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Hi, folks, long time no see, speak or hear. I’m Joe Hesch and I’ll be your host this month for Open Link Night. It appears I’ve done a few of these last-of-the-year parties.
I guess I’m a little like your kooky Uncle Joe, who rolls in around Christmas time to tell stories and serve wassail and mulled verses. This week we meet here at the Pub to share our observations, feelings and words, all wrapped in packages you can open at any time, if you push that Mr. Linky button at the end of this intro.
It is at this time of year that many of us 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. Man, I hope it’s better.
This was a bear of a year for yours truly. Full of ups, such as the birth of my first grandchild and the publication of my first collection of poetry. And it had it’s share of downs, deep downs, like the death of my Mom, some busted bones, surgery and a struggle with a knee-capping depression that kept me away from you. And sometimes might still.
But, damn it, if I didn’t keep writing through it all. And it was a gift every time.
And that’s the gift we’re here to celebrate tonight. Our gift is one we give away, willingly, each time we click Publish. We give away a piece of ourselves that no one else could give in just that way. Twice a week around here, we’re given a prompt to write to, and darn it if no two poems come back alike.
Here’s to us, we poets, we readers, we colleagues here at dVerse, where each week we serve and quaff many many gifts given and received.
Here’s how you can share your gift with us.
• 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, Happy New Year, and happiest of holidays, dear poets. Thank you for all the gifts you’ve brought me each week since I began writing poetry and especially since Brian and Claudia opened the doors to the Pub.
Mary said:
Good afternoon, friends! Just want to stop in to wish each one of you a Happy Holiday season. I really have enjoyed sharing poetry with you this year. May next year be a bright one for all of us!
Joseph Hesch said:
Hi, Mary. Thank you for stopping by. Always a pleasure to read your work.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Mary .. wonderful to meet you at the blog.. thank you so much..
Grace said:
Mary, I am looking forward to another year ~ Merry Christmas to you too ~
MarinaSofia said:
Lovely to have you back and sorry to hear just how gruelling 2014 has been for you. It’s not been my favourite year either, shall we say? Here’s to a much, much improved 2015!
I’m linking to a poem(ish thing) to celebrate 25 years of freedom for myself and my country. I can’t believe it’s been so long – perhaps too long with too few changes, but nevertheless…
claudia said:
i remember when the borders went open as my husband drove into romania with a group of people to deliver kids clothes and medicine to some churches we had contact with
Joseph Hesch said:
Thank you, Marina. What a stunning theme for a poem! Congratulations and have a lovely holiday!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
A great perspective after this year.. I just hope it will never turn back to those times.
Gabriella said:
Is it 25 years already? I can remember it as if it was yesterday.
claudia said:
good evening everyone… i will be in and out to read as my little one is back for the holidays… hope you’re all having a wonderful christmas time….
Joseph Hesch said:
Hi, Claudia. Thank you for helping me open the doors! Seems I lost my key AND my apron.
Gabriella said:
Enjoy your daughter, Claudia, and make the most of the holiday break to recharge your batteries!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Hello friends. The year has been good for poetry but a struggle with a lot of other things.. I want to wish you all wishes for a great 2015…
claudia said:
2014 was not an easy year for me as well… here’s to a cheerful 2015!!!!
Joseph Hesch said:
Thank you Bjorn. I’m hoping the struggle makes us stronger and instills us with gratitude and understanding in the coming year.
Grace said:
Bjorn, wishing you a lovely Christmas as well ~ All the best for the new year ~
Grace said:
Joe, thanks for graciously hosting our last OLN for 2014 ~ Congrats on your firsts and here’s hoping for many more (positive) firsts in 2015 ~
I also want to thank all our blogger friends for their support and encouragement during the year ~ Here’s wishing you all Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays ~
claudia said:
thanks for the work you’re doing in the pub as well grace … much appreciated…
Joseph Hesch said:
Thank you, Grace. You’re the reason Im here tonight, actually. Thank you for your (you’ll pardon the expression) grace and your art.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Thank you so much too Grace.. I hope for a great 2015
Gabriella said:
Thank you for your unwavering support and all the best to you too, Grace!
claudia said:
big thanks to everyone on the team for their support and energy and love you put into the pub… it is a lot of work and doing all this on a voluntary base deserves high respect.. thank you….
Grace said:
We love what we do here, smiles ~
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
This is the best of what happens … Love it, and thank you Claudia.
Gabriella said:
Thanks to you too, Claudia!
Mary said:
And thank you too, Claudia. And yes, as Grace said, we love what we do here.
Audrey Howitt said:
Thank you Joe! Thank you to all the team–and have a wonderful holiday!
Joseph Hesch said:
Thank you, Audrey. Have a spectacular holiday.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Thank you Audrey.. wonderful to meet here at the pub.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Ah, I didn’t realize we had OLN today. I’ll see if I can conjure up something. Thanks for hosting, Joe and a big thank you to Claudia, Brian and all the dVerse team and most especially to the wonderful poets who keep us coming back for more. Much joy to all, however you celebrate the holidays, and many blessings in 2015. Here’s hoping our poor world will edge just an inch closer to real peace–within and in sharing life.
Joseph Hesch said:
Thank you, dear lovely lady. Best wishes to you and yours, too.
Grace said:
Merry Christmas to you too Victoria ~
Bryan Ens said:
Thanks for hosting today, Joe. I get the ups and downs too…we had to say good-bye to my father-in-law this past summer, so my heartfelt condolences on the loss of your mom.
I went a bit lighter with my poem…actually, it’s a piece that I wrote back in 2011, but thought you might all get a kick out of one of my oldies.
Merry Christmas to one and all!!
Joseph Hesch said:
Thanks, Bryan. I’ll hop over when I’m done with the early hosting chores. And man, would I like to read a happy poem!!
Grace said:
Such a fun read, thanks Bryan ~
grapeling said:
Thanks to all the barkeeps and proprietors at dVerse, for the community you’ve made and support you’ve provided, and for the consistently high caliber poetry you’ve penned and encouraged. Peace, and wishes for a better 2015 ~
Joseph Hesch said:
Thanks and pax vobiscum to you, Grapeling!
Grace said:
Good to see you here Michael, smiles ~
Mary said:
Joe, you mentioned the ups and downs of your year and said, “But, damn it, if I didn’t keep writing through it all. And it was a gift every time.” I think that is a miracle of writing for many of us. It not only is a gift to others when we share, but mostly it i a gift we give ourselves. Definitely can be cheap, but effective, therapy. Smiles. Good to see you at the bar at long last. And wishing you a good year ahead!
Joseph Hesch said:
Thank you, Mary. I’m hopeful. We’ll see how I make out. 🙂
Glenn Buttkus said:
Wow, I asked around to see iif OLN would happen this month, but no replies or feedback; sort of caught me flat-footed; so will work out of my archives, update something, & link up. I do want to thank all the dVerse staff & family for the incredible fellowship this year.
Joseph Hesch said:
Hey, brother. I guess it was kind of up in the air until I volunteered. Am I glad to see you here, Glenn! Lemme draw you a cold one! 🙂
Ina said:
Hi Joseph, sorry that the year went rather bad, but you did get a grandchild so that is a plus. I got my second 🙂 Best wishes for 2015 and that it will be a much better year in many ways!
claudia said:
nice.. congrats on the grandchild…
Joseph Hesch said:
Congratulations< Ina. I retired and got a grandchild in the same year. She is the joy of my life…also tiring as all get out. She gives me a new view on life because hers is just beginning. Best wishes to you and yours!
claudia said:
bedtime for me over here… was at a party yesterday and didn’t get much sleep last night – so will be catching up tomorrow…
Joseph Hesch said:
Good night, Claudia. Thank you for your help today! See you in the AM.
Grace said:
Sleep well Claudia ~
Joseph Hesch said:
OK, gang, your bartender has to step away for dinner. See you all later!
ManicDdaily said:
Hey Joe–a thanks to you and Brian and Claudia and all dVerse. My poem is not Christmasy–but it’s been on my mind. Thanks. k.
Joseph Hesch said:
Thanks, Karin. I wish I could do more, but right now I just can’t. And any poem is good tonight, Christmasy or not. Have a sweet holiday! 🙂
ManicDdaily said:
Thanks, Joe! I’ve done a Christmasy poem now–so if fun for people if okay to post another–k.
Ginny Brannan said:
Thankfully just saw Bjorn’s post on my newsfeed, and thought I’d stop by for awhile. Am sharing a poem written last year, that hasn’t been shared anywhere other than on my blog. Afraid my writing has taken a back seat to holiday preparations, as we will be having company next week through Christmas. Joe, I don’t know how you kept writing through all you went through, but I admire and applaud you for doing it. To all of you here at dVerse, I wish you a joyful holiday and love and peace in the new year. Merry Christmas!
Joseph Hesch said:
Aw, Gin, thank you, my dear friend. Love, peace and joy to you and yours.
Susan said:
A love poem, a goodbye poem … not a Christmas one, but I wish you all happy holidays just the same.
Joseph Hesch said:
I loved your poem, Susan. Such rich work. It’s always the season for such a deep love poem. Happy holidays to you.
Madeleine Begun Kane said:
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!
Joseph Hesch said:
Same to you, my limericking friend!
katiemiafrederick said:
Ah.. taken surprise by the third week instead of the last week of the month…
i am late for a very important date..;)
Just kidding.. and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!..:)
claudia said:
smles… not late at all… happy holidays to you as well sir…
Joseph Hesch said:
Thanks for stopping by. Happy holidays, good sir!
Kathy Reed said:
I’m under the wire with time to spare…..Merry Christmas everyone and I look forward to more poetry at the pub in the New Year! Thank you, Joe, for the last introduction of the year to Open Link and your grandchild. Thank you Claudia, Brian, Bjorn, Grace, Mary and Gay and Marina and others who have hosted this past year. And thank you, fellow poets, for your encouraging comments and for providing thought provoking reading every week.
I will make my rounds as the day goes by…going to be at the lighthouse today, volunteering and just as the day closes I will look out to the straits of our Puget Sound for a some quiet time, close up at 4:00pm and head home. Stay safe.
Joseph Hesch said:
Thank you, Kathy. Wow, a lighthouse in Puget Sound??? That sounds like a book of poetry right there! I’m jealous. Have a wonderful holiday!
Colleen said:
Nice to be back. I got a Solstice Shakedown poem.
enthusiasticallydawn said:
Hooray for crazy Uncles…and for you Joe! lol. Hope your new year is better and your right …writing saves. It saves me daily…from expensive therapy I do believe. lol. Merry Christmas, and Best wishes for Fruitful Writing and life in the new year…;) getting ready to publish a Christmassy post.
Joseph Hesch said:
Thank you, Dawn. I’m sure my nieces wonder about their uncle the alleged poet. I mean who has a poet uncle?? Best wishes to you, as well. And KEEP WRITING!!!
The Course of Our Seasons said:
Good afternoon, Joe – thanks so much for a warm and bright place for us to gather. I have just enough time for a quick cup of coffee – maybe with a drop of the Christmas cheer – but I have brought pumpkin gingerbread to share.
This lovely pub filled with such talented and giving people has become an oasis for me this fall – I can’t fully express how much you all mean except to say my eyes are welling as I type. So I dash now, back to my duties, with hopes to have a few moments to read and be dazzled by your words. Merry, merry everyone – may we all find a bit of grace and a spark of hope in our stockings this year. K
Joseph Hesch said:
Hi, Kathleen! I’m so glad you got in today! That’s a lovely meditation on winter you shared with us. Thank you for sharing your art and heart with us. Best wishes.
Truedessa said:
This has been a year full of trials and tribulations. It has been a joy to be able to come here and share my thoughts and dreams. Thank you all for your support. May you have a Merry Christmas/Happy Holiday in whatever way you celebrate. I wish you all light and bright blessing.
Joseph Hesch said:
Warmest wishes of the season to you, Tru.
Ginny Brannan said:
Demands on my time keep me from reading these poems in one fell swoop, hope those I haven’t gotten to yet will forgive me. I will be popping in and out during the next few days, catching up and commenting on as many as I can. I am really enjoying all of the pieces shared—every one has been outstanding in its own right! Warm wishes to all of the wonderful poets and writers here at d’Verse!
Joseph Hesch said:
Thanks, Gin! Glad you made it back home safely from the great white North. 😉😄 your poem of reminiscence of Christmas in the old hometown was such a warm and wonderful gift! Best wishes always from the other side of the mountains. ~ J
Kathy Reed said:
That goes for me, too, everyone…a bit of a headache to get so much done and visit my son in a short period of time..but I do intend to pop in every once in awhile to finish reading and commenting. Thank you for understanding.
Joseph Hesch said:
Thank you for stopping by and for your splendid poem, Kathy. This time of year, folks can only do what they can do. Have a great holiday!