Welcome, all, to d’Verse Poet’s Pub, the virtual neighborhood watering hole of an internet writing community thirsty for a flagon, stein, champagne flute, shotglass or tall latte mug of words, washed down with a chaser of the craft and a vigorous conversation on the savor of the brew. My name is Joy Ann Jones, also known to many of you as hedgewitch, and it’s my great privilege as well as pleasure to put on my apron and host behind the bar of our third ever OpenLinkNight.
You’re not going to find a suggestion of words, an unusual photo, or work of art for a prompt tonight—that’s for our weekend feature, Poetics, which opens Saturdays at 3:00 pm EST, ably hosted by talented staff members Brian Miller, Claudia Schoenfeld, Sheila Moore, Victoria Ceretto-Slotto and Mark Kerstetter, or a critique or poetic form symposium (that’s for Thursdays, with Gay Cannon and Luke Prater alternately hosting).
No, OpenLinkNight is about you bringing out your independently achieved best efforts, the poems you’ve created with your own sweat and tears, into the light of day for a group of your peers to read and discuss together. It’s about craft, creating, and community. And it’s also about having some fun in the process.
We’re all here because we love poetry, and want to share our efforts with those who appreciate them. The hint in our name, dVerse, is there to tell you the offerings you come across tonight will be eclectic, poems of every shape, size, form and topic, unique to each individual posting. We’re here to read, write, talk and have fun, offering each other both entertainment and support. We hope each of you will sample the wide range of material on tap, and let us enjoy some of your own in the process.
So let’s get the party started. We’re ready for a night of reading some of the best online poetry being written today, and we hope you are too.
Here’s the drill:
- Post a poem to your blog,
- Link in the poem you’d like to share (1 per blog, please) by clicking on the Mr.Linky button just below.
- This opens a new screen where you’ll enter your information, and where you also choose links to read. Once you have pasted your poem’s blog url and entered your name, simply click submit.
- Don’t forget to let your readers know where you’re linking up and encourage them to participate by including a link to dVerse in your blog post.
- Visit as many other poems as you like, commenting as you see fit.
- Spread the word on the poems you enjoy if you’d like. Feel free to tweet and share on the social media of your choice.
- Remember, we are here for each other. Engage your fellow poets, talk, chat, comment, let them know their work is being read, and enjoy the comments you also will receive. There is the strength of community in dVersity.
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Aaron Smigielski said:
I posted one up! Give me a read:)
claudia said:
congrats Aaron..you are first..how did you do this…? smiles
hedgewitch said:
Welcome, Aaron.
Kavita said:
Week 3, HERE I COME! And this week, I am back with reading my fave poets too!!! YESSS!!!!
hedgewitch said:
Great to see you here, girl. Can’t wait to see what your imagination has got in store for us this time.
Brendan said:
Great intro, Joy, to another round of flame-spittin,’ congressional-head-splittin’, hellcaterwaulin’ fun! Ah got mah six shooters out ‘n’ I’m headed for the Okey Dokey Corral where god and worm aim to have it out at high noon! – Brendan
hedgewitch said:
Let me know if you need any help reloading. Welcome to the shoot out.
Timoteo said:
Hey kids…something a little different this time…meant to stir things up a bit, perhaps–so don’t hold back…tell me how you feel!
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Laura Hegfield said:
Glad to be back…offering a poem from a new venue for me…the hospital!
wolfsrosebud said:
Week 3 and I’m still in the sea…
Glynn said:
Thanks for hosting!
hedgewitch said:
Always my pleasure, Glynn, with poets like you to read and enjoy.
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Randy Behavior said:
Started the day by reading Claudia’s frisky Rome poem, so I dug up something frisky too. No Rome but it does have a sax.
claudia said:
sounds great..i’m off to read..smiles
claudia said:
welcome poets – great to be here tonight…back from rome and still have her flavor hanging in my hair… so i’m ready to read poetry and wash beer-glasses until midnight…smiles and in case you wanna hear some stories about Rome…take a chair and i won’t stop talking all night…smiles
hedgewitch said:
Welcome back home, Claudia. You were missed greatly but you brought a piece of Roma back for us in your poem, so it’s all good. And if you wash, I’ll dry. ;_)
tashtoo said:
Brilliant Welcome Joy! Who wouldn’t want to be a part of it 🙂 Thanks for your time, and your wonderful works…as you know, I’ve let my demon run for this one! 🙂 Power to the poets, and thanks be to the heavens’ for dVerse! Let’s share!
hedgewitch said:
Thanks, Tash. Your demons are giving my panther a run for the money! Loved your poem, and I know we’ll see many more great ones tonight.
mrs mediocrity said:
Let the games begin…
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Patricia said:
Thanks for hosting Joy =) I had fun with this one.
Uneven Stephen said:
Here we go!
beckykilsby said:
Brought my paintbrush… just in case. Looking forward to some good reads tonight.
tashtoo said:
Becky! You painted us a fantastic picture! Wonderful share!
Heaven said:
Thanks for hosting tonight, Joy.
Great to see you Claudia ~
Off to read ~
hedgewitch said:
Glad to see so many comments up before I can even get my fingers working.
Warm warm welcome and thanks to all for sharing with us tonight!
Good to see Claudia here helping catch my back. Thank you for that, my friend. Now I’m off to sample some of the wares.
claudia said:
hey hedge – thanks for hosting and for the wonderful intro…if i hadn’t particpated in openlinknight before…i would die to do so after reading your fiery intro…so got my apron and ready to help you lovely lady
hedgewitch said:
very cool–we’ll have a girls only party in the kitchen later.
claudia said:
sounds great…smiles
Gavin P said:
My apologies but I linked to one of my previous blogs that have 5 short poems so Please just read one ~smiles hoping all will understand~ Sorry for breaking the rules…
ladynyo said:
Hi Guys and Gals…
I don’t have a poem! Sob! It’s too hot here (over 100 they say today) and I wanted something to uplift my dragging spirits. Summer in the South!
So…I posted a funny chapter from my novel in progress: ‘Devil’s Revenge’. It’s about a flock of devils, demons, different hierachy in Hell, and a woman who is human…and a writer, thrown in this pit. Anyone who is a musician or likes music will get a chuckle.
Hope it cools the spirit, even though these guys are scorched from their usual habitat.
Thanks for any readers or comments. I hope you have fun…which is the point of life right now. In this heat.
Air conditioning helps…. which we have only two units going full time. Yikes!
Lady Nyo
hedgewitch said:
I feel your pain, Lady Nyo. Our thermometer says 115 degrees right now. In the shade. I’ve had trouble sleeping and writing but managed to dredge something up out of the murky depths. I’ll be delighted to read your chapter–it sounds quite interesting. Thanks for dragging your heat depleted body to the pub. Have a nice cold something while you’re here.
Kelvin S. M. said:
…sleepy but still up for tonight..(well it’s 3am of wed here) hehe.. i think the coffee works so well… thank you Joy Ann Jones for hosting this week’s OpenLink Night Tuesday… thank you as well to the rest behind this wonderful place for the opportunity of sharing!!! Kudos!!!(:
I’m having fun!!!(:
hedgewitch said:
Fun’s what it’s all about. Glad you’re adding to the mix and thanks for staying up and joining us.
joshuA said:
Hello all!
Just wanted to say I like participating in this whole thing. Thanks to everyone over the past couple of weeks who introduced themselves and retweeted my work. (I’m new to all of this.)
My link takes you to a new minimalist/concrete/broadside poem on my website.
Thanks again!
-joshuA
P.S. For those of you who liked the “shoe” poem from last week, I sexied it all up and posted it on my site as well.
hedgewitch said:
Glad you’re enjoying the pub, and thank you for bringing your poetry here for us all to share. That’s what makes it all work.
tashtoo said:
amazing show, friend! Enjoyed the post tons! 🙂
joshuA said:
Thanks to you both.
For now I’m treating the site as a portfolio / home base rather than a blog proper. (Hence not being able to comment on individual pieces.)
I like ambient media and street art (from broadsides to advertising to vandalism) and just wanted to see if anyone out there liked my work.
Great place you got here!
hedgewitch said:
I didn’t see a way to comment on your site, but that was a very cool slideshow. Of all the things there is no end to, making books is one of the better ones.
Shell said:
I’m a painter who loves words so I’ll leave you a splash of watercolor and a few words too….lovely to be here.
~ Shell
David said:
Hedgewitch, thank you for hosting this week. I hope that my entry resonates with the community. I look forward to taking time later tonight to visit everyone, and drinking deep from the communal fount.
hedgewitch said:
You’re welcome David. This is all pure pleasure for me. Looking forward to reading your entry as I make my way through. Good to see you here.
dani said:
wow! open 10 minutes and over 30 patrons already here! ♥ looking forward to lots of fabulous poetry.
*waving* at Joy, Claudia, Brian & the gang
hedgewitch said:
*waving back* hey girl–welcome to the party.
James Rainsford said:
Thanks to the remarkable hedgewitch for hosting this week’s open link evening. Here’s my contribution.:http://bit.ly/dxEjiG.
Now off to read some great poetry.
hedgewitch said:
You’re more than welcome, James. Glad you linked in tonight and looking forward to my stop at your place.
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swanrose said:
added my latest post sorry to any who have seen it already. good luck everyone
1emeraldcity said:
Thanks alway, dVerse for the showcase. A latte grande, please! Cheers!
claudia said:
cheers jackie…your latte grande is on the way…smiles
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Sheila Moore said:
Joy, oh, Joy… What a fab hostess…so excited you’re leading the party tonight! Thanks 🙂
hedgewitch said:
You’re welcome, Sheila. Good to see you check in. The place is getting crowded. ;_)
claudia said:
i love crowded places…smiles
Daydreamertoo said:
Been waiting for this. Your blog sure is a big hit with everyone! 🙂
brian said:
why thank you…we try to have a little fun…and hopefully we will not get burned at the stake as joan does in your verse today…
laurie kolp said:
Enjoying every minute of this… thanks!
mairmusic said:
So much enjoyed last week that I am back w/ a decima this week. Don’t know what that is?– check it out! I’m “mm”. Returning all comments the better to get to know y’all!
brian said:
very nicely played tonight for sure…
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brian said:
nice rocking start to the night…thank you joy for hosting…will be in and around mingling…great to see every one!
hedgewitch said:
Always a pleasure, brian. There’s a cold one with your name on it behind the bar.
brian said:
what bar does not serve Miller…smiles.
hobgoblin2011 said:
Good going so far all, love the OLN. Always appreciate all the other outlets as well that open their sites for sharing, but so far it seems like everyone really brings their A-game to D’verse, and it’s a great source for good reads and ideas to take the mind away from the real world for a brief reprieve. Thanks for putting this all together and Thanks for having me:)
claudia said:
did i get something wrong…isn’t poetry the real world…? smiles
brian said:
well sort of…maybe just the way we see it is a bit different…smiles.
hedgewitch said:
Ugh real world….ugh. It’s more like an insane asylum or a daycare center run wild with no staff. There has to be some place to find some sanity–glad if you can find and share a little here, where we make our own #$%! worlds. ;_)
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liv2write2day said:
Cozying up to the bar for a cold one on a hot day and some talented company. Enjoy everyone.
claudia said:
good to see you victoria…i’m going to join you for a cold drink…smiles
fireblossom32 said:
Um…*waves above the crowd*…Miss tavern wench? Could i….*gets jostled, disappears, reappears*…could i just have a chocolate milk, please?
Hey…you look familiar!
brian said:
why yes i think we have met before…
oh wait, you were not talking to me…
claudia said:
if chocolate milk is the recipe for your excellent poetry shay, i’ll start drinking liters of it…smiles
hedgewitch said:
I suppose you want *cold** chocolate milk? It’s a good thing for you I didn’t drink it all yet.
ummm, did you just call Brian ‘wench?’
fireblossom32 said:
No. He prefers it if I call him “Peggy.”
brian said:
she makes me wear stilettos too…and write poetry in crayon…
hedgewitch said:
I thought the crayon was because they took away all the sharp pointy things.
fireblossom32 said:
Can’t take away the pointy hats with hedge in charge tonight.
brian said:
oh yeah, the pointy things…
oceangirl said:
hello joy ann, thank you for hosting, so glad i made it:)
hedgewitch said:
Me, too. I am slowly making the rounds and can’t wait to see what you brought us.
Bodhirose said:
Alright–all linked up!
claudia said:
great!!
Bryan K. Pounds said:
*Pays Joy for a drink*
Poets! Lovely to be back for my second week in a row here at the “Pub”. As I know some of you already, for those of you who don’t know me, just call me “Pounds.” (It’s my last name, I wish I had a better story.) Insipiration this week was simple; Frustration is one of the strongest emotions one can endure, especially when the feeling stems from situations being out of one’s control. So I bring to you, courtesy of your resident liberal Engineering writer, “Salem’s Lot.”
http://quillsandquasars.blogspot.com/2011/08/salems-lot.html
I hope you enjoy.
See you on the blogs!
-Pounds
brian said:
good to see you Pounds…
hedgewitch said:
First one’s on the house, my friend. Pull up a chair and make yourself at home while I traipse in your direction and see what’s up with Salem’s Lot. That book gave me nightmares when I first read it. Now Congress gives me nightmares, and they cost a lot more than a paperback.
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Lovely Annie said:
I started writing a poem this afternoon just as the heat lulled me into an unexpected nap…I have lost the words…but am here to refresh myself and link up once the words return! Salud!
brian said:
hope you enjoyed the nap….look froward to your words…
Ann Grenier said:
Great introduction Joy. Already a bit crowded. Hope my back corner table is available.
brian said:
available for you any time ann…
hedgewitch said:
Glad you could squeeze in the door. Like brian says, we always keep a few tables at the back for our friends here.
Carys said:
1am here in Wales so will be back to get a round in tomorrow. Nos dda awenyddion.
hedgewitch said:
I know you just said something very nice to us in Welsh. Same to you, and skol from my forebears’ homeland. Look forward to reading you tomorrow.
Joanne Elliott aka soulsprite said:
Lots of fun again this week. Thank you Joy for tending to us poets.
hedgewitch said:
My pleasure Joanne. You hit your entry out of the park.
Beth Winter said:
Wow! What a turn out! Now for an evening of reading.
Beth
Other Mary said:
Thanks for the forum! Gotta run now, but I’ll be back soon to read some of this excellent poetry!
Ginny Brannan said:
Nice to stop by, relax with some old friends, and drink up the poetry! Thanks for making us feel so welcome at this wonderful establishment! Cheers!!
hedgewitch said:
Welcome Beth, Ginny and that Other Mary girl, of one of my favorite spots,Writing in the Bachs–great to see you all over the crowd and ready to take your orders when you get thirsty. Some great stuff on tap tonight.
Aida said:
Hi everyone! I’m glad that Sheila just shared the link on FB because I am going to post and try to read as much as I can now. See ya 🙂
brian said:
woot great to see you…and yes sheila is great peeps…
Charles Elliott said:
What’s a guy gotta do to get a dark beer in here?
hedgewitch said:
How about some dark poetry? I’ve read at least three tonight that definitely have given in to that side of the Force.
Cad said:
This will teach me not to blog in the middle of the night…
brian said:
you know saying that actually makes me want to read it all the more…smiles.
Gwen Dubeau said:
Hello everyone,
Happy to be here for another open link night.. Grateful to be a part of it!
Good evening to all! 🙂
Duane F said:
Late posting, thanks for hosting. This forum has helped me get back into writing poetry.
Steve E said:
Tried to be #100, but I’ll settle for 99….always was a dollar short–grin! Hey Peeps, this is a REAL poem place. Everyone who is anyone is here. Halleluia! I’ll get to reading tomorrow afternoon. Zzzzzzzz
PEACE!
hedgewitch said:
Thanks for all the enthusiasm and encouragement, Gwen, Steve–and it’s good to hear the pub is a positive force in your writing Duane. Glad you all could make it tonight.
Anna Montgomery said:
I wish I could bring the cold mountain air and rain with me as I visit your sites. It is currently 50 degrees and we’ve had three times as much rain as we normally do by this time of the year. It’s been good for the wildflowers here in the Rocky Mountains subalpine zone.
hedgewitch said:
Well, fifty degrees and constant rain in August is probably just as tiresome as burning up in the heat, but at least you get some flowers out of the misery. And thank you for contributing a verbal equivalent to that delicate and bright subalpine tapestry in your fine poem tonight.
hedgewitch said:
It’s pushing midnight where I am, and this old poet is calling it a night. There will be a second shift tomorrow as the link is live all day. Look forward to another fine carouse, and the best part is–no hangover!
Thanks to all who’ve come by and shared their work with us tonight. It’s been a great pleasure hosting for the best party in town.
claudia said:
good morning from the european part of the world…just back from a VERY early 40 kilometer bikeride with my daughter…now a shower, cup of coffee and some poetry…
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Mike said:
I thought I might experiment with Haiku this time.
A great blog – meeting some wonderful people.
claudia said:
hey mike…welcome…and i enjoyed your haikus
Mike said:
Thanks Claudia.
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Belinda said:
Loving the diverse voices at the pub…
anl4 said:
I love it!
Mike said:
Managed to get two in this time before the link closes.
Amazing just how many great poems there are to read.
Well done dVerse.
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Heaven said:
It was great to read so many poems as well as meet new writers. I appreciate this sharing, and feel blessed to have this lovely community.
Cheers ~
padmavani said:
Just posted mine. I am off visiting fellow writers.
Cheers!
Padmavani
padmavani said:
Hello
I sent a message earlier, but don’t see it on. Could you please delete link 114. That was put in by mistake. My apologies. Thank you!
hedgewitch said:
Thanks, padmavani, for letting us know. And so glad to hear that everyone is having as good I time as I’ve been. I’ve had a busy day on the home front, but now I’m back to see what’s up since I was here last.
Thanks everybody for sharing with us.
haikudoyou said:
Glad to be here!
Trevski said:
sorry im late, been a busy few days, but its great to check in and read all the great poetry being posted. will have to try catch the wave next week. thanks to all for organising this, great fun to share…. love to all thanks
leah J. Lynn said:
Cheers! Everyone, I had some time today. Can’t wait to see what you all have brewing.
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