743 posts later, we are still here, declaring that poetry is everywhere.   Yes, we are back and ready to kick off the week with a 4 year celebration of D’verse community. Yes, its been that long, and for me personally, even longer since I can’t think of a time when D’verse hasn’t been part of my writing journey. Before I hand out a round of drinks and biscuits with cheese, I would like to take this chance to thank you & you & you..   for embracing us on this journey.

Here’s a poem from Mary Oliver:  Gratitude

What did you notice?

The dew snail;
the low-flying sparrow;
the bat, on the wind, in the dark;
big-chested geese, in the V of sleekest performance;
the soft toad, patient in the hot sand;
the sweet-hungry ants;
the uproar of mice in the empty house;
the tin music of the cricket’s body;
the blouse of the goldenrod.

What did you hear?

The thrush greeting the morning;
the little bluebirds in their hot box;
the salty talk of the wren,
then the deep cup of the hour of silence.

What did you admire?

The oaks, letting down their dark and hairy fruit;
the carrot, rising in its elongated waist;
the onion, sheet after sheet, curved inward to the
pale green wand;
at the end of summer the brassy dust, the almost liquid
beauty of the flowers;
then the ferns, scrawned black by the frost.

What astonished you?

The swallows making their dip and turn over the water.

What would you like to see again?

My dog: her energy and exuberance, her willingness,
her language beyond all nimbleness of tongue, her
recklessness, her loyalty, her sweetness, her
sturdy legs, her curled black lip, her snap.

What was most tender?

Queen Anne’s lace, with its parsnip root;
the everlasting in its bonnets of wool;
the kinks and turns of the tupelo’s body;
the tall, blank banks of sand;
the clam, clamped down.

What was most wonderful?

The sea, and its wide shoulders;
the sea and its triangles;
the sea lying back on its long athlete’s spine.

What did you think was happening?

The green breast of the hummingbird;
the eye of the pond;
the wet face of the lily;
the bright, puckered knee of the broken oak;
the red tulip of the fox’s mouth;
the up-swing, the down-pour, the frayed sleeve
of the first snow—

so the gods shake us from our sleep.

I have my glasses ready for a toast to everyone who has visited, commented, encouraged and joined us in our weekly gathering. Thanks to all the pub tenders, past and present, and to our founders, Claudia and Brian for your generous heart  & passion for writing.  Thanks to Bjorn for graciously leading us now in our weekly meetings. Thanks to all the artists and guest bloggers for lending us your voice and work of art.

Join us tomorrow Tuesday and Thursday as begin another year celebrating poetry ~ We hope to get to know each other more & beyond the printed words on the page ~  And this is optional in the comment section, please feel free to respond to the questions e.g. What did you admire?   What astonished you?, etc. in Mary Oliver’s poem.

Cheers !!!!!!!!! Grace ~