Hello old and new friends, welcome. This is Gayle, from Bodhirose’s Blog hosting my first Open Link Night. I’m proud and happy to have accepted the role as a new team member for dVerse Poets.  dVerse has been here for me through my ups and downs and taking short and long breaks and I think it’s time to give back, so here I am.

It’s been just about three years now that I uprooted my life in Winter Park, FL, just outside of Orlando, and moved to this small, riverside community of Sebastian. The main reason for my move, and maybe most of you already know this, was the birth of my granddaughter, Mira.  It’s hard to believe that she just turned three years old!  But when I moved and got busy caring for her just a few weeks after her birth, my writing muse seemingly vanished.  The flow of creativity dried up…and I really didn’t much care.  My life was filled with the activity and love of family and embracing a whole different lifestyle.  But after some time, I realized I really missed creating written pieces that had sometimes just spontaneously emerged from my mind with some random thought or idea.  Surely I had more to share.  Certainly I wasn’t done…was I?  No, apparently not, I’m happy to say.

Within the last several weeks I’ve taken upon myself to participate in some great prompts that have generated some new writings and given me back a taste of what I had once created. It’s been very satisfying to renew this interest of mine and more importantly to be able to share it with you and receive some very gracious “welcome backs”, generous comments and compliments and the opportunity to meet new authors and to reach out and encourage them.

I appreciate all of you and thank you for your support of me and of each other. It’s vital that we all reciprocate the kindness that others show us in taking time to read and comment on our writings.  It’s only fair and right that we give in return.  This community will grow and prosper and you’ll be heartened by the friendships and connections that will be cultivated.

The following is a poem by Robert Frost titled “October.” I thought it may spark some ideas as we enter into fall and the beginning of nature slowing down her pace:

“October”

O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—
For the grapes’ sake along the wall.

PoetryFoundation.org

So now let’s get down to the business at hand as I ask each of you to make a contribution of a poem of your choice. I look forward to spending some quality time reading, enjoying and sharing my thoughts with you.  Happy Open Link Night, everyone!

Here is how you post your works here:

• Write a poem and post it to your webpage.
• Click on the Mr. Linky button below and enter your name and direct url/web address to your poem
• There you will also find the list of those participating this week. You might want to refresh this occasionally or check back in as there are people joining over the next 33 hours.
• Read other poets that have linked. Let them know what you thought, how the poem moved you, what you think of their style, what caught your attention. Please don’t forget to return the favor of those who have visited and commented on your work.
• Encourage others to participate through social media, promote your own piece and others.
• Have fun meeting and engaging your fellow poets.