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 this Tuesday’s poetics or any poetry prompts that you have missed in the past, this is the opportunity to share your poem. Out of courtesy, please link back to dVerse Poets Pub if you are sharing your poem.
It has been announced that the Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded last week to Louise Glück, one of America’s most celebrated poets, for writing “that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal.”
Here is her stunning poem “Crossroads,” originally published in her 2009 book A Village Life, later included in her indispensable collected Poems 1962–2012 (public library), and read here by the poet herself for the 2010 Griffin Poetry Prize.
CROSSROADS
by Louise Glück
My body, now that we will not be traveling together much longer
I begin to feel a new tenderness toward you, very raw and unfamiliar,
like what I remember of love when I was young —
love that was so often foolish in its objectives
but never in its choices, its intensities
Too much demanded in advance, too much that could not be promised —
My soul has been so fearful, so violent;
forgive its brutality.
As though it were that soul, my hand moves over you cautiously,
not wishing to give offense
but eager, finally, to achieve expression as substance:
it is not the earth I will miss,
it is you I will miss.
Grace said:
Hello everyone! Hope you are having a better & warmer weather than where I am right now. Be safe and healthy!!
robtkistner said:
Hi Grace, thank you for hosting… 🙂 I have finished and linked to the final revisions of my piece from Tuesday, including the ending haiku I had intended. Looking forward to next weeks “live” OLN — the last one was great fun!
Grace said:
See please take note of the LIVE one in two weeks from now. See you in the poetry trail Rob.
robtkistner said:
Right, no OLN next week. Thanks Grace… 🙂
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
If you want to get a reminder there is an event with the link prepared on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/569683360451094/
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Quite cold today, with clear skies… but I have been sitting staring at my screen the whole day… I need something strong to drink tonight I think.
robtkistner said:
Stay warm Bjorn, my friend — but not “dry”… 😉
Grace said:
Raining here the whole day. I wish it would dry up a bit so I can walk and marvel at the autumn leaves. They are gorgeous with different colors.
robtkistner said:
Sunny and bright here in Seattle, but rain season starts very soon. ;(
sarahsouthwest said:
Good evening, Grace. We are picking apples at the moment – so many of them! We’ve been waiting for a bit of dry weather to get out there, and it’s been crisp and sunny today.
Grace said:
Apple picking sounds great Sarah. Hoping for some sunny weather tomorrow.
Mother Wintermoon said:
Thank you for hosting OLN, Grace! I love and appreciate all the hosts and all the prompts, but cannot seem to master poetry with rules about rhymes, structure and meters 😫 (maybe some day), so I look forward to OLN! It’s still in the 80’s where I am. I’m pining for my Fall weather!
Grace said:
Free style poetry is always welcomed here. Thanks for joining in.
RedCat said:
Good evening Grace and everyone. It’s cold here, so I lit a fire and poured myself some wine. Tonight I shared a piece inspired by a song i like.
Grace said:
I will join you for that wine. Been having some at nights to keep us warm in the cool nights. Thanks for joining us.
kim881 said:
Good evening everyone and thanks to Grace, our gracious host! This is a short visit this evening but I will be back early i the morning to read and comment.
Grace said:
Have a great night and see you tomorrow in the poetry trail Kim.
msjadeli said:
Hello Grace and All. Last night was a perfect fall night, small breeze warm air. My mother and I walked to my brother’s house for a visit. A night that will be long-remembered. Louise Gluck’s poetry recital had the tears flowing. Something about hearing the poet read their work that amplifies the clarity. Looking forward to the live OLN in two weeks. Have a wonderful weekend everyone.
Grace said:
Her poetry reading is sombre and full of life at the same time. I am glad you enjoyed her reading.
sanaarizvi said:
Thank you for hosting us, Grace! 🙂 The skies are changing to grey here and weather is turning cold. I am wrapped in a blanket with a cup of tea, enjoying everyone’s poems 💝
Grace said:
Enjoy your cup of tea and blanket. I am just hitting the trail and catching up on everyone’s poems.
Ron. said:
Beautiful sunny here. We just returned from a long drive out in the country (where else?) Settling in for the evening. Pizza, maybe. Cocktails for certain. Reading.
Grace said:
A long country drive looks relaxing Ron. Enjoy your evening meal and cocktails. Cheers!
peterfrankiswrites said:
HI everyone and thanks for hosting Grace. Weather down-under is blustery showers and a cool 22 C (71F) – good for growing things. Local First Nations calendar – it’s Ngoonungi – one of six seasons – flying foxes appear, ceremony time, flowers.
Grace said:
Hello Peter! Lovely to have spring season upon your part of the world. Can think of many growing things and certainly, flowers. Interesting on that first nations calendar.
Mish said:
Hello all….thanks for hosting, Grace. The reading of “Crossroads” was profound and compelling. Wow. Thanks for sharing.
It is drizzly and gloomy here…
Grace said:
It has been gloomy the whole day I know. Happy that you liked Crossroads reading. Take care.
iidorun said:
Hello Grace and fellow poets! I missed Mr. Linky for Tuesday Poetics by 3 seconds – glad I can add it tonight as it was a great prompt. It’s a sunny yet chilly autumn afternoon where I’m at, and a chillier night in London. Maybe an apple cider hot toddy would warm me up…
Grace said:
Good to have OLN so you can link up with poems you have missed before. Cold nights here too. Here is some hot apply cider for both of us. Cheers!
Myrna Migala said:
My poem is from 2019 I hope that meets with your approval, thanks Mr.Linky also seen at
https://myforever.blog/2019/02/10/a-poem-composed-only-74-words/
Grace said:
Old and new poems are fine. Thanks for joining us.
memadtwo said:
Thanks for hosting Grace.
Grace said:
Great to see you! Have a good night ~
erbiage said:
Omg Crossroads is phenomenal!
Sent from my iPhone
>
Grace said:
Yes, it is. Thanks for listening to the read.
rothpoetry said:
Sad to miss the live connections. I work Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Glad to see the Open link live on the 29th.
Grace said:
I work full time too so I can’t even make it to our LIVE events. Enjoy your weekend.
rothpoetry said:
Thank you Grace. You too!
Ali Grimshaw said:
Good evening, Grace. Thank you for the poem. I hear love and pain or maybe the pain of loving fully deep within its words.
Thanks for hosting this space where we can find community across the timezones.
Grace said:
Yes, we are happy to host this virtual community across timezones. Good morning on cold Saturday morning from Canada. Enjoy our weekend.
anthonyborderline said:
Haven’t really written poems, except few from the prompt already sen at D’verse.. 😶 Mainly short stories, seems to be a time for those at the moment for me..
Grace said:
Thanks for dropping by. Good that you continue to write, which is most important. Have a good weekend.
Xan said:
A poem inspired by a comment from Jade, on a prior poem.
Grace said:
How lovely it is when we are inspired by poets, within our circle of poets.
pvcann said:
Thank you for hosting OLN Grace 🙂 and for the added treat of Gluck.
Grace said:
Thanks for joining us. Glad that you enjoyed Gluck’s reading.
Linda Lee Lyberg said:
Good Morning All- Thanks for hosting Grace. Late to the party, but here now.
Grace said:
Hi Linda. Enjoy your weekend.
navasolanature said:
A bit late too but you have made me get on with my poetry challenge. Busy here with new grandchild, such a relief with pandemic rising again here. Keep well everyone and keep writing.
Grace said:
Thanks for visiting and enjoy the time with your new grandchild.