Greetings poets and friends, old and new, and welcome to Open Link Night. This is Gayle from Bodhirose’s Blog and I’m pleased to be your hostess today.
It’s almost summer here in the U.S. High temperatures (90°F+) have already been felt and I’m afraid that from now until next winter we’re going to be HOT and HUMID here in southeast Florida. All I can say is thank goodness for air conditioning!
The following is a poem I wrote some time ago reflecting the typical summer day here:
“Summer’s Day” By Gayle Walters Rose; All Rights Reserved
Heat builds throughout the morn
becoming a sunlit breeze
weaving the willow branches
Clouds connect
deepening their gray
blown out over the gulf
Hours pass altering the day
shadows darken
beneath the mulberry tree
Humidity dampens the afternoon
mockingbird sings the blues
accentuating the heat index
Sticky stillness
begs for respite
from summer’s captivity
Evening dawns
a contented sigh
it too born of the day
Photo: Google Images; Mockingbird
But as you all know, there is no prompt today, no instructions to follow. You are free to share whatever inspired writings you may have penned, but only ONE.
Here’s how to add your offering:
- Compose your poem.
- Copy the URL of the page it is written on and paste it into Mr. Linky. Add your name in the space provided and click ENTER.
- Copy the URL of dVerse’s page for Open Link Night and add it to your page to link back here.
- MOST IMPORTANTLY visit and comment on other’s work especially to those who have paid you a visit.
- Join in our discussion below if you would like. We would love to get to know you.
- Enjoy yourself!
Welcome to the pub everyone. The doors are open and awaiting your friendly presence!
Good evening Gayle! Love your poem. It gives me a flavour of summer in a place I have never been and probably will never visit, although I have heard a lot about Florida and have an idea of what it looks like from books, TV programmes and films. I hope your air conditioning is in good repair and stays that way! It’s been quite warm in South East England too but our 150 year-old cottage stays fairly cool. I’m off to post my poem and have a quick read. I have to disappear at 9 pm our time but will be back in the morning.
Hi Kim, nice to hear from you as always. Air conditioning is working well! I would love to know what it feels like to live in a 150 year old cottage. It sounds idyllic and romantic to me. See you when we can, Kim.
Such a lovely poem Gayle ~ Looking forward to summer here in Toronto ~ Its been a funny unpredictable weather ~ Thanks for hosting ~
Thanks, Grace. I hope summer arrives there sooner than later. I know your warm weather is relatively short-lived in your part of the world. And you’re welcome, happy to be here.
Lovely poem, Gayle. 😀 Linking mine for Poetics. Fun to be here for OLN.
Thank you, Jennifer, and so happy you’re joining us today! 🙂
Gayle, this is a palpable poem, the elements, from the heat to the evening, are alive! The long summer days are so dynamic, seeking relief from that “sticky stillness” (which I love feeling, btw, our climate here is so dry that that heavy heat is a treat) to afternoon dramatic thundershowers. Great imagery!
I appreciate your kind compliment for my poem, thank you! It is a Triversen form which was presented by our esteemed member, Gay Reiser Cannon. The heavy humidity is pretty much constant here except for some days throughout the winter…it gets old believe me.
Hi Gayle! Thanks for tending the pub today. Just posted quickly — have to get back downstairs to get clothes out of dryer. Will be back in a bit to hit the poetry trail 🙂
Hi Lillian, nice to have you with us…and really back with us from your many, long trips! See you later. 🙂
Love the imagery but am grateful that it isn’t so humid here on the Mediterranean. 🙂
Hi Lea, and thank you and I’m glad that you’re not having to deal with it too. Thanks for coming by! 🙂
Ah but I have done my time in the humid states in both the center of the country and in NYC. 🙂
Alright then, you’re excused! 🙂
:))
Hello, still on my way home from some symphonies.. will make my rounds later
Hi Bjorn, will see you later!
Happy OLN everyone and thank you for hosting and sharing your beautiful poem here Gayle! I have linked I tanka I wrote earlier today and will swing by to read in a moment :o)
Hi Xenia, so nice to have you here today! I love tanka. 🙂
:o) xxx
I like that evening dawns and is born of the day. Very pretty!
Thank you very much and welcome to OLN!
Such a difference in summer… ours is cool but with endless light… it’s now past 10 but barely dusk…
I can’t imagine how that must feel to have it constantly light outside.
We have a few hours of dark (or almost dark…)… and imagine how it is to be a muslim here… it’s Ramadan right now.
Yes, how do those Muslims manage their holy month of fasting with so much daylight? Perhaps there are concessions made.
I’m unable to see a way to leave a comment for Jennifer Wagner (Poet Laundry). What am I missing?
Jet-lagged enough to join rather on time this week. Great to see you hosting Gayle, and thank you for your breeze-weaved willow and blues-singing mockingbird. Summer everywhere indeed!
Sorry about the jet lag but happy you’re joining in with us, Colin. And glad you enjoyed my summer poem.
Thanks Gayle. Happy to join!
Greetings Gayle & All…
To be honest life has rather swept me along, one way or another, these past few months, but finally have found enough space to release something new this week. Looking forward to sharing it with you tonight and also catching up with your inspiring work too…
Hi Scott…look forward to your offering tonight.
I’m excited to share my poem, Pine Barrens, which is about, among other things, the pine forest where I lived as a child. Cheers!
Welcome and I look forward to reading your poem later on. I grew up with many Australian pines in our neighborhood but not an entire forest. 🙂 Cheers!
Taking a dinner break and then a babysitting break. 🙂 Will return later on to do some more reading and commenting.
Oh, my goodness! It has been so long since I have been here…I am so glad you all are still gathering. Pardon my MIA status, but things got intense with my teen daughter (that is a To Be Continued… and so on and so on) , and my mom’s battle with esophageal cancer. I also have had some amazing growth and change in my poetic life…including regular public poetry readings. What a long strange trip is still is…I was thinking how much I received from this online community as I was preparing
some work, and considering my current in person local writing group…and it’s all part of this journey. Then something popped up before me…and here I am! With a glass of red tonight… I’ll try to get back here later on after all is quiet. BUT…I feel giddy and thrilled to find you here…continuing. All that to say, I’ve missed you! Hugs and drinks all round! I wish I could tell you everything…but, well… it’s just good. And thanks for being. And still being HERE.
How nice that you have been so buoyed by our still being here…that’s great in spite of all the trials that you’ve been going through. Welcome back and look forward to your poem. Hugs to you!
Gayle ~
Good evening Gayle… your poem finds the beauty in summer days…even sticky ones. We’re not at the AC stage yet … still enjoying balmy spring….a pocket of pleasure.
Hi Janice, and lucky you for still being able to enjoy some spring time weather and with no AC yet!
Well we had cold weather much longer…as winter drags on I have to struggle a bit not to feel jealous of reports of spring farther south 🙂
Oh, I understand. Here’s hoping some warmth will make its way to you…sooner than later. If you don’t mind, Janice, may I ask where you live? 🙂
I live in south eastern Ontario, Canada. My favourite seasons are spring and fall as it’s not too muggy (hot and humid) and not too cold and it’s beautiful to have windows wide open without concern about wasting heat or air conditioning.
Thanks for sharing, Janice. You are way up there in the frozen tundra of Canada. I so agree with you about being able to have the windows open to the outdoors when the weather is mild. It feels so good!
Gorgeous song of summer, Gayle. Glad to back among so many great poets, once again.
Many thanks for that and I look forward to reading your offering tonight.
Hi Gayle! Thanks for hosting OLN. I’m linking up a long haibun-like effort.
Hi Petru…loved your haibun-like offering! xo
I was away most of yesterday afternoon and evening, so couldn’t join in. Funnily enough, the first day of summer inspired me with thoughts of autumn. Perhaps because it was quite a hot and humid day by British standards… so wishful thinking.
Well, seems you came up with something after all Marina. Your poem on autumn was charming!
I posted this poem a couple of days ago, but as it is the thing that bubbled up from Monday’s dVerse haibun prompt on kintsugi, it seems only right to post it here as well. It’s not a haibun!
I’m intrigued with that kintsugi style myself, Sarah, and may give it a try. I so enjoyed what you wrote. We are broken in so many ways through our lives and some may not be so easy to mend.
Hi, Gayle. Your poem reminds me of those tropical summer afternoons when everything seems to stand still and one can hear only the pinging of tin roofs and the chirping of cicadas. I love it.
Hi, Imelda, so happy you’re here! Yes, you know of what I write…when you want a breeze to come through so bad. Thank you. xo
A beautiful poem, Bodhirose — mine is not.
I will start reading a few backwards from my name on Mr. Linky , as is my tradition, so as not to miss late comers and also those who visit mine. Again, your poem was sweet.
Thanks, Sabio, and no, yours was not beautiful! When I post late, I do the same thing and work my way backwards. I’m glad you joined in tonight…thanks for coming.
Thx
Just wanted to wish everyone a nice weekend! I’ll be around to read this weekend. Hugs!
Thanks, Bekkie…happy weekend to you! Hugs…