Good evening pub patrons old and new. Hedgewitch (Joy Ann Jones) here, wiping down the bar and filling up the espresso machine for another evening of open topic poetry sharing.
First of all I’d like to welcome our two newest team members, both of them regulars here where everybody knows your name, and you probably will know their names.
Mary, of In the Corner of My Eye blog , and Fred Rutherford, of Poetical Psyche, are joining our Saturday Poetics team, where each weekend we offer a themed prompt to lure out the muse. A warm and sudsy pub welcome to you both.
~*~
Next weekend brings Labor Day, the last holiday and official wrap-up of summer in the US, and if you’ve lived in those parts of the country (or elsewhere) which have endured another spate of record heat and drought this year, I know like me you are not minding all too much. It’s not fall yet, but the promise of autumn seems to tease us from around the nearest corner, and offer us something better to anticipate.
The very real but difficult to express level of delight this caused me made me stop for a moment to think about the nature of amorphous concepts like anticipation, hope, despair and so forth, and how, like so much of poetry, they express something enormous that is neither physically measurable nor concrete, that only exists in the mind and spirit.
We have science for facts and process, philosophy, metaphysics and religion for the questions of existence, but for defining and expressing our own most elusive internal constructs of emotion, we only have art, poetry and music.
That’s the coded message behind the most analytic and dry poem as well as the most saccharine pop song, conveyed with varying degrees of skill and effectiveness: that we have only these tools to try to communicate a vast reservoir of fluid intangibles we all experience but have difficulty defining or expressing any other way.
So I thought I’d dig up a few quotes dealing with this elusive place for us to ponder as we read and share together in the inner language tonight:
Art is a step from what is obvious and well-known toward what is arcane and concealed. ~Khalil Gibran
The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life. ~William Faulkner
The mediator of the inexpressible is the work of art. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality. But, of course, only those who have personality and emotions know what it means to want to escape from these things. ~T.S. Eliot
And I’ll close with a poet who never fails to gobsmack me with the way he could express that ‘inexpressible’ Goethe referrences, simply, so anyone could access it:
Poetry is the opening and closing of a door, leaving those who look through to guess about what is seen during the moment. ~Carl Sandburg
So without further ado, all, let’s open the door, dive into that reservoir, and see what we can find. If you’re new to the pub and the linking process, here’s the drill:
- Link in the poem you’d like to share–old or new, on any topic, (1 per blog, please)– by clicking on the Mr.Linky button just below.
- This opens a new screen where you’ll enter your information, and where you also choose links to read. Once you have pasted your poem’s blog url and entered your name, simply click submit.
- 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. Remember that this is how we connect with those who can support and encourage us, and for whom we provide the same vital benefits.
- Spread the word. Feel free to tweet and share on the social media of your choice.
- Finally, enjoy! Remember, we are here for each other. Thanks to all of you, and enjoy tonight’s Open Link poetry-thon.
ManicDdaily said:
I am in and out– a lot of responsibilities today – look forward to reading tonight. k.
hedgewitch said:
Enjoyed your found poem much, Karin.
ManicDdaily said:
Thanks, Joy. You know, I’ve had a very busy and kind of difficult day at moments – I’m with my mother and we just got some not-such-good news from one of her doctors – so I’d hadn’t even actually read your post till now. Thanks so much for the wonderful quotes – I found the Sandberg and Eliot especially moving. You are right that season’s change a good time to take stock. All hail the effort to communicate – in so very many different ways. k.
hedgewitch said:
Sorry to hear about the difficult news, Karin. Not always easy, juggling work, responsibilities and that parenting role reversal that comes with age. Hope things get better, and thanks for taking the time to read and post tonight.
Eric said:
Belly up to the bar! I was ready this time! ☺
hedgewitch said:
We’re ready too, bubba. Have one on the house for getting in line so fast.
Eric said:
Sweet! (Thanks!)
hedgewitch said:
Hello everyone, so excited to be here again behind the bar. Welcome ! I’m psyched, and looking forward to a full night of some of the best poetry on the web.
Susan L Daniels said:
Yay–looking forward to some great reading!
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Wow! 12:04 and I’m 37th! The pub is already busy Have fun everyone, and thanks for hostessing, hedge.
hedgewitch said:
That early crowd is quick, Victoria. Good to see you.
Steve King said:
Good afternoon, Joy, and all–I’m looking forward to rejoining you after a week off. Now it’s time to read…
Ginny Brannan said:
Good to see you here this week Steve. Missed you last week!
hedgewitch said:
Sometimes a little off time helps–enjoyed your conversation about the “how” thing that can’t be really explained–though you did a good job of coming as close as humanly possible, I think.
Emily said:
Wow. I am so in love with that TS Eliot quote. Thanks for hosting! Looking forward to some good reading this week…
hedgewitch said:
The older i get, the more i like Eliot. Thanks, Emily, and glad you’re here.
Kristina said:
Yay, I almost can’t believe how early I’m in!
1emeraldcity said:
Great intro, Hedge…and thanks for hosting!
hedgewitch said:
My pleasure jackie–see you soon.(Virtually, that is. ;_) )
tashtoo said:
Welcome aboard Mary and Fred…so very awesome to have you tempting our pens for Poetics…and Hedge…LOVIN’ the quotes. Awesome to be here bright eyed and bushy-tailed for a change, and the welcome did nothing if not rev me up even more. See you out their fellow word-slaves!
hedgewitch said:
Alright! You know you’re always a tough act to follow. (And I totally agree–great to have some fresh blood on board an already great team.) I know you’ll be rocking it at your place, Tash.
Mary said:
Thank you so much, Tash and Hedgewitch! You can’t imagine how excited I am to be part of THE team!
beckykilsby said:
Wonderful words to welcome us to the pub this evening Joy.. the Faulkner and the Sandberg especially resonate for me and the poem I have linked this week. Looking forward to some great reading as ever!
hedgewitch said:
Glad you enjoyed, Becky. I’m headed your way.
claudia said:
happy OLN and thanks for tending bar hedge! that sandburg quote was one of the first i read about poetry when i started to write…not that long ago yet it seems like ages…smiles…
hedgewitch said:
I’m always amazed when you talk about what a short time you’ve been writing Claudia. I’m so glad you started–your poetry is one of a kind.
Mary said:
I agree. Claudia’s poetry is astounding…as if she has been writing for decades.
Ginny Brannan said:
Clicked in at #2 and posted at #14. Mad rush for the door today!! Thanks for hosting Joy. Know what you mean about looking forward to a change of seasons and weather. Exactly what my share poem is about today. Heading in to mingle and read for a bit!!
hedgewitch said:
You’re welcome, Ginny. The seasons always drag the words out of us, I think.
PJF Sayers said:
My offering is an old poem, tweaked a bit. Happy open link to all …
Pamela
hedgewitch said:
Welcome, Pam. Always good to have one of your poems at the pub.
The Course of Our Seasons said:
My contribution is a little something written a while ago – looking forward to lots of good reading tonight – K
Daydreamertoo said:
Have a good night at the pub all.
Amy Jo Sprague said:
Great to be here, looking forward to reading tonight!!
hollyannegetspoetic said:
Evening to all in the pub! 🙂
Wander said:
Glad to be here today…linked one from last year but it is one of my favorites
Beth Winter said:
OpenLinkNighters! Yay!
My most recent blog post is dedicted to a friend an poet who passed a year ago today. It is a gift to his mother and those who care for Prosper. I linked my most recent poem to OpenLinkNight. I hope everyone has a wonderful evening.
Bauke Kamstra (@wyrde on twitter) said:
Finally getting the hang of this thing I think. I feel I’l joining an illustrious crowd. 🙂
K. McGee said:
I’m back from vacation and it feels good to be home!
Positively Wyrde (@Wyrde) said:
Happy to be here at last.
ladynyo said:
Looking forward to reading and welcome to the new crew.
Joy, you have taken something and hit it right on the head with the quotes about poetry….especially escaping, etc.
I’ve been slowly working on ‘The Nightingale’s Song” so I’ve posted a piece. Finally have a little control on my broken wrist and can write comments. Yah! It’s been not fun.
Lady Nyo
hedgewitch said:
Glad to hear you’re healing up finally Jane, and look forward to seeing what you’ve got up.
Gemma Wiseman said:
A beautiful, reflective post! I love the quotes but especially love your own exploration of “amorphous concepts”! A delight!
hedgewitch said:
Thanks Gemma–sometimes when you want to shout, you can just write a poem, and keep the shout forever. ;_)
Apryl Gonzales Sweet (@SweetApryl) said:
It has been a few weeks but with a daughter off to college I’m happy to be able to join you this evening. Thanks for the quotes, loved them 🙂
Poet Laundry said:
Great quotes hedge…and happy OLN everyone.
Adrian Giannini said:
morn all, will try n read by weekend, about to head to Melbourne for work for 2 days, sp Tequila for brekkie may be apt 😉 Any probs with website contact me as Ive just changed a few things
Bodhirose said:
Love those quotes…thanks, Joy!
Gay Reiser Cannon said:
Good to see you at the bar with your knowing smile and clever quotes today, our Joy! One model shows the rainwater heading straight for Oklahoma – we can cross our fingers and hope that the hurricane does no damage to N’awleans and brings much needed relief to the farmlands in the next few days!
A couple of septet stanzas for today inspired by a lovely teacup from my mother’s collection! Thanks to everyone and especially you Joy for hosting today.
hedgewitch said:
It doesn’t look like we’ll get much, though you never know with storms like this–huge and slow–but that’s okay–looks like Texas is spared, too. I just hope the people in LA and Miss. I are not hit too hard. I’ll be by to read soon, Gay.
charlesmashburn said:
Hey y’all! Sup?
Sharing an oldie but goodie with ya tonight. Hoe you enjoy it!
hedgewitch said:
Hey–welcome Charles. Oldies are usually goodies–I laughed about your dog stories with my husband, btw.
brian miller said:
way late just blowing in fromt he work front and jumping out on the trail…so excited for fred and mary joining the team…i know they will do some amazing things…smiles.
claudia said:
ha – got a bit sidetracked…my daughter was watching “Salt” in the living room where i sit with my laptop…suspense-packed movie…but back on the trail again now… smiles
Sheila said:
Welcome – Mary and Fred! So, great to hear you guys are going to be tending the bar soon. You’ll love it!
Joy, I really identified with the quote by TS Elliot. Thanks for all of them.
I’ve got a new video poem for you all tonight. See you on the poetry trail 🙂
Mary said:
Thanks for the welcome, Sheila! I am thrilled to be part of this wonderful group. I am going to have to learn how to mix drinks though…at the bar. LOL.
claudia said:
haha…you will learn that quickly…smiles
ihatepoetry said:
Loved those quotes Hedge – also loved that I am lined up right next to Joanna at the bar. 🙂 Happy reading.
claudia said:
smiles..you’re def. in good company with joanna… happy reading mosk
hedgewitch said:
We don;t call this the *other* place where everybody knows your name for nothin, Mosk. Lovin that you are here.
gardenlilie said:
Nice to have explanations of my insanity and glorious take on words that come from parts of my unused brain. Ha! Seriously I’m enthralled and taken by the word.
gardenlilie said:
Try to bring a poem/prose back later.
hedgewitch said:
We’ll look forward to it.
Ruth said:
hi everyone – i’ve linked a new one, can’t read right now but promise to do so later…
hedgewitch said:
Hi, Ruth. Read when you can. I’m making slow progress myself–lots of really substantial entries tonight.
claudia said:
close to midnite over here..and i’m on my way to bed… was quite touched by some poems tonight…deep, emotional and brave topics… i read some a few times, so didn’t manage to make my round so quickly but will be back tomorrow…
thanks to all of you for being here – and yes – warm welcome to mary and fred – can’t wait for their first poetics prompts… and i’m so thankful for each of our fantastic team members and everyone who comes through that door with a pen and a poem under their arms…see..i’m getting all sentimental when it’s getting late…smiles…off to bed now…good night…
Mary said:
Ah, Claudia…and thanks so much for the warm welcome…..I think all of us poets are sentimental! Hope you have a good night’s sleep.
claudia said:
slept like a bear… thanks mary and hedge
hedgewitch said:
Get some good rest, Claudia. We are thankful for you, too.
hedgewitch said:
It’s dinnertime here, but will be back for an after-dinner liqueur later–thanks to everyone who’s linked so far, and to those to come, the more the merrier!
Brian Carlin said:
A different tack from me tonight…. Had been reading BreakingTheSilence… A collection of testimonies from former Israeli soldiers giving testimony to the brutalisation of themselves as they abuse Palestinian children , and rather than write a piece as an outsider , I took a testimony given and transcribed it as a piece of found poetry… Not my usual way, but…it got to me a bit….
hedgewitch said:
I would think so. Hard stuff to read, and harder for many to realize, that what we do to ourselves when we do those things to others is just as damaging.
Quarto Barto said:
… here’s to the anticipation of Autumn’s Hazels.
brian miller said:
hey great to see you…been a while….
Susan said:
I like your quotes quite a lot, Joy, especially the Goethe and Sandburg and yours “. . . communicate a vast reservoir of fluid intangibles we all experience but have difficulty defining or expressing any other way.”
Impulses took me back to the past again today where I took a poem from a time I still believed and altered it to fit today.
Rachel said:
Love those quotes! Thanks for the inspiration and a place to share. 🙂
hedgewitch said:
Any time. Glad to have you and all our poets here to share it with.
Susan said:
Will be back to comment tomorrow after a long night of healing sleep. Yum.
Margaret said:
The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life. ~William Faulkner
Oh, THAT is splendid. (not sure I agreed with T.S. Eliot 🙂 Thanks for hosting … you are one busy lady!
hedgewitch said:
Hi, Margaret. Yes, the Faulkner seems really applicable to the visual arts, I think, which is right up your lens(and pastels and so forth.) ;_) Eliot is a twisty Ol Possum, but there’s usually more than one way of reading him.
Serena said:
This post was exactly what I needed at this exact moment. Am I surprised? No, only pleased, tickled and filled with inspiration. The quotes were spot on as well. I enjoyed reading this immensely. Thank you, thank you, thank you,
hedgewitch said:
You’re very welcome, Serena.
brian miller said:
alright i am back…way behind in the reading this week….my son had his first football game tonight….won 14-0…have no voice left but i can leave comments…ha…..back ont eh trail…
hedgewitch said:
Your boy shut them down, eh, boss. Way to go, and good to see you.
brian miller said:
it was fun…i got a little carried away…hehe…oh well…
hedgewitch said:
As long as you didn’t cuss out the coaches and punch the other dads, I think it’s all good. ;_)
brian miller said:
ha. i am good then….
marilyncavicchia said:
Finally! I was later than usual tonight — and kept losing my poem before posting it.
sonny said:
aaaaghh…i’ve been waiting for open link night…..your tuesday becomes my wed. morning….grins..i wake up and there are 117 entries…..and so want to make an effort to read everybody and make some new friends and get to know u all at d verse…….
brian miller said:
sonny is a good person to know as well…just saying…
kkkkaty said:
Oh my,,all fast writers here..and I didn’t even start from scratch 😉
hedgewitch said:
Alright poets and patrons–it’s witchy bedtime here–well actually I’m going to feed my political jones and see how the RNC convention is going for a few minutes before I fall into bed-but I’ll be back in the morning. Remember, as I write there are still 26 more hours to link in, so plenty of time for those who haven’t done so yet–and many thanks to all who have.
brian miller said:
yep…catching the last couple before heading that way myself…be back early in the morning…and making the rounds later this week it was cool to see the ones out there really encouraging other poets….you are the magic of dverse…appreciate you….
claudia said:
just crawling out of bed…and out on the trail in a bit…good morning…
Polly Robinson said:
Good quotes ~ and over 120 posts ~ wow!
Sara V said:
I’m back! Took a little time off–me and the ocean, a little wine and a lot of laughs–happy to be back.
claudia said:
nice…sounds like you had a wonderful time…welcome back!!
brian miller said:
oo now that sounds like a fun vacay…
claudia said:
ok…off to work…see you in the evening…happy writing and reading everyone..
hobgoblin2011 said:
Hedge, thanks for hosting OLN tonight. Done reading for the neat, but what a jackpot of poetry tonight. Can’t wait to see the amazing dreams inspired from such excellent verse. Thanks again.
hedgewitch said:
You’re more than welcome Fred, and you’re also more than welcome,with bells on, to the team.
Jannie Funster said:
Linked yesterday, getting around to comment now.
I enjoyed browsing Mary’s blog a log. Fred’s poetry I’ve been amazed by for a while now.
And JOY JONES — total fan!!
xo
Jannie Funster said:
blog a LOT that is, lol not blog a log. Tho I once did a blog on a log. 🙂
brian miller said:
why does that not surprise me….jannie funster you are amazing…smiles…
good morning everyone….making my way around…
Dick Jones said:
A seascape!
hedgewitch said:
Had to get some mowing done this morning, but I’m back to finish up–what a wonderful bunch of talent and amazingness this week!
Nilanjana Bose said:
Hello,
My first time at the pub OPL. Looking forward to great reads. Thanks!
claudia said:
nice…welcome Nilanjana.. enjoy the reads
clawfish said:
Missed the deadline as i am out camping again so have posted a poem and will getting round the others http://velvetmedia.wordpress.com/2012/08/30/flaked-gold/