Welcome to OpenLinkNight folks! This is your opportunity to link 1 poem of your choice as this is no prompt-day. For those who missed the Mr Linky deadline the past week or this Tuesday’s poetics about “Mugging for the camera”, this is also your opportunity to share your poem. I also want to remind you that our Haibun Monday is still open the whole week.
I would like to share two poems by Carol Ann Duffy, who is the current UK Poet Laureate.
Text
I tend the mobile now
like an injured bird
We text, text, text
our significant words.
I re-read your first,
your second, your third,
look for your small xx,
feeling absurd.
The codes we send
arrive with a broken chord.
I try to picture your hands,
their image is blurred.
Nothing my thumbs press
will ever be heard.
Item I gyve unto my wief my second best bed…’
(from Shakespeare’s will)
The bed we loved in was a spinning world
of forests, castles, torchlight, cliff-tops, seas
where he would dive for pearls. My lover’s words
were shooting stars which fell to earth as kisses
on these lips; my body now a softer rhyme
to his, now echo, assonance; his touch
a verb dancing in the centre of a noun.
Some nights I dreamed he’d written me, the bed
a page beneath his writer’s hands. Romance
and drama played by touch, by scent, by taste.
In the other bed, the best, our guests dozed on,
dribbling their prose. My living laughing love –
I hold him in the casket of my widow’s head
as he held me upon that next best bed.
Did you noticed that both poems are 14 line sonnet-like poems? You can read more of her poems here.
Here is how to join us for Thursday’s OpenLinkNight:
See you at the poetry trail. ~Grace~
Grace said:
Welcome to OpenLinkNight everyone!!!! Hope you are having a good day or night~
gracebey said:
I’m trying to figure out how I can post the link to my poem. Cz the link directs me to just an image.
Grace said:
I see that you have found a way to include your name in Mr. Linky. Welcome to D’verse ~
gracebey said:
Yes I did. Thanks.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I love Carol Ann Duffy… great selection of poet. I will be doing my rounds a bit later – we have some guests for wine and cheese.
Grace said:
Enjoy the company Bjorn ~ I love how versatile she is ~
ladynyo said:
Hi Grace!~ Some weeks it seems that OLN is the only bright spot on the calendar. What a stressful time it is in the USA! Of course, the tragedy in London trumps (ugh) all that, but life seems upside down right now. My poem is called “High Road” and I don’t mean it to be preachy, but it seems to fit right now. Hot here, 90 plus in Atlanta and we are hopeful for rain, thunderstroms and trying to dodge falling trees. So life goes right now. Will be around reading soon. Last week an electrical storm took out my computer and blackened a wall. We were lucky.
Grace said:
We are having an unpredictable weather here, hot sun, then a bit of rain.
It is sad to read the news from your country and London too – tragedies ~
Hope you are well Jane ~
ladynyo said:
Thank you, Grace. I had a cancer scare but that is over. Some days I don’t know what to do with myself, frankly. I don’t seem to be able to settle down, and with 11 cats now (two new kittens ‘gifted’ to us….4 weeks old, and a crippled cat since Xmas who was hit by a car, and is recovering….plus our 8, I am flagging. The weather doesn’t help, Grace. I think I am feeling very old. And the weather doesn’t help. Blessings on your head, Grace. We need to be kinder to each other. Other than that, I have no answers for wht the world is suffering.
jerennazuto said:
Hello everyone! It’s great to be among all these amazing people! Looking forward to read some great poems!
Grace said:
Hello~ Thanks for joining us ~
jerennazuto said:
Happy to!
petrujviljoen said:
I’ll study Carol Ann Duffy further, thanks for the introduction.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I love “The World’s wife” … an excellent collection
sanaarizvi said:
Happy OLN everybody 🙂
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Happy OLN back.
Bekkie Sanchez said:
I missed the “mugging for the camera” link and may come back with another poem for that later but am pleased that I was able to link today. I’ll be around to read this weekend.
I haven’t been writing much because I’m spending all of my time outdoors. It’s not just my cycling it’s such a wonderful spring this year almost to be summer next week. I am enjoying myself so much and am thankful to have these simple pleasures.
Hugs all around!
I have a question about the dVerse analogy. I was contacted to be in it but haven’t heard anything about what happened or when it’s coming out. Being offline so much I could have missed it. Lillian contacted me but never heard back. Thanks!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
We are still in editing mode and the Anthology is soon ready… thanks for the patience.
Bekkie Sanchez said:
Thank you for letting me know! It’s an exciting time I can’t wait to read everyone’s poetry.
lynn__ said:
Hi all! Been busy outside here too…mowing, gardening, playing on the farm with grandkids. I’ve also wondered about the anthology 🙂 Thanks for hosting, Grace…I look forward to reading everyone’s links.
Grace said:
Sounds like a good busy fun times Lynn ~ As Bjorn mentioned, we are still editing the poems and putting it in the final form ~ Thank you ~
lynn__ said:
Thanks for your team work 🙂
charlotteash said:
I haven’t visited here in a long time and it’s good to be back. Looking forward to reading all your poetry!
Grace said:
Welcome back ~ Our doors are always open ~
Gay Reiser Cannon said:
Hey everyone. I decided to link today. I’m writing sporadically. Most of my stuff is turning dark with these times. But I’ve missed reading my friends and wanted to stop into the pub today. Hope you’re all well and glad to know you’re keeping the bar open and your glasses raised. As long as that is happening, there’s hope for us all!
Not sure if today’s poem is supposed to be a sonnet. Mine isn’t but it’s pretty short.
ladynyo said:
Hey Gay! How wonderful to read you here….and tomorrow I’ll be over to read your poem. Love that you have surfaced!
Gay Reiser Cannon said:
Saw your note on my blog. Looking forward to it tomorrow. I may have to pick up reading tomorrow y’all. Getting a bit sleepy now. Maybe one or two more. Listening the Sarasate version of Carmen Suite…Perlman.
Grace said:
Any poem is welcome today Gay ~ Good of you to drop by and join us ~ Hope you are well ~
erbiage said:
Hey all. I’d like to get in on some of that wine and cheese action. Perhaps a chateau neufchâtel de pape 55 cracknel. The mugging for the camera was fun, I just got in under that wire, so I link to something else today. Blessings and magnificent words to you all. Here’s my mugging if u r interested: https://erbiage.wordpress.com/2017/06/08/rene-flowers/
Grace said:
Thanks for joining us ~
merrildsmith said:
A long day of editing horrible stuff. So a poetry antidote.
Grace said:
I find its an antitode to many things ~ Thanks for joining in ~
merrildsmith said:
Thank you, Grace!
revivedwriter said:
I particularly like the “Text” poem.” Thanks for sharing, and I will link to my poem later.
Grace said:
She has some modern writing as well ~ Looking forward to it ~
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Both of these are wonderful poems, Grace. I feel as though I’m so far behind this week but hope to chime in before Mr. Linky goes away.
Grace said:
Looking forward to it Victoria ~ I only linked 1 poem this week so I have managed to catch up on my readings last week ~
sarahsouthwest said:
Forgot to comment! My wifi is wobbly tonight.
Grace said:
Hope it gets better ~ Thanks for joining us ~
jillys2016 said:
Rainy days and Miles Davis inspired a poetic voice that is not my own, A glass of Pinot Noir – make the expensive stuff, barkeep, if you please. Thanks for hosting tonight, Grace!
Grace said:
Sounds divine Jilly ~ Here’s one for you *clicks the glass* ~
jillys2016 said:
Cheers, dahlin!
Charley said:
Hi, y’all! Test driving a poetic form I created… possibly the effects of a glorious plate of Nachos with Guac. Barkeep, I believe I’ll have a Whiskey Shottish Sour (that’s where the bartender isn’t too careful measuring the Whiskey! 😉
Grace said:
Coming right up Charley ~ Here’s to poetic freedom & creativity!!!
nosaintaugustine said:
Good evening! Hoo! I got home from work late tonight. This round’s on me!
Grace said:
Cheers !!!!! Hope you have a good night ~
Caroline Clemens said:
I didn’t know y’all were still doing the dVerse poets pub! I feel like this is where I started and what a great start it was. Kudos. I’m hoping to write more this fall-maybe I can join back up.
Grace said:
Always welcome here Caroline ~
ZQ said:
Looking forward to some great writing.
Grace said:
Hello ZQ !!!
ZQ said:
Hello Grace. Always enjoy my visits with such a gracious host 🙂
kanzensakura said:
Hello everyone. I am making my first foray in a month or so back into the world of poetry. Better late than never. I will be going the rounds the next few days as time permits. I look forward to it! Thank you for hosting Grace.
Grace said:
Welcome back Toni ~ Take it easy with the readings ~ Hope you are fine ~
Jennifer Wagner said:
Hi all and happy OLN 🙂 Doing a little twist on the sedoka for my link. Hope you all are well~
Grace said:
Happy OLN back toyou Jennifer 🙂
Henrietta Watson said:
Reblogged this on All About Writing and more.
merrildsmith said:
I can’t get my comment to post on your blog, Grace, but the language was beautiful.
Grace said:
Thank you. You can use your google ID to post comments on Blogger posts.
merrildsmith said:
OK. Thanks!
gracebey said:
How do I link my poem cz it isn’t directing me. The mr linky.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Hey Grace, and welcome to dVerse. The first time you visit we approve your comments. I just read your poem — very good and hope to see you around.
gracebey said:
Yeah it took me a while to get directed. So hence the puzzle. But thanks for your comment. Hope to stick around too.
mother wintermoon said:
Thank you Grace and everyone! You all rock! Love dVerse! ❤️
Grace said:
Thanks for joining us ~
alisonhankinson said:
Just saying hallo….for some reason I always forget there is this bit….anyway hallo and I did enjoy Carol Ann’s text poem and I had an absolute whale of a time with the mugshot theme…XXX
frankhubeny said:
Thanks for hosting, Grace! I’m a little late, but I have added one about Spring.
Gay Reiser Cannon said:
I’m a little past the mid-way point reading linked poems. They are illuminating and very good. I noticed this time that many are double spaced. That is fine if that’s the way you want to format your poem, but if you don’t know this trick and you want your poems to be single spaced on your blogs, hit the CONTROL key and the ENTER key at the same time. It will set your cursor one line down instead of two. Just thought I would put that out there in case some of you didn’t know.