the Solstice towards the lengthening daylight.  We still have time, though, to settle deeply within, to search for something that this longer darkness might offer to those who pay attention to seasons, timing, relationship to themselves and others and to the context of life itself.

And the rain keeps giving.  In waves, like an oscillating sprinkler pelting rhythmically against my window. Its dependability has begun to center me with its consistency and intensity.  At times, with an urgency that suggests perhaps, just perhaps, it is time to write.

I wrote a poem about rain the first winter I lived here.  I had no idea of rain's constancy and volume until these last few days.  Perhaps more poems about rain will be born this week.  Someone told me recently that Scorpio's were Valentine creations.  "Ah," I said back.  And laughed.  All these years, I wondered about all the Scorpios in my family!  I might have another go at a rain poem if the monsoon pelting my windows doesn't give way a tad bit.

See you soon, fellow writers--inspired by whatever pushes you to your edge!

Our Sixth  "Ric's Poetry Mic".

Please mark your calendars for the coming week:
Date: Tuesday, 6 December 2016

See you soon fellow writers.  Be well and inspired.

Cheers,

Kat  

RIc's Poetry Open Mic 3 January 2017

Hello everyone,

In keeping with the shorter days, seasonal and spiritual inward focus, I managed to become ill and sit, sleep and write--while a perfect prescription for my needs at the time.  I heard from Mary Lou, that I missed an exceptional evening of poetry this month.  Phooey.

Happy to say that I created a few inspirational pieces to share with you next year and am well and invigorated.

Nearly the Solstice, nearly Christmas, nearly the New Years.  All packed into a short space in time.  Wishing everyone merriment, good cheer and safe times as you make your way into and through these auspicious events.

See you soon, fellow writers--may your inspirations for creating beauty and richness, be forever happening in your world.  Let us make this coming new year the best poetry and prose-creating the world has ever seen at "Ric's Poetry Mic."

Our Seventh  "Ric's Poetry Mic":

Please mark your calendars for the coming week:
DATE: Tuesday, 3 January 2017

See you soon fellow writers.  Be well and inspired.
 
Cheers,

Kat
 

RIc's Poetry Open Mic 7 February 2017

Hello fellow writers,

Do you notice?  Those longer days? And warmer ones, too?  Remarkably, we are emerging from the darkness into greater lightness. From the coldness into greater warmth.   About time, is it not?  Were you feeling some anxiousness about this, as I was?

I am told by a source whose brilliance meshes deeply into the metaphysical world, that this year, 2017, promises uplifting times--that we all endured 2016 and can revel in this new year.  I wonder if this means, as writers, we will realize some semblance of greatness, each and every one of us?  Hmmmmmmmm.  Nice story.

May your inspirations for creating beauty and richness, word by word, be forever happening for you.
Until our next poetry open mic.....:

Our eighth  "Ric's Poetry Mic":

Please mark your calendars for the coming week:
DATE: Tuesday, 7 February  2017

See you soon fellow writers. Be well and inspired.

Cheers,

Kat