Last week I visited Bucharest for the first time in my life. From my hotel window I could see the world’s second largest building (the largest being the Pentagon). Many of us still recall the fall of Berlin wall, and the break-down of the pact of Warsaw. In Romania there was Ceauşescu, and he had this huge building built like many dictators do as a symbol of themselves.
Now it stands as reminder of history as is often the case. I wonder if it yet has a nostalgic shine, instead of a reminder of the secret police and the years of repression. I’m sure it will eventually be seen in a nostalgic shimmer, just like any other castle around the world.
I was thinking how history affect us, the buildings, the parks. I realized that many of us look back to events and history. But do were is it too recent to be history?
Anyway, my name is Björn Rudberg, and I’m your host for Open Link Tonight, its my third time as bartender so I think I know how to handle the taps. As autumn is coming I have some mulled wine, for anyone who think the season for cold beer is over.
If this is the first time at the bar, or you need a quick reminder, here are the house-rules:
- Write a poem and post it to your webpage.
- Enter a link directly to your poem and your name by clicking Mr Linky below
- There you will find links to other poets, and more will join during the next 33 hours
- Read and comment on other poet’s work, we all go here to have our poems read
- Promote your site and poetry you like on social media of your choice
Have a great Tuesday/Wednesday and let’s have fun. Smiles 🙂
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Welcome to the Pub… hope you all have a magnificent time 🙂
kelly said:
I’ll take a cup of that wine… it’s hard to believe it’s almost autumn… here’s to making new history.
Happy Open Link Night to all!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Cheers.. the mulled wine is sweet and steaming.. there is a fire crackling in the fireplace.
ManicDdaily said:
Hey Bjorn – I was in Bucharest many many years ago on a singing tour! It was kind of a strange trip, though it is a pretty city, but there was then a strong sense of oppression. At one bar, they served red wine with pepsi which was very odd! (But the wine plain was okay.) Many overhanging leaves. I hope you had a nice time. k .
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Very intense, and meeting a lot of young energetic people… city was a little run-down, but there seemed to be a lot of optimism as well
ManicDdaily said:
good
Victoria C. Slotto said:
I think I’ll go with the beer, Bjorn. Still summer here in the high desert of Nevada. Thanks for hosting, my friend.
I’m off to see the movie The Butler. Will be back later this evening, which may be tomorrow for some of you.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Ah have a lot of fun… The icy beer probably is better for desert dwellers.
marilyncavicchia said:
Happy Open Link Night, everyone, and thanks for hosting, Bjorn!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Happy OLN back, and so glad to have you here
Linda Kruschke said:
Bjorn, Thanks for tending bar. I’m here for a little poetry with my lunch, though I can’t stay long. I always love it when the poem I’ve posted for the day fits into the theme of the OLN post. Today I wrote of something historical; to me the greatest historical event of all time. Peace, Linda
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Great, I think history is an interesting theme… and mine was kind of historic too.
Beth Winter said:
I recently visited the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. I understand what you mean about history but in my case, I was overwhelmed by the graphic records of war. Perhaps it comes from my Quaker background but violence and oppression are not in my frame of comprehension. Still, history cannot be forgotten.
Happy OLN and thanks for hosting tonight’s brawl 🙂
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
The traces of war and oppression exist everywhere.. but after a while we see a beautiful caste, and the history of how and by whom it was built is forgotten. Hopefully we can write poetry about it to keep it alive.
lovemorestudio said:
Thanks for hosting, Björn. I’ve been nostalgic for some time now, remembering old friends and days of youth. The poem I’m submitting is about those times.
Have a great night, I’ll be back to read up on everyone! ~peace, Jason
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Nostalgia is a great theme for poetry… look forward to read your poem
Myrna said:
Bjorn, history teaches us much if we’re willing to learn. Have a great time. And thanks for hosting tonight.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Without history we repeat the same mistake, but sometimes I think we forget that things happened 20 years ago is also history.
Heaven (@ScarletVerses) said:
Wine for me Bjorn, thank you for hosting ~ I will be around to read in a bit ~
Wishing you all happy day ~
Grace
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Wine coming up… we have long pub hours so welcome back Grace
Audrey Howitt said:
So enjoy the press from one season to the next–Happy OLN!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I think the change of seasons is always inspiring…
Ruth said:
Hi everyone… Great introduction, Björn, thanks for hosting.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Thank you… and glad to see you here.
Tony Maude said:
Sadly it seems that about the only lesson we learn from history is that we rarely learn from history. Why else do we make the same mistakes over and over again?
Thanks for hosting, Björn. Nothing new at my place … yet … so I’m heading out onto the trail in search of inspiration.
A cold beer would be good – we still seem to have summer weather here in south-east Scotland … smiles.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Read an old poem of yours in anthology.. I hope you get inspired… beer is coming up with a smile.
Jamie Dedes said:
Ha! It is a a unversal thing that politicians suffer from ediface complex. 🙂
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Of course they want to be remembered (though sometimes I wonder why)
brian miller said:
hey i taught history last year….what an interesting trip you had bjorn and interesting thought on the monument….i wonder at times how much we have really learned from our history and how much we are just repeating until we get it….
let me get these buses out of here and i will get out on the trail…see you soon…
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I think we learn some and forget most…. the trail is good today.
The Course of Our Seasons said:
Not sure it is ever too cold for a beer 🙂 Bjorn – interesting thoughts today- lived near an American Civil War battleground for several years – always perplexed by the people that are re-enactors – such a bloody and terrible time to pretend to be a part of- anyway – look forward to a night of wonderful writing from everyone! K
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Ha… you have to come to Sweden… it can be too cold for a beer…. but not quite yet.
Gay said:
Hi Bjorn! Good to see you behind the bar today. I’m driving through today as I have taken on the chauffeur responsibility for a couple of grandchildren. Will find some time when they do homework to check in and make the rounds. I’m just caught up by Judith Clay’s artwork. Three more ekphrastic poems on her work in addition to the two earlier ones. I wonder whether she’s read any of the ones all of us have written? Anyway they inspire these short little ditties. Have fun y’all. I’ll catch you up later.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I loved those pictures too.. great idea to pick them up again… Have to hurry over and read.
claudia said:
Gay – she has read all of them and linked to some on her FB page as well…she was really happy about all the different takes and styles of the poems and really loved what we did..
claudia said:
….and have fun with your grandkids..smiles
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Ahh have to check that out 🙂
Gay said:
Well they’re addicting to write to. I’m working on the Ile de la cite summer one next. I named the carrousel horse Emile. I’m happy to know she has read them. Every one that I’ve read was so clever!
Robbie Pruitt said:
Great joining you all tonight! Looking forward to reading some great poetry.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Great to have you here Robbie
claudia said:
cool intro björn… history surely effects us… i love my walks through the 12th century basel or the history i was confronted with on my visits to berlin
happy OLN everyone…
i’m a bit late as my son was just visiting and we sat a bit in his old room which is my new hobby room now and had a nice little chat…smiles
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I think a lot about history.. at least at times when bad things happens.. and both the cause and solution can be found in history.
Maggie Grace said:
I first wrote this for the slogans prompt when I could only think of sayings. So I redid the slogans and have been saving this for the next OLN. You know my past goes with history so I’ll leave it at that. I do love seeing European historic landmarks. We have a few in the US that are ego related too. Good observation. I’ll have a mulled cider for my cold please, Mr. Bartender.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Mulled Cider coming up… I’ll head right back and read your slogans poem.
Pamela said:
Thanks for hosting, Bjorn. I’ll have a cup of coffee, I just got caught in a downpour on my way home and I am soaked to the bone. Happy open link to all, I will be round this evening to read.
Pamela
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Warm coffee… and a little extra hot chocolate coming up Pamela… welcome and hope you can dry up here.
1emeraldcity said:
I know I made a comment earlier, but somehow it entered the twilight zone…At any rate, Bjorn…always a pleasure to see you here, and love having you host! Cheers!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Sometimes those comments just get lost. frustrating.
Marya said:
A little late to the party, but I’ll have a glass of that hard cider you are serving, Bjorn!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
🙂 Cider coming up
Nandini Deka said:
history poem…….hmmm…posted 😀
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Great 🙂
Mary said:
Bjorn, amazing to read that the wordl’s second largest building is in Bucharest. I would never have guessed. I have been thinking a lot about history and the rise and fall of various empires lately. Thinking of Greece & Rome, for example — at one time each was the strongest power in the world. As time went on, other civilizations became dominant. And then there is today! Anyway, my thought was that I doubt any civilization at the peak of its power EVER thinks that it will fall. But every great civilization HAS fallen. There always IS a ‘next world power.’ No civilization reigns forever. And we are naive if we think it will. (Sorry if I went off on a tangent here.)
I am out on the trail commenting. Thanks, Bjorn, for hosting!!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I totally agree… empires come and go…
claudia said:
i totally agree as well… history gives us countless examples..
Gabriella said:
Good evening Björn! Wen I visited Budapest in 2006 I was very impressed by the sense of history that could be felt: the Austro-Hungarian Empire as well as the Communist years. I also like the buildings of your own capital city, especially those facing the Palace.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Ah,.. Budapest that is a beautiful city… and Stockholm can be quite beautiful… will be quite chaotic the next few days due to Obama visiting
Gabriella said:
When is he visiting?
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Tomorrow…and the day after
Mary said:
Interesting, I had not heard that! I will have to watch it on the news!
Susan said:
Ah! Glad to be here on a beautiful Pennsylvania afternoon. Thunder and torrents left overnight. I want a cold cider. If you have don’t have it, I’ll have water with lots of ice. Then I’m going to sit with someone to discuss how buildings we know hold history, invent it, or just remember the good stuff like we do with friends who have died.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I think there are lots to remember in old and not so old walls.. there are voices also in the concrete of the 70s – and cold cider coming up
Susan said:
Thank you! Yum.
cometotimmy said:
I happen to be in Bucharest (wife is Romanian). First visit was a little over 10 years ago and it was like love at first sight. I just love it so much here. I never want to leave. I finally became a (temporary) resident this year. I know that I love it because whenever it looks like we may not be able to stay, I get really really depressed, especially if I go for a walk around the block or go grab a beer at a terasa. Something about the feel that got in my blood, and will never get enough. Hey next time you’re in the neighborhood (and I’m still here – hopefully)…
claudia said:
very cool… i hope you will be able to stay…there are some cities that go right under our skin and we don’t wanna leave anymore…i so get this…
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I definitely agree.. and I can also add how young and positive the people were… a vibrant city really…
cometotimmy said:
wouldn’t you know it? Soon as I say so much positive about this place the issue of the stray dogs comes along – I presently wish to retract all the positive things I ever said about Romania. I wanted to believe. But I was a fool.
whocouldknowthen said:
hello Bjorn and fellow poets
as always i’m excited it’s Tuesday, another chance to read some wonderful poetry. thanks Bjorn for hosting tonight, and i’m not quite ready to let summer go just yet.
happy reading everyone!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Your bartender is heading of to bed now, there’s lot of cold beer on the house.. 🙂 enjoy and let’s continue to add poetry to Mr- Linky
brian miller said:
sleep well man…just finishing dinner and about to catch up the rest of the way….
grapeling said:
Just a quick water for now, Bjorn – back for a triple later. It’s bleeping hot in Southern California, and I have to register my kid for middle school. ~ M
brian miller said:
oo middle school…now that is fun…ha…there is a reason i teach high school…smiles.
really wicked good poems tonight M
Graeme Cooper said:
Evening all. I would like to say mine’s a single malt but, in truth, it would have to be gin.
Alana said:
Hi Bjorn! This is only my second time at the bar, so nice to meet you 🙂
brian miller said:
heya, welcome back….
Miss Hannah said:
Hello Bjorn! Mr. Bartender, hit me with a double..cherry! in my Shirley Temple!:) Thanks ..Bucharest! Awesome! I’m Bohemian and have always wanted to travel through those countries
brian miller said:
whatcha got for us tonight ms hannah?
Miss Hannah said:
Cheers !Sorry about that, I had an almost migraine to fend off. I’ve a lot of ya’lls writings to catch up on reading!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Too bad… migraine can be too hard. Hope you are better now.
Miss Hannah said:
Ya, this one I caught in time, it will linger for a while longer, I’ve had migraines since I was two. They are hell, and hell isn’t a strong enough word
margaret said:
Mulled wine? Do you know that is my favorite? I’ll take two… for starters. 🙂 I’d love to see some images from Bucharest… Did you write some poems about the place?
margaret said:
I will be back in a couple hours after I check homework (yuck) and get the kids off to bed!
brian miller said:
i will take 2 for starters…hahaha…i think we have found your poison…ah, about to hit the homework trail myself…smiles….
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Not yet.. But the rework I did was perhaps a little influenced by the visit
maximum9510 said:
Greetings Bjorn, first visit to the pub for this lover of mulled wine and poetry. My contribution is from my youth which is significant history these days. After some confusion finally managed to post, I will improve. Cheers Max
brian miller said:
well looks like you are friends with rambling so that must make you good people…smiles…swear i have been to your place before, perhaps through her…welcome…
maximum9510 said:
You are indeed Correct but first time I have contributed to a theme. I am a little disorganised still….. distractions of family as always . Max x
Lisa A. Williams Poetry said:
Hello Bjorn. This is my second visit here, love the idea of some mulled wine. Just started my second blog, this will be my second post, one I wrote today. Will be back later to read some of tonight’s posts. Will have to get busy transferring some poetry from one blog to the new one.
brian miller said:
hey lisa…good to see you here…smiles.
Lisa A. Williams Poetry said:
Thanks Brian!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Hi Lisa nice to have new poets on board 😉
brian miller said:
alright, off to bed…be back in the morning to see what the over nights bring….
claudia said:
sleep well…. just crawling out of bed over here…got coffee… got my eyes two thirds open… out on the trail to read…. smiles
margaret said:
Started a bit late, reading. Will be back in the morning after kids are in school 🙂
claudia said:
just coming from your son’s site…very cool that he writes poetry..
margaret said:
Thank you. He has many and I hope he joins in weekly… I also hope he visits and enjoys the whole experience. 🙂
margaret said:
He seems to do it so effortlessly – I would love to take credit, but he is the one who opened the poetic doors to me (but I DID teach him to read – home-schooled for the first few years) and I did read poetry to him and have him memorize it… so maybe I am responsible 🙂
ed p said:
hey great to be here. no homework, just work here. but sharing here is motivation to get it done:)
claudia said:
smiles…always good to see you ed
claudia said:
nice…enjoyed my morning read.. off to bike to work now…. will be nice to breathe the crisp morning air… will be back in the evening to catch up….
anoveldiary said:
I am having problem reading this page. Apparently extends to all wordpress pages. Any suggestions?
clementsgeoff said:
Hi everyone!! Forgive me but I am still thinking about Syria and the way it is being discussed in the media as if war is a kind of Superbowl Match that must fit the schedlules of the TV stations and the Senate and Congress. Once started wars are difficult to stop!
brian miller said:
good morning. have an early morning training and then will catch up with the last 8-10….thanks to those out visiting others as well…
shanyns said:
I don’t know if it is UA or AWOL but I was gone, now I’m back! Got three linkys worth of poetry to read. Praying for your patience, I’ll get them read…slowly but surely! 🙂 Great to be back…got any shifts open Brian?
brian miller said:
most def…need to send you an email….
shanyns said:
🙂
ramblingsfromamum said:
I would just like to publicly say thank you to all that read my post The Gate Open. I have never had so many from The Pub read my works and it truly is encouraging and heart warming to see people take the time to read and also critique. I am still learning and to have support like this… well overwhelms me. You have all been so kind and generous with your appraisals and wisdom – so thank you from me to each and everyone of you who has taken the time to read and comment. x
brian miller said:
smiles. now that warms my heart a bit…
ramblingsfromamum said:
a compliment and a word of thanks where due should not be left unsaid.. thank you Brian