Hello old and new friends, welcome. This is Gayle, from Bodhirose’s Blog hosting my first Open Link Night. I’m proud and happy to have accepted the role as a new team member for dVerse Poets. dVerse has been here for me through my ups and downs and taking short and long breaks and I think it’s time to give back, so here I am.
It’s been just about three years now that I uprooted my life in Winter Park, FL, just outside of Orlando, and moved to this small, riverside community of Sebastian. The main reason for my move, and maybe most of you already know this, was the birth of my granddaughter, Mira. It’s hard to believe that she just turned three years old! But when I moved and got busy caring for her just a few weeks after her birth, my writing muse seemingly vanished. The flow of creativity dried up…and I really didn’t much care. My life was filled with the activity and love of family and embracing a whole different lifestyle. But after some time, I realized I really missed creating written pieces that had sometimes just spontaneously emerged from my mind with some random thought or idea. Surely I had more to share. Certainly I wasn’t done…was I? No, apparently not, I’m happy to say.
Within the last several weeks I’ve taken upon myself to participate in some great prompts that have generated some new writings and given me back a taste of what I had once created. It’s been very satisfying to renew this interest of mine and more importantly to be able to share it with you and receive some very gracious “welcome backs”, generous comments and compliments and the opportunity to meet new authors and to reach out and encourage them.
I appreciate all of you and thank you for your support of me and of each other. It’s vital that we all reciprocate the kindness that others show us in taking time to read and comment on our writings. It’s only fair and right that we give in return. This community will grow and prosper and you’ll be heartened by the friendships and connections that will be cultivated.
The following is a poem by Robert Frost titled “October.” I thought it may spark some ideas as we enter into fall and the beginning of nature slowing down her pace:
“October”
O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—
For the grapes’ sake along the wall.
PoetryFoundation.org
So now let’s get down to the business at hand as I ask each of you to make a contribution of a poem of your choice. I look forward to spending some quality time reading, enjoying and sharing my thoughts with you. Happy Open Link Night, everyone!
Here is how you post your works here:
- Write a poem and post it to your webpage.
- Click on the Mr. Linky button below and enter your name and direct url/web address to your poem
- There you will also find the list of those participating this week. You might want to refresh this occasionally or check back in as there are people joining over the next 33 hours.
- Read other poets that have linked. Let them know what you thought, how the poem moved you, what you think of their style, what caught your attention. Please don’t forget to return the favor of those who have visited and commented on your work.
- Encourage others to participate through social media, promote your own piece and others.
- Have fun meeting and engaging your fellow poets.
Bodhirose said:
Welcome everyone!
Grace said:
Thanks for being our gracious host & pub tender Gayle!!!!
Bodhirose said:
Many thanks, Grace!!
kanzensakura said:
Howdy doody to you!!!! Happy first night hosting OLN. As you are the bartender, please reach down on the shelf by the ice keeper and pull out that special never ending bottle of sake and please pour me a thimble. Everyone else is welcome to share as well. It is a gorgeous October day. Just came back from a ramble in the woods and brought back about two quarts of wild grapes, like deep purple huge pearls. I left enough on the vines for all the critters to get several days worth of nibbles before the season for them ends. Like mini scuppernongs!!!
Bodhirose said:
There’s that word again…scuppernongs…I love it! 🙂 Ok, here is your thimble full of sake…really, that’s all you want? Thanks for coming by and keeping me company.
kanzensakura said:
And now I am ready for some warm spiced cider to get me all sleepy.,,right. An insomniac rarely gets sleepy.
Bodhirose said:
One warmed spiced cider coming up. Or maybe that should be a cup of warm milk to get you sleepy…
lupitatucker said:
Welcome to your first open link night, Gayle! I live near you, in Palm Bay, FL. I recently went to Winter Park for the first time, a few weeks ago. It is an oasis in the midst of the insanity of Orlando! Sebastian is a bit of an oasis, though too, very Old Florida. I hope you are enjoying it.
Bodhirose said:
Well, thank you, neighbor! You are very close by. Winter Park is a beautiful gem that is for sure. Did you go for their fall art festival last weekend? Sebastian certainly is an oasis of its own kind but I wouldn’t mind a bit more liveliness. It’s pretty quiet and low key here.
lupitatucker said:
I did not know about the art festival. I was in New York City this weekend, at the Academy of American Poets annual Poets Forum. It was amazing, and I highly recommend it.
Bodhirose said:
I read what you wrote about it, Lupita. Sounds like a very inspirational way to spend a weekend.
lupitatucker said:
It was. It is an annual event, and it would be so cool if next year we could get some Dverse-ers to meet up there.
Bodhirose said:
Maybe that could happen.
Glenn Buttkus said:
Your resurfacing has been beautiful for all of us. Is there some diet soda at the bar? I don’t do alcohol any more. Kudos for bartending/hosting. Your giving back is noted & appreciated.
Bodhirose said:
I so appreciate your welcoming words for me, Glenn…thanks so much. Yes, plenty of non-alcoholic drinks are available. I don’t do alcohol either.
kanzensakura said:
I like the poem you used. The last four lines remind me of my walk today.
Bodhirose said:
Thank you, Toni, I like that one too. Robert Frost is good at observation and details. Your poem was lovely and maybe a bit pensive.
kanzensakura said:
Yes, it is. It is time for my yearly dive into mono no aware…..
Madeleine Begun Kane said:
Congrats on your move, on being a grandma, and on reawakening your muse!
Bodhirose said:
Thanks, Madeleine! So glad that muse has come alive again.
kanzensakura said:
Now that I have had my thimble of sake, I have the fire in my tummy to propel me off to more errands. Will be back later to check on links and for a cup of coffee! Hope you all are having a good day. Gayle, it is grand to have you here.
Bodhirose said:
I am having a good day and thank you for your welcoming words, Toni.
kanzensakura said:
It is good to welcome you!
Bodhirose said:
🙂
Grace said:
Lovely to see you hosting your first OLN Gayle ~ Also beautiful to read that classic poem by R. Frost ~ I will be around shortly to visit and return comments ~
Happy Thursday to everyone ~
Bodhirose said:
I feel very fortunate to be here, Grace…thank you. What a wonder of a writer is Mr. Frost.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
It’s wonderful to have you on board Gayle. Sorry for being late, I’m on my way home after a wonderful concert. I will be making my rounds when I get home 🙂
Bodhirose said:
Many thanks to you, Bjorn, for your support of me and making sure I got my post done as I should. See you later. 🙂
Sanaa Rizvi said:
Hey everyone,
Hope you’re having a wonderful week 🙂 sharing a poem inspired by the title of Robert Frost’s poem “Fire and Ice.” Hope you guys like it 😀
Congratulations Gayle for joining the dVerse Team 🙂
Lots of love,
Sanaa
Bodhirose said:
Hello, Sanaa, and thanks for your congrats for me. Robert Frost’s works are a treasure trove of inspiration.
Lots of love,
Gayle
Sanaa Rizvi said:
You’re most welcome Gayle, when I read his poem I knew it then and there that it would spark a poem out of me 🙂
Bodhirose said:
Oh, very glad to hear that…wonderful, Sanaa. 🙂
Pleasant Street said:
Robert Frost warmed me up nicely, now a nice warm cider will finish the job.
On to poetry….
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Warm cider.. sounds wonderful
Pleasant Street said:
Now that I’ve mentioned it cyberly I have to go get some^_^
kanzensakura said:
Yum. Warm cider with some cinnamon. Great suggestion!
Bodhirose said:
Warm cider coming up!
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Gayle, I’m so delighted to have you here today and as a part of the team. I’m just in to link up–taking a break from putting the garden to bed for the winter. ..a great source, for me, of inspiration. I look forward to returning a little later in the day to read and comment. I’d love a nice steaming mug of hot tea when I come back to the bar…caffeine free, please.
Bodhirose said:
I’m delighted to be here too, Victoria…thank you! Take your time. A nice hot mug of tea will be waiting for you when you return…my pleasure.
D.C. Lutz said:
I am glad I stopped back in and look forward to filling my glass with some fine poetry later this evening. Thanks for tending bar tonight Gayle!
Bodhirose said:
I’m glad you stopped back in too, D.C. And you’re very welcome…it’s my pleasure to be here. 🙂
Bodhirose said:
I’ll be taking a break here for dinner duties and will stop back in later to catch up. Enjoy your OLN, see you later everyone!
Grace said:
See you later Gayle ~ I am hitting up the poetry trail ~
mishunderstood said:
Hi Gayle. Welcome back to the pub and congrats on hosting OLN.
That was a lovely poem by Robert Frost. I was just thinking today that my favourite month of the year could easily be October….the deep blue skies, golden fields, wild flowers in bloom, the nip in the air and that feeling that something is changing…especially where I am in Canada. The seasons are so distinct.
Have fun on the trail !
~Mish~
Bodhirose said:
Thank you, Mish…so glad to be of service to dVerse. Where I live there is not much of a change of the seasons. Enjoy your October!
Mary said:
Hi Gayle, So nice to see you here at your first Open Link! I also enjoyed learning a bit more about you. It sounds like you really enjoy being a grandmother!! I really do like the October poem you shared from Robert Frost. Actually I am sharing an October poem I wrote two days ago. I think that October is an inspiring poetry writing month! I will be making my way around visiting people who are responsive…..
Bodhirose said:
Hi Mary, yes, I really enjoy being a grandmother to Mira! She’s the best little girl. 🙂 I know that you’re away for a bit so will see you around when you’re available.
Mary said:
Thanks, Gayle! I did find a way to be around…didn’t know if it would be possible, but it does seem it is. Smiles!
Bodhirose said:
Well good, Mary…I’m glad that worked out for you…and all of us too. Smiles!
MarinaSofia said:
How lovely to see you behind the bar, Gayle, and good to hear that you are re-engaging with poetry once more!
I look forward to reading all the poems, even if I may or may not participate (holidays are starting here – although it seems that they’ve only just gone back to school, and I have some deadlines to cope with just before).
Bodhirose said:
Thanks so much, Marina. It feels really nice to be back into my writing again. I’ll look for you as you’re able to participate….enjoy your holidays.
Hope said:
Hello! been over a year since i’ve posted. Nice to participate once again. I hope you will enjoy what i’ve shared as much as i’m going to enjoy reading what others have shared. Beautiful words of Robert Frost always inspire me. Thank you. Hope to visit you more often 🙂
Grace said:
Thanks for joining us again ~ Enjoy our autumn weekend ~
Bodhirose said:
Hi Hope, so glad that you shared a poem with us. I look forward to your future visits.
Gayle ~
petrujviljoen said:
I didn’t mention the Dverse OLN on my page. Thoughtless of me. I edited the post and it’s duly mentioned. Only realised this morning. Apologies.
Bodhirose said:
It took me a while to get into the habit myself. No apologies necessary, and thanks for changing your post.
greenspeckblogger said:
Oops … the link already closed 😦
Here is my entry that I had wished to link:
http://livinglifegreenspeck.blogspot.in/2015/10/scribble-it-black.html
Bodhirose said:
Sorry you missed the deadline. I went by this morning and read your poem…really enjoyed it. I invite you to join us again.