picture by SueAnn (as seen at Poetics)
Happy Monday everyone! Let’s start with some good news…Laurie Kolp and Beth Winter will be joining our dVerse Poet team to assist me in relaunching Pretzel & Bullfights. I am excited to have both of these talented poets joining our team. Not only do they bring their poetry skill, but they both have personalities as well that I think will bring a lot of life to our Mondays.
Great suggestions last week as well as to what we should do with this spot. Starting next week we will begin to alternate between highlighting one of the poets that links in to one of our dVerse opportunities and highlighting a historical or international poet.
Here in the states, we are on the cusp of an election that could greatly change our nation. Probably one of the more interesting elections we have had in a long time because of the way it has highlighted the division within our nation. I wont get into politics here though, other than to say, when given the opportunity—VOTE. Let your voice be heard.
To me that is what poetry is about as well. Allowing other to see ‘life’ through our eyes and our voice. We can also use it for a purpose. Just this last week at OLN, Raven did a great piece on Harlem. If you missed it, check it out. Our in house activist poet Natasha Head is always challenging us with her words. Aaron Schilling already has his OLN poem up and is wicking at our elections. There are many of you that speak out on the injustice you see or highlight causes.
As poets, we are the vanguards, blessed with eyes to see and pens with sharp points.
Even if only one person reads it and is inspired to action. Then they touch another. And another. This is how it starts and this is how change happens. Think about that as you are writing your poem for OpenLinkNight. Let your voice be heard. Never believe your voice does not matter.
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow for OpenLinkNight poets.
Write on. ~Brian
dVerse 
So awesome! Beth and Laurie on da’team! Holy smokes…the pretzels will be on fire! Welcome to the pub, ladies….can’t wait to see you rock the joint! 🙂 And by all means…please vote. Shouting from the other side of the border…what you in the US do affects us too! I’m not naming names…but if I had to vote…. 😉
ha, on that one tash…will be voting first thing in the AM…then start stockpiling food for the aftermath…smiles….just kidding….kinda….smiles.
Yes, me too, bri–and our bunker is also ready for the zombie apocalypse just in case.
Warm welcome to Laurie and Beth!
I’m so excited about what’s to come… and happy to be working beside Beth!
smiles.
What wonderful additions!
most def…i agree…
Looking forward to exciting work! Thanks.
most definitely….and nice response to poetics sir…sorry you came in late on that one, but definitely worth people going back to (hint, hint)
A warm welcome to Laurie and Beth, wonderful news!
Beth and Laurie, both superb additions to an already powerhouse team. Y’all are the SF Giants!!
One question: How does one post to OLN early? Does that simply mean Aaron has posted his poem at his blog and mentioned his intention (or linked back) to Linky tomorrow? Because I sleep late (depression stuff), I’m usually in the 80s onward and would LOVE to post early, because Politics R Us.
Peace and congrats again on the two new highlights on your roster!! Amy
amy, if you want to shoot me your link in an email i will square it up for you…
Brian, I will. Thanks, hon. Amy
I am totally stoked to join the team and work alongside Laurie. Thanks for the op. *hugs*
Looking forward to seeing what develops! Happy Monday and congrats to Laurie and Beth.
most def, as am i …i think both these ladies are great additions to the team and we will be adding to this team as well over the next month to round it out..thinking though they will be coming up with some great stuff…smiles.
Yay Laurie and Beth!
smiles.
Hey Brian, Encouraging Voices is fantastic. Great intro. Having lived in countries where voices are not allowed, I value them greatly — even when I disagree with them.
You said, “As poets, we are the vanguards” — not sure what that means? Not sure why prose writers, scientists, non-writers, and many other aren’t vanguards. Poets aren’t united in their political opinions by any stretch — though I imagine most blogging poets are Democrats in the USA — love to see a poll put up to explore that.
Brian, and many others here, do a great job of encouraging voices — I am sure Laurie Kolp and Beth Winters will continue == welcome ! Thanks to all contributors — this is a great site.
i think often poets have their eyes open…and in that i think is why we are vanguards….writing what we see….and letting out voice be heard…i dont think we are the only ones…anyone willing to open their eyes can be…
Hmmmm, I am not sure writing poetry (or being a poet) makes anyone’s eyes more open than others. We bring our blindspots, our neurosis, our condition right with us into our poetry.
I hear Christians and Buddhists talk like this too. People of all groups like to think of themselves as vanguards and having specially open eyes and piercing insight. I think we all fool ourselves.
maybe we do, or some do…i would say poetry has opened my eyes more to the world around me…becoming a noticer…i dont know that religeon has anything to do with this…having been a pastor before and in and around plenty, it can often close the eyes just as much…
i would agree we all filter through our lenses and bring our bias into play unless we are disciplined…and even then…
I would agree that poetry, writing, drawing, painting and such are practice that help up draw our attention outward. But, as you agree, that attention is attached to a mind with bias and confusion. It takes far more than observing to see deeply. The more voices, the better — as this post says, and the more diverse the voices, even better still. We need voices to break up the echo chambers.
Welcome to Laurie and Beth……. nice additions to the team.
And……I voted about two weeks ago! This is going to be nail biter.
yes it is going to be that mary…will be a long night tomorrow i am sure…
This is so beautiful Brian, it makes me want to make my voice matter.
ah but your voice does….smiles….
Cool about Laurie and Beth! And I already voted last week. What a privilege in this country to be a part of an amazing process.
true that on the privilege…and i hope people understand and take that to heart….
Hooray – Laurie and Beth, great additions to the team … looking forward to what’s coming …
agree. smiles.
woohooo!!! great having you on the team Laurie and Beth… so looking forward to what you’re coming up with for Pretzels & Bullfights!!
oh and it’s way cool to having the privilege to be here in the states just around the election date…feeling the tension…talking to the people…quite diverse opinions…i knew though whom i would vote for if i were allowed to…smiles
hey there san francisco…though i guess now you are back in LA…bet that is pretty cool…i wonder if you have anything like this back home…
Glad to hear they are joining the team!
Great! I’m in!!! Fantastic it’s continuing and I continue to be drawn to this venue. I thank my lucky stars.:)!
Yay Laurie and Beth! Very excited to see you here and look forward to your turns tending bar –love those pretzels 🙂
What a wonderful essay. Brian thank you for the mention. Thank was very nice. I cannot join you here do to time constraints but I really love what is happening at dVerse. It is picking up some fabulous energy! You are right. It is up to the poet to speak to the world about injustice.