This week is the final time in 2013 we will meet here for our Tuesday soiree at the Pub to share our observations, feelings and words. The next time we meet it will be 2014. Imagine that!

I’m Joe Hesch and I’ll be tending bar at the final edition of Open Link Night for this year. When next we meet, it will be a new year and maybe a bit of a new dVerse. For whatever reason, despite changes in schedule, additions and subtractions of staff, it seems I always get the pleasure and honor to write one of the final Open Link Night intro essays for the year.

It is at this time of year that many of us come together as family or look back upon the last twelve months and assess where we’ve been. And, by that same token, we look forward to a new year and how we might resolve to make things different (and hopefully better) in the next twelve months. That’s what Brian, Claudia and the gang have been doing for a few weeks now.

One of the most famous poems connected with the passing of the old and the birth of the new is brought to us by the great Scots poet Robert Burns. As we look back at 2013, not at our victories or losses, sad times or glad, but merely to inform our present, I think there is no better poem for this time, this crowd, and this wonderful place than, of course, “Auld Lang Syne.” I’m told that title can be translated to mean “the old days.” Here’s a wee translation of two apropos verses for who and what we are here (I’m sure you know the first verse).

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
and surely I’ll buy mine !
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

Here’s to us, we poets, we readers, we colleagues here at dVerse. Let us continue to serve and share many cups of kindness and extend our hands to one another in friendship and support in the coming year. And speaking of kindness, I would like to thank my many friends out there in the aether who have been most supportive and buoyed my spirit over the past few not-much-fun months. It’s meant the world to me.

Now, here’s how you can share with us for the last time in 2013.
• Link in your OLN poem – one per blog, please – by clicking on the Mr.Linky button just below and cutting and pasting in your link.
• 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. This is where you get to express yourself about this poet’s work.
• Spread the word about our work. Feel free to tweet and share on the social media of your choice.

If I don’t get the chance in the coming days, Merry Christmas, and the happiest and healthiest of New Years, dear poets. Thank you for all the gifts you’ve brought dVerse and me each week since we first opened the doors of the pub in July 2011.