What’s up, poets? Anthony Desmond behind the tables here for Open Link…
So, I recently took a break from the pen to rediscover myself artistically;
and I would like to know if any of you have ever had to take a
step back and reevaluate? Let’s talk about that between reading.
Let’s have a happy & active OLN everyone,
hit the trail and see some faces…
RULES:
Click the Mr. Linky button below and enter your name & direct url to your
ONE poem
There you will find other poets’ work for today’s prompt – engage with one
another and have a good time learning from each other
Feel free to share using the social media of your choice using #dversepoets
dVerse 
We’re open 🙂 hiiii
Hurrah! Good to see you, Anthony!
Nice to see you too, Mary. As always 🙂
hey – happy oln and thanks for hosting anthony
i think it’s not bad at all to take an artistic break every once and a while to re-adjust, re-evalute….. re-create…ha
Hi Claudia 🙂 it really isn’t… I found myself reading older works and realizing it’s time to move on… and up.
So what does that mean concretely for you, Anthony?
It just means time to move in another direction with my poetry. I’m in a different place and kinda feel like I am starting over from square one.
Spring = new beginnings, heh? All is good. Glad you’re here, Anthony and thanks for hosting.
That was a very short intro – please note to only link 1 poem for OLN ~
I agree about the reading in between to simulate the muse ~
Happy Thursday and thanks for hosting Anthony ~
I already did note to put one – it’s in the rules.
Thanks ~ I will be visiting in a bit ~
Hey Anthony–happy OLN 🙂 I can relate to your journey. I think it can be healthy to reevaluate and make some adjustments creatively. I find myself continually evolving in the process.
How are you Jennifer? I agree – it’s all about evolving.
I’m doing well, thanks! You?
I can’t complain! thanks for asking
I do think sometimes one has to take a break and re-evaluate in what direction you want to go artistically. Never hurts to refresh one’s spirit a little bit.
Hi Anthony – I think that life is a series of steps where we say to ourselves – am I making things better, or am I making things worse.
I liken artistic production to the seasons – there’s spring, and winter.
Exactly… I’ve remained stagnate for a bit honestly
it’s easy to do, and avoid stepping beyond the comfort zone.
When I was on vacation, I wrote less and painted less. Yet I cannot say that I have felt very inspired since getting back. Sigh.
Hi Anthony! Great to see you! It’s a little early for my usual thimble of sake but a nice big glass of sweet iced tea with lots of lemon wlll keep me going for a bit. I’ve been doing a lot of re-evaluating lately. I’ve been working with different form, learning new things and though I seem to come back to my “style”, it is with a different eye, a different place in my heart. I think seasons of our lives cause us to do that – a death, a birth, job change, love status/change, age….Besides having a diverse crew here on this site, I think we need to keep diversity in our own art – when I find I’ve been in a certain flow for an extended time, I step back and examine as to why and what I need to do to move forward or improve. Like artists of paint, I think we artists of ink have the same periods – our blue period, cherry blossom period, hell bent for leather periods….I just don’t want to get stuck into one.
Hey! Most definitely… I’ve been stuck for awhile, and almost didn’t want to move forward because I enjoyed the writing. But I’ve had a sudden change of heart… comfort is a witch with a B I tell ya…
I hear ya talkin’ said in my slow southern draaaaawl while shaking my head. It’s been all about that for a few months. And now my garbage disposal has died and after two hours of trying to repair, I give up!!!! I’m installing a new one tonight. An excellent metaphor for our art, I think…..
my family is from the south so I’m all ears. I think I need a new kitchen zank as well… hahaha
Yeah. It’s witch when the hungry hippo decides to stop eating.
is that tap-dancing music I hear ? 🙂
Ha! you caught me!
Good evening, everyone, hope you all had a nice break over Easter or Passover or just spring! I can certainly relate to your dilemma, Anthony. Sometimes we become a little too comfortable in our groove and keep doing the same thing over and over. We have to constantly challenge ourselves, or reassess if this is the direction we really want to go.
good points – modern life can be too easily spent coasting…
Agreed… problem is I don’t really know where to go yet.
Good to see you, Anthony! And happy you are writing again.
It always seems that when I am not writing, its because I’m not making time for myself – to read, think, scribble, just BE. Sometimes its hard to put that ‘me’time in a busy calendar of things. But I am trying to make room for myself and I am writing and reading more.
Looking forward to reading tonight!
Yes… quite a few tell me I just need me time, which I don’t get a lot of… Good to see you too 🙂
Today I’m sharing a poem I recently wrote about a family situation. I actually wasn’t sure I was going to post it, and scheduled it to post I thought two days later, then the next day I got a notification that somebody “liked” it. I guess I don’t know how to work a calendar. Anyway, I’ll be back later to read some poetry. Today I’m working on two book proposals for a writers conference I’m going to tomorrow.
As for your question, Anthony, I don’t have any artistic talent beyond writing. But I have had times of just having to take a break from that. I find that I miss it all too soon, though. Peace, Linda
Life is one (hopefully) long reevaluation. 🙂
I agree 100% – I once read a description of life as playing ball on running water
Hey Anthony – yes, I have had that many a times. I would stop writing for a long time and then I will feel that urge again. It is a very interesting learning of my life.
sometimes as we go through life, or stories change
Good to see you Anthony and many thanks for hosting.
Of late I have taken a break often as my mind is full of other stuff, other stuff that must take priority. Oh that inner peace should return… one day maybe.
Kind regards
Anna :o]
Anna, I am so glad that you were able to write today! And I do hope that your inner peace will return.
Great conversation tonight. I’m sorry – I haven’t written a thing since computer disaster last weekend, so my break is involuntary. But I’m hoping when I am re-equipped the words will flow again. Meanwhile, I’m enjoying the sunshine and being lazy!
Oy… computer disasters – tell me about it… my last computer was suddenly useless when Windows stopped supporting the older versions.
I have to go for a bit… will be back in a few hours.
Reblogged this on Hammer Hurt Me and commented:
Open it with a Good Old Love hammer, and let your Mic drop
Hello – Long time gone. Hope all’s well. Frost Demon. This story falls from the Great Before onto the Concrete Now — bloody and broken. Run. The truth is spoken by Woodheavy Brown & Edwin Meek. Celebrate. Love.
Thanks for dropping by ~
Sure thing. Thank you. It’s right near the car wash where I sleepwalk. Turtle wax.
Hi Anthony and friends!
I look forward to reading ONCE I get dinner together…so I will be making my rounds later…after the fam goes to sleep. 😉 Look forward to seeing you out on the path. Coffee for me though or I will NEVER make it. lol
I am just hitting the poetry trail myself ~ Thanks for dropping by Dawn ~
Hey Dawn 🙂
I’ve been on a break from writing, more from necessity than choice, but I realized it’s a tool for my (at times) fragile sanity so I’m hoping to do more when I can catch a free moment–without making promises I can’t keep. For those who’ve asked about my husband, he’s doing well but will be quite limited for a while–no lifting, bending, twisting, driving. He’s tried to start cooking again but ended up with a lot of pain from being on his feet too long. Back surgery is not to be taken lightly. Thanks, all, for the concern and prayers. Hoping to read as many of you as possible!
always glad to see you stop by… I’ve been ill myself so I understand what you’re doing from the other side.
Glad your husband is doing well, Victoria….. I am sure his recovery is in good hands.
Thank you for stopping by Victoria!! Great to hear your hubby is doing okay
Good to see you around, whenever you can make it, with no pressure at all… Glad to hear your husband is doing better, but the back is a troublesome monster and requires lots and lots of rest.
Nice of you to tend bar tonight Anthony. I have definitely taken time out from writing, but mostly because of vacations or family needs. Haven’t really done so to evaluate. I do try to self-evaluate on an on-going basis. But I think I like your idea of distancing myself for a while to see my work fresh. Thanks Anthony.
You’re very welcome, Myrna… Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Hey, I’m a bit late to the party all.
Thanks for tending the bar Anthony!
Hello! thanks for joining us
okay, I’m off for the night… Peace and love.
Hi Anthony! Hope you are well, and that you benefited from your writing break. At least once a week I tell myself I’m going to take a break….but it never really happens; at most, I last a week before I feel withdrawal symptoms. Maybe poetry blogging is a life sentence without possibility of parole—could be worse, eh? Blessings to you.
ha… maybe? 🙂 Thank you and blessings.
Well.. i am artistic until about age 13 and end up taking a 40 year break until age 53.. and i am going to ride the wave as long and strong as i can.. haha! whether or not anyone can ride with me or not.. in comfort.. but to truly let it flow and let it go.. is to be all one can be.. in my opinion.. with others steps or not..:)
Off to dance as Thursday Night is my RAVE dance night.. but will be back tomorrow to read and comment on all.. with the days coming more..:)
Glad you are back writing Anthony and wish you the best in artistic creativity and love..:)
Busy times for me back at the farm, but reading as much as I can.
hola
Just had a two week’s break. Not so much reevaluation – but plenty of physical activity and some reading. I will check some poetry out on spotty Internet…
Glad you had a good break, Bjorn! Nice to see you again after your time away!
Good to read you again Bjorn ~ Hope you had a good vacation ~
Wonderful vacation actually.. though partly weatherlocked… interesting to experience how the internal clock slows down a little… I have read most of the poems during my trainride south.. after all it was an 18 hours ride. Now at home with gardening work after having been in a snowstorm 48 hours ago.
Snowstorm? I can feel my love for Scandinavian countries ebbing…
whoa, snowstorm…. yikes! Good to see you Bjorn
breaks are good, so long as it’s not broken. cheers, and a good weekend to all ~
True… Cheers, M!
Whew, what a week! Finally time to join in, better late then never, right?
I think we need to take breaks occasionally, put space between us and the work we’ve done and the work we’ll do next. Allow the well to refill, so to speak.
I’m doing A poem a day for Poetry Month and keeping up is a challenge, the digging ever deeper to get to the words. I may be ready for a break after this!
Happy poetry to you all!
Well done, Kelly – I’m a coward and did not dare commit to a poem a day, but it’s probably the best way to get ‘unblocked’. Wishing you luck and inspiration!
Hi, Kelly! Kudos for keeping up with the challenge… I tried a few years ago and ten days in, I was like “ENOUGH :(” hahaha
Candy Morrow was our last ‘linker’ but your link is on Tumblr and I can’t seem to be able to post any comments on there. (I think I joined it once but have forgotten password and everything). Just wanted to say it’s a very heartfelt, emotional piece.
Late to the party, but wanted to share what came from my tailgate musing last night.
Hello there again friend! Yes, I have had to take breaks before due to work, stress and other life issues. What I find is that the writing is always on the inside, but at times we need to be refreshed or allow ourselves time to heal from things in order to do our best work. Great post and question!