Katherine's Coffeehouse

This is my advice: slice the morning. Make wedges out of hours, minutes where you could be writing poetry. Carve the fleshy part of day, the time when words mean exactly what you think, exactly what you want, exact like a sharp, expensive tool you bring out for the big jobs. Poetry was made for […]

5 a.m. on a Sunday and I accidentally wake my husband. “Poetry piled up overnight,” I explain. He murmurs, “Death by poetry,” and rolls over. But I am here thinking how Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, and great poets I don’t know enough about have carried me through the night— this most recent night, one that […]

On the sidewalk lone white feather in the wind Angel in the world -Katherine Gotthardt

If it wasn’t for the way early light met me on the street that morning, or the way April rain’s fingers tapped lightly on my shoulder, or how that warm mist and sudden sense seeped through to my very skin. If it wasn’t for a voice familiar to my better self, the one that snuck […]

hook of the moon dangling over a star bait of brighter light -Katherine Gotthardt

Today, in the battlefield's forest, Manassas gave us gifts: a stream for our dog to swim in, a wooden bridge for us to cross, a path for hikers and horses. Through trees reached the arms of the sun, resting its hands on the back of our necks. Not even a hint of soldiers or Civil […]

Crave is a five letter word, same as power. The world knows no peace. -Katherine Gotthardt Praying for peace.

by Katherine Gotthardt over the exit pedestrians on a bridge crossing with pigeons

Four more Haiku forms from writing prompts on Twitter. The first three were written with Ukraine in mind. Praying for peace in a time of war. March wind, abandoned field. This one wide-eyed sunflower. _____________________________ unexpected news amid grim morning headlines finally sunshine _____________________________ ivy vine linking one thin leaf to another bond of greenery […]

These are short pieces (mostly forms of Haiku) posted on Twitter. They are based on one-word writing prompts. Inexplicably, the world sees hope in the sky. Spring moon. _____________________________ Passing winter in the corridor, spring bats its fake lashes, winks knowingly. _____________________________ Around the bend, cardinals on a street corner. New Red District. _____________________________ Thunderstorms […]