Two years ago, I had the opportunity to meet Nikki Giovanni at an event entitled ‘Activism and Civil Rights Today,’ held at one of the local colleges. Giovanni is one of the first poets that really captured my heart when I first started writing poetry. That night, after speaking and performing a few of her poems, Nikki read a children’s book she had written about a friends of hers. The title of the book was Rosa. Her friend was Rosa Parks.

This week my son had to choose someone from history on which to write his fourth grade research. He chose Rosa Parks. Tonight I read him Nikki’s book—and we began a conversation we will continue on what it takes sometimes to change things for the better, because often things don’t happen until someone takes a stand.

This Friday, March 8, is International Women’s Day. In many countries around the world this is a day to celebrate women and their achievements. It was less than a hundred years ago that women gained the right to vote here in the US and women around the world still struggle toward equality. While we take those stands, we also have to celebrate the steps we have taken on that journey.

Earlier this week, Claudia and I were approached on Twitter by Soraya Bakhbakhi who is managing a project entitled ‘Women in Writing.’ They are encouraging writers, poets and anyone that wants to contribute their voice to submit pieces on women’s issues. It is open to both women and men. If you would like to join in, you can find more information here.

Every week we gather here at dVerse for this thing called OpenLinkNight. We let our voices be heard. Whether to inspire or share the beauty of the world, to let out our pain or cry our for justice, to make others think or simply to laugh. Whatever we write, there is a purpose.

So let’s get our poetry on! If you are new here, welcome, my name is Brian Miller and I will be your host this evening. I hope you are ready for some amazing poetry from people all over the globe. Here is how it works:

• Write a poem and post it to your website, include a link to dVerse so others can follow you back here.
• Click on the Mr Linky button below and enter your name and the direct URL to your poem
• This is where you will find everyone else that is contributing this week. Mingle. Visit other poets. Tell them what you like, what grabbed you in their poem, how it made you feel. Community is what we are all about—and in many ways it is how we grow as poets.
• Promote yourself on the social media of your choice and include @dversepoets so the rest of us can help you with retweets and what not.
• Have fun. This is art, and not the kind hidden away in a basement somewhere to be forgotten.

Thanks for being here. I will see you out on the trail.  ~Brian