Welcome to OpenLinkNight everyone. As you know, OpenLinkNight 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 “Purifying the mind“, this is also your opportunity to share your poem.
Just a note that our poetry form challenge, Dizain is still open for another week, before we move on to another poetry form. Don’t forget to visit and comment on the later link ups as well.
Today’s featured poet is Toni Morrison, who died last August 5, 2019. She was an American novelist, essayist, editor, teacher, and professor. She was the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Upon the publication of her first novel, The Bluest Eye (1970), Morrison was recognized as one of the most powerful and distinct voices in literature. Her 1987 novel, Beloved, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and was named the best work of American fiction of the late 20th century by The New York Times in 2006. Here are 3 poems:
Eve Remembering
1
I tore from a limb fruit that had lost its green.
My hands were warmed by the heat of an apple
Fire red and humming.
I bit sweet power to the core.
How can I say what it was like?
The taste! The taste undid my eyes
And led me far from the gardens planted for a child
To wildernesses deeper than any master’s call.
2
Now these cool hands guide what they once caressed;
Lips forget what they have kissed.
My eyes now pool their light
Better the summit to see.
3
I would do it all over again:
Be the harbor and set the sail,
Loose the breeze and harness the gale,
Cherish the harvest of what I have been.
Better the summit to scale.
Better the summit to be.
It Comes Unadorned
It comes
Unadorned
Like a phrase
Strong enough to cast a spell;
It comes
Unbidden,
Like the turn of sun through hills
Or stars in wheels of song.
The jeweled feet of women dance the earth.
Arousing it to spring.
Shoulders broad as a road bend to share the weight of years.
Profiles breach the distance and lean
Toward an ordinary kiss.
Bliss.
It comes naked into the world like a charm.
I Am Not Seaworthy
I am not seaworthy.
Look how the fish mistake my hair for home.
I had a life, like you. I shouldn’t be riding the sea.
I am not seaworthy.
Let me be earth bound; star fixed
Mixed with sun and smacking air.
Give me the smile, the magic kiss
To trick little boy death of my hand.
I am not seaworthy. Look how the fish mistake my hair for home.
Source: Here
To join us for Thursday’s OpenLinkNight, which happens every other week, here’s how to join:
See you at the poetry trail. ~Grace~
Thanks for hosting Grace. I have contributed a haibun, the inspiration for which began with Tuesday’s prompt here on dVerse.
Welcome to OpenLinkNight everyone!! Hope you are all having a good day or night.
What drinks can I serve you?
I never request anything Grace, because I no longer drink — unless you are serving real draft root beer. 🙂
Drinks are on the house Rob!!
Hello Grace- thanks for hosting! Sharing one I wrote yesterday. Have a great evening all!
Good to see you Linda. Have a great evening!!!
I’m sharing an old poem from 8th August 2016. It’s been a busy week and a busy day. I’m looking forward to visiting Ely on Saturday, a birthday treat.
Hi Kim. Busy bees we all are, smiles. I look forward to reading all the poems leisurely ha..ha…
Happy OLN everyone and thank you so much for hosting tonight Grace and sharing these beautiful poems by Toni Morrison. I’m linking a tanka I wrote earlier today and will swing by in a moment to read xxx
Thanks for joining in. Always looking forward to reading your poems and admiring your photos.
Thanks for hosting, Grace. How lovely to do a tribute to Toni Morrison.
Welcome Merril. She is one outstanding writer.
Hi Grace and All. Late to the pub tonight but here now. I’ve read the two Morrison books you mention above, but didn’t have much exposure to her poetry. Wonderful to read them. The first one strikes my fancy. I’ll take a Magners please!
She is a terrific writer too of stories. Glad you enjoyed the tribute. Magners, coming up.
Thank you, Grace.
Grace, I just took a look at her bibliography and forgot that I read her latest novel, God Help The Child, also. Excellent just like the others.
Thanks for hosting Grace 🙂
Thanks for joining us Christine.
Always look forward to this! I’ve posted the final poems from my 24 (ish) -poem cycle The Hours, which is also a free verse sestina, my first time trying this form. Looking forward to everyone’s poems!
Thanks for joining in. That form is actualy our next poetry form – but following the structured sestina form.
Hey, folks–Bjorn has been gone more than 6 weeks. Is he on hiatus, extended vacation, or what? Did I miss an announcement?
Hi Glenn! He is on vacation, no internet, just books. He will be back mid August.
That’s a relief, I was wondering about him also!
Thanks for hosting, Grace. For my entry I’ve added haiku from Pat Kopanda, a member of the Prairie Writers Guide. Pat doesn’t have a blog. At our meeting yesterday evening she expressed joy in having her poetry linked here.
Hi Frank. Pat is always welcomed here.
Thank you for these beautiful poems by Toni Morrison. What a treasure to the world.
Welcome to dVerse. I am glad you like the beautiful poems by Toni Morrison.
Good Evening, Poets! Thanks, Grace, for hosting OLN, and for the Toni Morrison tribute! We’ve lost another of the greatest storytellers of our time.
Yes, we lost another one. See you Frank in the poetry trail.
😀
Hi Grace and all at d’verse. I have missed you. Gorgeous poem selections, Grace.
Hello Jennifer. How lovely to see you linked up. Hope all is well. The pub doors are always open….
Thanks Grace. Wonderful poems! (K)
Thanks for joining us. Have a good weekend.
Thanks Grace, it’s beautiful today, hopefully for you as well.
Happy to join in. Thank you for hosting, Grace. Will return to read later today.
So happy to see you Victoria. Have a good weekend.