Cat Russell's Blog
September 20, 2025
POEM: “Resurrection”
“Resurrection”
We’re bringing back apex predators
–not from the brink of death but death
itself, their fossilized bones
birthing new warm bodies that breathe
fresh air, pump blood beneath fur
long as a sigh, white as fallen snow:
a family of bright eyes, lolling tongues
dripping with delight. I recognize
the lilt in their loping run, the pure joy
of being alive. The males play until
their sister, hiding within the shade
of logs scattered to the side, is ready
to join their game. Yet as I watch
these fellow creatures frolic on this,
their first day together–one girl
and two boys romping
supervised and somewhat free
(if only from extinction),
they don’t seem to notice the wood
with metal mesh limiting their land;
they range and run on bright green grass
beneath a brilliant shining sun casting beams
they were never destined to see.
And I wonder, maybe
we need to be reminded
we could fall off the face
of this swiftly spinning world.
In ten-thousand years,
will they return the favor,
bring us back into the light?
*inspired by the article “ The 3 Dire Wolves Who Were Brought Back from Extinction Meet for the First Time in Captivating Video ” by Moná Thomas published at People.com on August 12, 2025.
August 22, 2025
POEM: “I spot a leg beside the pool”
propped against the bolted-down cobalt chair
used to lower swimmers into the pool’s
cool depths, its owner already midway
through a lap before I noticed he’d need
-ed assistance. I'd been too busy in
the backroom picking out orange foam fake-weights
whose buoyancy would work my arms. I’d eyed
the few in the center’s hot tub as they
chatted among brightly humming bubbles.
I’d watched the two red hands of the giant
stopwatch propped up against the room’s pale wall
speed away the seconds we spent in space
so empty between us that the gentle
swish of man-made waves echoed like a stream
within this concrete cave, each slight slap of
water on skin became a thunderclap.
Empty space framed each slim sound, echoed loud,
rebounding throughout the room, yet merely
feet away inclined that abandoned limb
--shoe still attached while its owner left it
behind, a better swimmer with one leg
than I was with two.
We were both buoyed
by blue water, sheltered by it, only
our upper torsos visible as we
bounced and swayed upon waves we made ourselves:
me shivering in my one-piece, he with
one piece missing,
and were it not for the
prosthesis standing beside that mounted
cobalt blue chair,
I never would have known.
#
*inspired by a visit to the YMCA pool
July 17, 2025
POEM: “Volcano Girl”
POEM: “Volcano Girl”
if life is a journey, yours outshone
so many–lived beneath blue skies
in distant lands, sunlit days
followed by neon nights,
betting on your dreams, your warm skin
browning before each rising sun, lit
by each luminous electric twilight,
you exceeded them all–from rise to set,
dared dazzling green mountains
beside waves of azure blue, explored
coral- and salmon-colored caves,
met saffron-robed monks of twinkling eyes
and sparking grins, traveled sacred waters
to witness sharp-pointed palaces
embrace their shores, boated green rivers
flowing serpentine as a dragon, viewed
tulip-hued temples tipped with gold
blooming before an eruption of forest green.
And yet, you also leapt
into secluded lakes bordered
by boulders worn smooth by wind and time,
your eyes traced white water falling deep
into the unknown, you rode on motorbike
over muddy trails through sun-filled lands
with friends and a smile wide
as each horizon.
Did that rock-bound lake foreshadow
your tomb? Your leap into the unknown
prelude your fall?
You were
active as the Mount you dared climb,
lived more in your years
than many twice your age. Yet
you had to have that view:
crater’s rim toppled your trip
of a lifetime cut all too short.
Did you face death without fear
–as unflinching as you faced life?
Did the fog clear
enough for you to die beneath blue sky?
Did the stars themselves say goodbye?
#
*Thankyou for visiting my blog. More of my writing can be found on my Patreon . Stay safe, be kind, and read often!
*inspired by the Brazilian hiker, Juliana Marins , who fell into an active volcano, miraculously survived the fall, but did not survive the four days it took rescuers to reach her due to treacherous weather and terrain.
June 22, 2025
FOUND POEM: “The Doomsday Clock”
FOUND POEM: “The ‘Doomsday Clock”
ticks self-annihilation
this year a situation
of risks all rising
We cannot hide our head
to curb their spread
we walk into disaster
to sustain peace We unleash war
win just a Little more time
to move the Clock hand back
89 seconds to go
before That time is up
#
*Thankyou for visiting my blog. More of my writing can be found on my Patreon . Stay safe, be kind, and read often!
*Inspired by yesterday’s dropping of bunker buster bombs on Iran’s nuclear facility to prevent their development of nuclear weapons–as well as the article ‘Sleepwalking into nuclear disaster’: The ‘Doomsday Clock’ ticks forward by Elizabeth Weise and Davis Winkie , published via USA TODAY on January 28th, 2025.
FOUND POEM: “The ‘Doomsday Clock”
FOUND POEM: “The ‘Doomsday Clock”
ticks self-annihilation
this year a situation
of risks all rising
We cannot hide our head
to curb their spread
we walk into disaster
to sustain peace We unleash war
win just a Little more time
to move the Clock hand back
89 seconds to go
before That time is up
#
*Thankyou for visiting my blog. More of my writing can be found on my Patreon . Stay safe, be kind, and read often!
*Inspired by yesterday’s dropping of bunker buster bombs on Iran’s nuclear facility to prevent their development of nuclear weapons–as well as the article ‘Sleepwalking into nuclear disaster’: The ‘Doomsday Clock’ ticks forward by Elizabeth Weise and Davis Winkie , published via USA TODAY on January 28th, 2025.
May 27, 2025
POEM: “The Rise and Fall of a New Camelot”
“The Rise and Fall of a New Camelot”Your kingdom built upon the power of belief in purity of soul and mindwith justice impartial and truly blindreaching toward the highest good, becausewhat mattered most was everyone believedwithout limit, what human might achieveddid reality matter or the dreamof a better world where your lady’s trueand your best friend lies not with her to you?your faith in their basic decency mortar enough to build a better world,yet not enough to keep it --once the dreamproves wishful thinking --Camelot, perched upon clouds with linings of silver and gold, its heavy bricks come crashing down to crush us all beneath their weight yet for a time, the vision WAS enoughLet's build that better worldnot founded on cumulus clouds of unblemished white like newfallen snow we fashion into images of our own making, but with foundation deep and stronggrounded enough to survive the harshest quakes, with lightning rods and thick walls to withstand the most bitter tempests,tall enough to shelter against malignant waves that churn like tsunamis to batter buildings, threaten to drown us,numb us beneath their deluge trapped alone with all our doubts with all our fearsBut high above leave window enoughso when the storm clearsit lets in the lightso when the storm clearswe see the dove, thin green leaves of the olive branch gripped within its beak, so we may stillat least try to escape outdoorsto a once-more world of wind and sun to escape our drying refugeto try againso we may rise once moreon firmer footing than beforeonce the waters recedethe earth beneath our feet becomes mudwe must tread with caremindful of each treacherous stepfor some stains tarnisheven the best armorsome stains never come outwe know the storm will passas all storms mustwhether or not wesurvive *
*Thankyou for visiting my blog. More of my writing can be found on
my Patreon
. Stay safe, be kind, and read often!
**Inspired by Tennyson’s Idylls of the King (a poetry collection of tales of King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table).
*image “
Stormy Ocean
,” courtesy of
George Hodan
via
Public Domain license
and
PublicDomainPictures.net
April 21, 2025
POEM: “The Fairytale Ends: A Tale of Gawayne and the Green Knight (Part I)”
Since my beautifully illustrated chapbook, The Fairytale Ends, launched on Good Friday, I thought I’d share the first part of the narrative poem as a teaser.
My ballad sequel to Charlton Miner Lewis’s modern retelling of the 14 century (Middle English) poem continues the tale of Sir Gawayne after he returns from his adventures and reunites with his love, Lady Elfinhart. Don’t worry. You needn’t read the previous work to enjoy this one!
I
The noble Sir Gawayne, loyal knight
of lofty Table Round lived for
adventure, honor, and liege lord,
but (maybe) loved his lady more.
The maid was Lady Elfinhart,
a beauty like few mortals knew,
and this made sense because the maid
was raised by fae–who knew to choose
what fashions fit the human form
to entice men–and women who
know they are judged upon their looks,
the first thing that their knights do view.
So Elfinhart was schooled in charm,
her glamour of a mortal sort.
She kohled her eyes–and for her lips
and cheeks a cherry worked its art.
A beauteous thing may be a joy
forever; that the poet knew.
But there’s no rule that says that joy
is not enjoyed by fairies too.
And so I tell the tale again
of Sir Gawayne and lady fair.
You may or not know of his feat
with the Green Knight, but here I’ll share
a portion of that prior tale
in my own words–to catch you up.
The knight’s adventure I’ll relate,
yet move the tale still farther up
to follow after Elfinhart,
her motives, and her union to
the noble knight who braved the Green
encouraged by his lady’s cue.
*
*Thankyou for visiting my blog. More of my writing can be found on my Patreon . Stay safe, be kind, and read often!
*image “Knight Charger Horse Rider: Knight Charger Horse Rider Vintage Art Illustration,” courtesy of Andrea Stockel via Public Domain license and PublicDomainPictures.net (modified for this post)
March 28, 2025
POEM: “like birds”
as I view the birds outside my window
separated by mere inches of glass,
as I view their vibrant dark silhouettes
and bright reds against the snow like drops of
blood, as I view the yellow and green false
flowers on my windowsill. I always
light three candles just because I love them,
the way they light the darkness. he pleads, bring
them back, bring back my light.
I wonder if
these three flames serve a double purpose on
this day, if these birds that survive winter
to live, feed, and sing despite the freezing
cold--dare I say it when I can barely
bare to think it...
do your souls fly high as
these winged messengers in the bright blue
above my home?
will you return to yours
by way of something other than a box?
#
*Originally written in the hope that the beautiful Bibas brothers, 9-month old Kfir and 4-year old Ariel, would be returned home alive. Since they were not, it now serves double duty–like the candles themselves–hoping for the safe return from Gaza of over fifty hostages–among them the only American left living, 21-year old Edan Alexander.
*Thankyou for visiting my blog. More of my writing can be found on my Patreon . Stay safe, be kind, and read often.
February 21, 2025
POEM: “broken steps”
“broken steps”
tonight the last of my illusions breaks,
that final fractured piece clinging to its
frame lets go, shatters, bursts upon the ground
now each step forward brings a thousand cuts
yet we cannot stand still.
we must move on.
* in memory of the beautiful Bibas brothers , 9-month old Kfir and his “big” brother, 4-year old Ariel. May their memories forever be a blessing .
** Thankyou for visiting my blog. More of my writing can be found on my Patreon. Stay safe, be kind, and read often.
January 16, 2025
BOOKS READ IN 2024
I didn’t read quite as many books as pictured, but it’d be cool if I did, right?Here are the books I’ve read in the past year, along with their links so you can check them out too! Many were free digital downloads from Project Gutenberg or via one of the many lovely local libraries (using Libby/Overdrive app or HOOPLA Digital). Others were purchased from local authors. Either way, I hope you enjoy them!
JANUARY
1 (Jan 3rd) Mountain Interval by Robert Frost (poetry ebook via Project Gutenberg)
2 (Jan 9th) Atomic Habits by James Clear (self-help audiobook via Audible)
3 (Jan 12th) The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway (novel ebook via Project Gutenberg)
4 (Jan 14th) The Buddhist Catechism by Henry Steel Olcott (nonfiction ebook via Project Gutenberg)
5 (Jan 18th) THREE STORIES & TEN POEMS by Ernest Hemingway (ebook via Project Gutenberg)
6 (Jan 17th) WHAT GOES UP by Christine Heppermann (novel-in-verse hardback)
FEBRUARY
7 (Feb 23rd) The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Samuel Butler (prose ebook via Project Gutenberg)
8 (Feb 25th) Nine Nasty Words by John McWhorter (nonfiction audiobook via Libby app)
9 (Feb 25th) Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave by Frederick Douglass (memoir ebook via Project Gutenberg)
10 The Eyes Have It by Philip K. Dick (scifi ebook via Project Gutenberg)
11 Modern Persuasion: 21st Century Austen by Sara Marks (romance ebook via KINDLE store)
MARCH
12 (Mar 6th) Because I Could Not Stop For Death by Amanda Flower(mystery KINDLE ebook via Overdrive)
13 (Mar 6th) YOUR MOUTH is MOVING BACKWARDS by Juliet Cook (poetry paperback purchase)
14 (Mar 10th) Letters to Herostratus by Katarina Kelley (poetry eARC)
15 (Mar 25th) Sea of Red by Deborah Edmisten (YA scif/mystery eARC)
16 (Mar 27th) WRITING IS: A POETRY ANTHOLOGY by the Massillon Public Library Adult Writer’s Group (poetry paperback poetry anthology)
17 (Mar 29th) DARK by Angela R. Watts and Dawn E. Dagger (YA apocalyptic fiction ebook via KINDLE store)
APRIL
18 CRIME AND POETRY by Amanda Flowers (mystery audiobook CDs)
19 WONDER WOMAN: FORGOTTEN LEGENDS by Trina Robbins (digital graphic novel via HOOPLA Digital app)
20 (April 10th) The memoir of Charles Darwin by Charles Darwin and Sir Francis Darwin (ebook via Project Gutenberg)
21 (April 18th) POETRY COMICS by Grant Snider (graphic novel via HOOPLA Digital app)
22 (April 20th) The End of Race Politics by Coleman Hughes (nonfiction KINDLE ebook via Libby app)
23 (April 30th) POETRY AFTER 9/11: AN ANTHOLOGY OF NEW YORK POETS edited by Dennis Loy Johnson and Valerie Merians (KINDLE ebook via Libby app)
MAY
24 (May 6th) A Poetry Handbook: A Prose Guide to Understanding and Writing Poetry by Mary Oliver (KINDLE ebook)
25 (May 16th) ODE TO THE WEST WIND AND OTHER POEMS by Percy Bysshe Shelley (KINDLE ebook via Libby app)
26 (May 19th) Doodle Stitching: Embroidery Art by Aimee Ray (nonfiction ebook via HOOPLA)
27 (May 22nd) Resident Alien Omnibus Vol. 1 by Peter Hogan (graphic novel via HOOPLA)
28 (May 24th) The Poetry of July narrated by Richard Mitchley and Ghizela Rowe (poetry audiobook via Libby app)
29 (May 24th) Aimless Love by Billy Collins (read by the author) (poetry audiobook via Libby app)
JUNE
#
30 (June 1st) Resident Alien Omnibus Vol. 2 by Peter Hogan (graphic novel via HOOPLA)
31 (June 5th) Suffer for Supper: James Bryant’s Dark Haiku volume 3 by James Bryant (poetry KINDLE ebook)
32 (June 9th) Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell (scifi-romance KINDLE ebook)
33 (June 9th) In a World of Hurt: James Bryant’s Dark Haiku volume 4 by James Bryant (poetry KINDLE ebook)
#
34 (June 12th) AT BLACKWATER POND by Mary Oliver (read by the author)(poetry audiobook via Libby app)
35 (June 12th) KOREAN COOKBOOK by Jiu Chung (ebook via HOOPLA)
36 (June 14th) Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand (translated into English verse by Brian Hooker) (poetry paperback)
37 (June 16th) Blue Horses by Mary Oliver (read by Kimberly Farr) (poetry audiobook via Libby app)
38 (June 18th) alone in the house of my heart: poems by Kari Gunter-Seymour (KINDLE ebook via Libby app)
39 (June 25th) Prose and Cons by Amanda Flower (mystery audiobook via Libby app)
JULY
40 (July 2nd) The Stranger by Albert Camus (fiction audiobook via Libby app)
41 (July 11th) How to Eat a Poem: A Smorgasbord of Tasty and Delicious Poems for Young Readers by various authors (poetry ebook via HOOPLA)
42 (July 14th) Questions of Travel by Elizabeth Bishop (poetry ebook via HOOPLA)
43 (July 6th) Wonder Woman Vol. 1: Outlaw by Tom King, Daniel Sampere, and Tomeu Morey (graphic novel via HOOPLA)
44 (July 26th) Wonder Woman vol. 1 Afterworlds by Becky Cloonan, etc (graphic novel via HOOPLA)
45 (July 27th) Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance (memoir audiobook via Libby app)
AUGUST
46 (Aug 3rd) The Guild vol. 1 by Felicia Day, etc (graphic novel via HOOPLA)
47 (Aug 4th) The Guild vol. 2: Knights of Good by Felicia Day, etc (graphic novel via HOOPLA)
48 (Aug 7th) Love Poems by Pablo Neruda (poetry audiobook via Libby app)
49 (Aug 7th) The Rain in Portugal by Billy Collins (poetry ebook via Libby app)
50 (Aug 12th) The Poets’ Corner compiled by John Lithgow (poetry audiobook via Libby app)
51 (Aug 12th) Letter Composed During a Lull in the Fighting: Poems by Kevin Powers (poetry audiobook via Libby app)
52 (Aug 18th) Goldenrod: poems by Maggie Smith (poetry audiobook via Libby app)
53 (Aug 27th) The United States Constitution by The United States (ebook via ProjectGutenberg, read on KINDLE)
SEPTEMBER
54 (Sept 8th) Poetry for Dummies by John Timpane, PhD (nonfiction KINDLE ebook via Libby app)
55 (Sept 16th) The Snow Queen’s Shadow: Book Four of The Princess Series by Jim C. Hines (fantasy KINDLE eBook)
56 (Sept 24th) Julia: 1984 by Sandra Newman (scifi audiobook via Libby app)
57 (Sept 26th) Looking for Alaska by John Green (novel ebook via Libby app)
OCTOBER
58 (Oct 10th) Storm Front: Dresden Files book #1 by Jim Butcher (fantasy audiobook via Libby app)
59 (Oct 19th) Perchance to Dream by Tamara Belko (prose/ poetry hybrid novel via 30-day free trial of KINDLE UNLIMITED)
60 (Oct 20th) I Should Be Writing: A Writer’s Workshop by Mur Lafferty (nonfiction via 30-day free trial of KINDLE UNLIMITED)
NOVEMBER
61 (Nov 1st) Doppelganger by Chip Walter (scifi novel via 30-day free trial of KINDLE UNLIMITED)
62 (Nov 7th) Fool Moon: Dresden Files book #2 by Jim Butcher (fantasy audiobook via Libby app)
63 (Nov 10th) strange questions to ask librarians by Kaitlyn Bolyard (poetry collection via 30-day free trial of KINDLE UNLIMITED)
64 (Nov 17th) Sonny Boy by Al Pacino (memoir KINDLE ebook via Libby app)
65 (Nov 22nd) The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch (nonfiction audiobook via Libby app)
DECEMBER
66 (Dec 5th) Organizing for the Rest of Us: 100 Realistic Strategies to Keep Any House Under Control by Dana K. White (self-help audiobook via Libby app)
67 (Dec 7th) Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff by Dana K. White (self-help KINDLE ebook via Libby app)
68 (Dec 8th) Dandelions in Sidewalk Cracks by Massillon Public Library’s Writers of the Round Table (poetry PROOF ebook copy)
69 (Dec 10th) How to Do Things You Hate: Self-Discipline to Suffer Less, Embrace the Suck, and Achieve Anything by Peter Hollins (self-help KINDLE ebook via Libby app)
70 (Dec 11th) Milton’s Sonnets by John Milton (poetry free download)
71 (Dec 17th) Writers and Their Notebooks by Diana M. Raab (nonfiction KINDLE ebook via Libby app)
72 (Dec 19th) In My Father’s House: A Son’s Memoir by Dwight Parrish (memoir KINDLE ebook)
73 (Dec 21st) In Which by Denise Duhamel (Rattle poetry chapbook)
Until next time, stay safe and well, and read often!
* *If you’d like to read about my progress and plans this year, as well as craft tips, you can subscribe to my Patreon and support my work for just $1 a month. Until next time, stay safe and well, and read often!
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