Well, SOMEBODY had to clean up! I guess it fell to me, Joe Hesch.

Welcome to dVerse Poets Pub Open Link Night – Hangover Edition. Boy, when dVerse throws a party, it throws a PARTY! After the preceding week’s baccahanalia of verse, announcements, readings, and general high and low jinks, your original host(ess) for tonight’s Open Link Night was supposed to be the fabulous Hedgewitch.  But I got the call yesterday to sub for our beloved Joy, who’s a bit under the weather. I always follow her in the OLN rota of hosts.

This normally would be no problem. See, Hedge leaves this joint spotless. All I have to do is put on my apron and turn on the glib patter for which I have become infamous. But Brian ran the place for the last week and, well….he celebrated, too. So Monday I pulled out the fire hose on the wall over there and gave the joint a fine cleaning. Careful you don’t slip. I may have missed a spot with my mop.

Actually, with the exception of this banging poetic headache, it’s quite an honor to be hosting the first post-anniversary OLN of dVerse’s second year. Claudia left plenty of coffee, water, Gatorade, aspirin, and I think Stu may have found a bunch of Berocca vitamins back in the staff lounge to help with patron hangovers.

But Tasha tells me she heard the best cure is a bit of the hair of the dog that bit you. You know, another little nip. So, tonight we’ll offer a nice sampling of free poetry from around the world. Let’s see if we can get the Pub’s second year off to a mellow bang. Don’t come empty-handed now. And please, no yelling.

Here’s how we can all feel better:

• Link 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 (I so often forget until about 5:30 PM Eastern Time.) 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. Remember that this is how we connect with those who can support and encourage us, and for whom we provide the same vital benefits.
• Spread the word. Feel free to tweet and share on the social media of your choice.
• Finally, enjoy! 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 input you also will receive. This is all about community…

…And using our Inside voices!!