Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself. ~Harvey Fierstein
Each and every week, we Poets gather. Each and every week we lay down our words, standing defiant against those who are wondering just what the heck we think we’re doing. Were you called to do this? My Name is Natasha Head, and I fear a new addiction!
Those around me regard me as though I have three heads when Tuesday rolls around. They can’t get me to do anything…no matter how they try to sweeten the deal. I am committed. My time is spoken for. I am at dVerse, and I am mingling with folks who never question my motives for being here.
At this point in the realm of the real world, I have been put into the position where I am able to live my nightmare…and I’m surviving it. Each punch and kick to the teeth are just poems waiting to be written, and all I have to do is make it to Tuesday where I get to share, to lighten the load and find the inspiration within YOUR words to carry me through.
So today, I simply want to say “Thank you”.
Thank you for opening your notebooks and sharing your hearts. Thank you for letting me know I am not alone in my fear. Thank you for your kind words, your encouragement, and most of all, the support that comes in knowing you’ve got an entire community as proof you are not crazy in your ambitions. (or is it proof that you’re all just as crazy as I am? Even better!)
Thank you for making dVerse so freaking awesome!
Shall we share a poem?
Here’s how it works:
- Post a poem to your blog. Today YOU decide the prompt. Maybe the poem has already been posted and has just been waiting to be shared?
- Copy the url of that post and paste to Mr.Linky, add your name, click submit and you’re in!
- Return to Mr.Linky where you’ll see the links to all the other poets who have offered up their work for sharing. Simply click on the desired link to read the poet of your choice.
- We are community and this is where we come to life! Comment, share and engage your fellow poets. Send a tweet of a new favorite, tell your facebook family about this awesome write, Stumble this fantastic new entry…you get the point. Show the POET LOVE!
First, maybe! And seventh on the links, maybe!
So you were 😉
Hey Joseph! Welcome back 🙂
Now if I could work out how to get my comments to come up…
Great opening Tash, and great poem today! Thanks for hosting, I am already looking forward to getting drunk on words!
So much safer that way! 😉 And thanks to you for your comments and rt’s! Means alot!
I need something strong and deep in a tall glass. What do you recommend?
Love it Tash, you keep showing up, it counts for so much! I won’t be around to read for a couple hours as commitments pull me away but I’ll be back with enthusiasm and encouragement soon.
Play safe! We’ll be awaiting your return 🙂
Thanks Tash, it’s great to be back! To anyone who may have commented but hasn’t seen it appear I am not the administrator on the Carbon Noise site. As soon as your comments are cleared I’ll be responding as usual :).
Looks like all the comments have been cleared and I’ve responded to all. Thanks for your patience, the insightful and helpful comments, and your valuable time. You all are awesome!
“Each punch and kick to the teeth are just poems waiting to be written…”
Oh I love that!! great oln intro Tash! lets jam…
You’ve posted an awesome write Anthony! Forgive me for the sneak peak…I’m out to at least keep pace with Brian this evening 🙂
That is a difficult thing to do … keep pace with Brian, that is.
Mr. Linky teased me and said I was #1, but I knew it was too good to be true. But #5 isn’t bad. So I was going to bring along two more limericks I wrote on Saturday, but decided to share the triolet I wrote for today instead. Can’t wait to see what other poems are swirling around the bar. Peace, Linda
LOVE the triolet form! Missed it this go round…
woohoo….
double woohoo on the rocks…it’s been a busy seven days! 😉
Love that advice, Tash….never allow yourself to be bullied.. Absotively!!! Great having you here! Cheers :))
Great having YOU here Jackie! See you soon 🙂
Thanks as always for hosting this! Here’s my Uptight Limerick.
I’ll be by to lay down some rhymes…feeble attempt, I know! (Unfortunately…I am not a Rhyming Cat!)
Thanks for hosting today, Tash! Can’t believe I survived the mad opening rush to get her in one piece 🙂
One of the things I just love about hanging out here in the Pub is the sense of support and community, it’s truly an amazing place!
(And I make no claims about my sanity, just happy to be among friends.)
Mary…I think it’s awesome you risked your wellbeing…the starting rush is crazy! glad you landed your poem safely! 🙂
Thank you, Tash, and thank you dversepoets.com.
Posting just 3 Spring Tanka and 3 Spring Haiku…..ACHOOOO!
These allergies make me feel drunk.
Lady Nyo
t’is the season! Can’t wait to visit…we’ll share a sneeze over a hot toddie or two!
With you there, Tash. Yesterday the allergies (before, never) really kicked in and I felt the full fury of them. Yikes! I love this season so much, it is ethereal as Gay says, but one does suffer from the pollen! That hot toddy could really help. Will be around tomorrow more when my head clears! And thank you, again.
I apologize that I’ve been remiss in my reading and commenting lately. I plan to remedy the situation today and tomorrow! Cheers!
You and me both, Charles! I’ll be out there with ya
Crazy wonderful fear Tash! Cheers to you and all the other madpoets in the bar.. 🙂
And watch out for your egos…. my poem today is unashamedly straddling.. See you on the trail
Becky…that was awesome!
becky your write tonight was a trip….
Pure, unadulterated doggerel at my place today – but I had fun writing it and that’s all that really counts.
Thanks for hosting Tash, and I hope you have some better things to write about soon.
That’s why I love OpenLinkNight…allows me to steal some good vibes from you wonderful wordweavers 🙂 Thanks for playing!
That IS what really counts.
Thank YOU, and your band of orchestrators.
I’m having so much fun with these words all of a sudden.
Two weeks ago was the birth of my first poem.
Who’d have thought I’d become a slave overnight 🙂
Do I hear a plea for a word intervention 🙂 Frightfully addictive isn’t it!
Hi Natasha! Here’s to living the nightmare and surviving it… As you say: Each punch and kick to the teeth are just poems waiting to be written. That’s the spirit!
Indeed! I’m building me up a list of rants to last a life time…when done in good taste and with poetic flair! 🙂
I am soooo glad to be here…. this is a place of oasis for me … love to relax amongst the whispered words of the multitude…. thanks for hosting Tash! Everyone can relate to being hugged… so pass along and read my submission today 🙂
Seems to be more than a poet or two in need of a hug…your timing couldn’t have been more perfect!
*HUGS*
I’m not sure if we’re all crazy or not (probably) but it sure is great to be a part of this wonderful community…rock on dVerse! Happy Open Link Night!! 🙂
If i know I’m going crazy then I must not be insane! There hope for me yet…Louise, your piece was fantastic!
Thanks for hosting another Open Link Night. I appreciate the chance to share and read.
We appreciate the opportunity to read what you’re sharing!
Thanks Tashtoo — you’re a real harpooner for our wandering, wet-souled tribe. – Brendan
Thank YOU Brendan, for all the wonderful writes you have visited upon us! Heading your way 🙂
My strange scribble is up! thanks of hosting
Strange? A word I am too fond of 😉 On my way!
Pour me a drink.
Hey, if you happen to read my poem this week… Maybe you could also read my post from yesterday — a great conversation.
Now… where’s that drink?
What do you mean “if you read my poem?” Try and stop me lady!
Ditto.
Thank you Tash and everyone at the pub.
Have a great night all
Thank you Bren…for sharing with us!
Thank you!
always great to see you og!
Hi Tash! Hope you are getting some springtme there! K.
Ha! In the midst of a Winter Storm warning…but I did get a sun burn last week!
I’m a bit frazzled, as you’ll read in my poem, but will try to do my best mingling tonight.
Deep, poetic, breaths…I’ve been in a zen daze for a week (Normal folk refer to it as denial!) 🙂
Woo hoo! I’m poetry pub crawling on my lunch break and loving it. 🙂
booyah….what better way to spend the lunch hour….
Thanks, Natasha!
Thank YOU Stephen 🙂
Natasha, I read your intro for this Tuesday…I am glad you have three heads–the more merry! HOWEVAH! It is *I* wishing to thank YOU, for helping me through my fear of posting poems. You make it sound like there IS no ‘judgment’ here of right from wrong. You give me courage to continue to just have FUN. (And also to keep Tuesdays open, which is difficult.) We retired Peeps have a LOT to do, as you will one day realize…
I mean COMMITMENTS! Let’s see, there’s NAP commitment, and all those ‘eating’ commitments, telephone, Starbucks, meetings GALORE–not to be confused with ‘other’ galore—-grin!
So once more, thank you for giving you opinion in your words, which I guess, I’m finally ready to understand as real, humble, and honest gifting of D’verse Poets Pub, this space they give us to have fun, and help others to have their fun.
Blessings to all the Peeps who come here.
–steveroni
steveroni, your light is a blessing for us all! Here’s to all the wonderful folks here that make this such an awesome forum for the craziness that is life. We’re all in it together!
steve, i love you brother…
Thanks for hosting tonight, and carrying the flag for self-expression every day and night, Natasha.
Happy open link night everyone!
Busy writing day but wanted to contribute..
Have a wonderful night, happy reading and penning always!
Happy open link night everyone!
A busy writing day but wanted to contribute.
Have a great night, happy writing and reading always!
It’s great to be back. I have gotten out of the daily poetry habit and am trying to make it my daily ritual again. Always glad to have this great forum to share and be inspired.
Thanks to Dverse for being here and thanks to all the great poets who inspire us.
Natasha,
You sound stronger and more empowered every time I read something from you. Those hard times do have their reason for being…they do make us stronger. I’m glad I can be of help, glad to be able to give you more time to devote to the things and people you love. Enjoy your evening. I’ll lurk here and there when I get a chance over the next couple of days, but life has me pretty busy lately, too. Next week I hope to be sharing some words of my own.
Cheers to all you dVerse poets!
then we have something to look forward to…life happens sometimes…but glad you still dropped in to mingle joanne
How appropriate fir my link today. Thanks for sharing
Peace to you
it’s nice to be with those who go a little deeper, a little longer, for a little while… def, Tuesday is nice
Everyone’s words each week make my life less lonely and a lot more full in this poetical endeavor. I appreciate each and every one of you. And I’m not just sayin’ that cause I’ve had “a couple!” I really mean it!
Thank you all and thank you, Tash for being so genuine and hosting today, too! 🙂
My poem was written out of sheer frustration. I’m sure all of you poets will be able to relate.
“standing defiant against those who are wondering just what the heck we think we’re doing” … Indeed!!!
My poem is about this very topic. 😉
ok..just coming online…was on a boat trip when OLN went online…thanks tash for the tagging in….now sitting in bryant park in NYC in the sunshine…so very cool…and off to read what you’ve brought to the table…
Glad to see all you fine poets here again on DVerse!
Oh, Tash… And everybody else… I don’t know what to do??? For the past month or so I’ve been feeling so crap about most of my life! And I keep seeing these Open Link nights and I enter – hoping that I’ll have the strength to read and comment on your poems (I know they are great!!!), but I never actually get around to it – not just because I’m a lazy bitch, but because I’m not really feeling well… At the moment I feel I’m that poet over in the corner who shuns the company of others, stands up once every evening – rather drunk – to recite her poetry and then just sits down again…
I don’t like this since I feel like I’m taking advantage of you! I know that there are so many lovely poems out there for me to read… But right now… I just DON’T have it in me!!! Simply writing is quite painful right now.
I don’t know if any of you know me, but I am a part of the Jingle Poetry ‘collective’, and for the past month I’ve even taken a hiatus from that, from my Thursday Poetry Form posts… Can I still post with you? Or should I just stay away?
*gaaaaaah* Sorry, I’m going on and on, aren’t I?
Thank you so much for the post! For your dedication! For your inspiration! For having the strength to be there!!!
Thank you!
You honor us with your presence here. Soak up the poetry and perhaps find a few words where solace lies…I think everyone here can relate to your post, and the last we intend to do is pressure. We’re here for you! This too shall pass…and when it does…we’ll still be here! Hugs to you
*big hugs*
Wrote something reminiscing the past.Hope you’ll like it..It is about how we may live in our present, but we r always attached to our past..
morning from Oz
nice emotional (and painful) write today sir
Ahhhh yes been feeling poorly so reflected thusly 😉 Plus i killed all the butterflys n white doves
So my first week in maybe 10 I don’t have a poem…so I will check out others to read later on. Still psyched 😉 to be here!
Kim…you are so awesome! Appreciate the reading 🙂 and of course…welcome back!
Wonderful to be with you all
glad to have you…smiles.
Thanks for hosting Natasha. Something a little more positive from me this week.
Congratulations on the new book.
Thank you James…and I do think you know by now how wonderful it is when you share your words with us! Poet Power!
The cat is late, such is his fate. But he is crazy to and that you already knew
rock n roll…happy openlinknight everyone and great intro tash…write those poems…turn the crap into something beautiful…see everyone out on the trail soon enough…smiles.
Awww Tash, Great intro, but you don’t have to thank us for what we love to do! Thinking we’re all in that same crazy boat!!
I’m feeling a bit curmudgeonly lately but this too shall pass. 🙂
Cheers, poets!
What a wonderfully warm welcome, Tash. My poem is in today. Yay! 🙂
Well, thought I’d get to te pub a little earlier and I’m still 120 🙂
Look forward to reading some good poems though. Glad to see tasha running things. I might even have a drink now ……………..
Henry! At least let me buy the drink! You were missed more than you know!
That’ll work if I can buy the dinner after. I haven’t reached ur poem yet. I’ll be back for that Vodka. Missed ur kind tashtoo too.
I missed you too. I always love your poems and your comments. You are definitely one of my faves. 🙂
nice..enjoyed what i read so far…. off to see the lion king on broadway now..and back later for a second round…smiles
Have fun, Claudia!
Enjoy!
it was magical…
We all need a little magic from time to time.
Love and peace to all, have a great day/evening xoxo
i am on the trail…but way behind tonight between computer and work…so i will be there but it might take a while…smiles…great stuff so far though….thanks for all that came by already…
Happy to be here again with so much incredible talent. Cheers!
smiles…back on the trail again…after seeing the lion king, downloaded “he lives in you” to my iphone & danced through the hotel room for a while, trying to move like a lion..haha… so in case i ROAR in my comments…just don’t wonder…smiles
ha. i knew you would love it…broadway is awesome…saw american idiot when i was there last year…
I’m trying the narcissist route… I wrote a song about me.. but… it’s sort of under the title of branding myself and my blog and what my life is about. I’d like to hear what thoughts people have!
8 pm here in Seattle and I feel like I just checked in with old friends. This is the greatest joy ever–reading around the wonder-filled web worlds. Oh, such gifting….I’m awed and sometimes silenced. Too late to jump in the comment line for many of you ’cause there are so many…but just so good…
Thank you Natasha for hosting.
I will do my mother job–I hope you’re in bed soon! (wherever you are).
it is nice to be in the EST timezone for an OpenLinkNight…. now i know how much fun you’re having in the pub while i’m sleeping when i’m in my time zone…smiles…but now def. have to go to bed now…good night poets and see you tomorrow..
yep on the way out myself…time to get some sleep….see you in the morning poets….
Am always late but enjoy making my weekly ritual visit here. Thank you for your welcoming words.
Hi Tash, hi folks… it’s been a long day (and night) at work – we’ve all had those days – so I haven’t had the chance to circulate yet, but today looks a little better… and I am eager to see what everyone has put together. It’s what keeps me sane!
Anyway, if you’re wondering where I am, I’m caffeinated and off to work… Will get back later today!
I’m breaking the rules and hitting up your post next Sam! Hope the real world lightens enough for you to enjoy of of these amazing writes! I
Good morning Poets! Hope you survived the word hangovers and are looking forward to another day of fantastic sharing and reading…I’ve got the morning free and that alone deserves a most poetic fist pump! 😉
fist pump tash!
good morning everyone….back out on the trail and catching up with the overnights
def in need of coffee tash…smiles…
What! I forgot to stop into the pub and say hi to everyone. Stopping by this morning. Having a little trouble waking up and getting started but wanted to say that I’ve enjoyed all the poems I’ve read so far. Coffee and cereal time. Thanks to everyone who has come by. You’re all welcome!
I had heard a lot about dVerse and decided to take a look around. But I am afraid I might have been a bit late in linking my poem.
This is a cool place, Natasha. 🙂
Thanks Mihir! So pleased you stopped by…and you’ve got plenty of time left to link up a poem…OpenLinkNight is the longest poetry party around 🙂 You’ve got ten hours left…we know how busy poets can be 😉
Linked! Went through some of the familiar names on the list and now looking out for more. :]
Yay! 🙂 On my way!
Looking forward to reading everyone’s poetry tonight! Thanks for the opportunity to share 🙂 This is a wonderful blog community.
Thanks for joining in! 🙂
ok…back in bryant park…back on the trail…
natasha, enjoyed your intro-prompt, thanks so much 😉 it speaks, its clear, to how many of us feel, thanks again 😉
Not the poem I wanted to finish tonight, but still something for fun. 🙂
Well, it was a long day today as well, but I’m finally in the pub, and thirsty for poetry!
Nice intro Natasha, glad to be here!