Hello to All D’versians gathered here today at this site of pubtalk and poetry! Lisa here, hosting Open Link Night.
How many times have you traveled the same street and felt fairly confident, probably subconsciously, that you could name every object on it? At the same time how many times have you happened across something on a familiar pathway that you suddenly see? Is it because things near it were removed, changed, or faded? Have you been distracted by thoughts and feelings that made your eyes go on automatic? Or has this moment become the right time to validate the presence of what has been missed before?
One group of people in Boston were purposeful about revealing the hidden with their Raining Poetry Project. They stencil poetry in locations in the city with a water-resistant paint (that wears away after a few weeks – hope it’s not toxic!) so it becomes visible in the rain.
At Writer’s Digest, I found a good short article by KM Barkley about how poetry is good for the soul, partly in how it helps reveal what was before hidden. Included are how reading and writing poems helps to “improve ideas,” is therapeutic for the reader and the writer of it through “understanding hindrances and blocks around their mind,” and “opening doors to feelings that are … suppressed.” By researching for the right words and how to use them, we can be liberated/enlightened. Sharing the deepest parts of yourself in a poem or reading of the deepest parts of others reveals the beauty and depth of the human spirit. The author talks about how poetry is an exercise in distilling big ideas into manageable pieces that can feel like hidden treasures to share.
A Stone is Hidden in the Peach
A stone is hidden in the peach
A brittle core within the pear,
The apple, plum and cherry each
Inviolate bearDeep in the soft, sweet-smelling fresh
Body of fruit a seed, a pit
Eternal in the delicate flesh
That cradles it.Beyond the reach of human love
That longs to share each word and thought
Abides a hidden seed whereof
The heart knows naught;Yet is the frail, the mortal breast
Aware of this immortal stone,
Its vital secret unpossessed,
Its name unknown.–By Marjorie Allen Seiffert
And now we have come to the moment we’re here for: linking up our poems!
Just a reminder: Open Link Night means you can post ONE poem of your choosing (no specified form, length, word prompt etc.) Also, we request you either TAG dVerse or include a line at the end of your post that includes a link back to dVerse.
Those of you new to dVerse, here’s how to participate:
•Post any poem of your choosing on your blog or website.
•Click on Mr. Linky below to add your name and enter the direct URL to your poem
•On your blog, please provide a link back to dVerse. This enables others to enjoy our prompts, increases our readership and thus increases the responses to everyone’s poems.
•If you promote your poem on social media, use the tag #dverse poets
•And most importantly, please do read some of the other responses to the prompt and add a short comment or reaction. Everyone likes to be appreciated! The prompt is open and linkable for several days – as you’ll notice by the comments you’ll receive – so do stop by another day and read a few of the latecomers too!
Sources:
top image: “Bird’s Nest 3,” by Jeelan Clark
raining poetry image link
Hello All! The bar is open. Sorry for the delay!
White spritzer, please! Nice and cold, it’s kinda warm in here!
Welcome, Alexandra. One white spritzer in a tall, ice cold frosted glass. Be careful your lips don’t freeze to the glass when you sip 🙂
Hi Lisa – thank you for hosting my friend! This piece, to which I link today, is a rewrite and edited update to reflect our current situation, of a piece I wrote and posted on my original site back in 2003. Spoke to md last night. 🙂
Welcome, Rob! My pleasure to host. Looking forward to seeing your re-work of an older poem to bring up to current times. When the muse speaks, we listen 🙂
Hi Lisa and all at dVerse! Lovely to be here at the bar 🙂 I still have children bouncing about the house so I will get them to bed and hopefully check back a bit later. If not, then I’ll be back in the morning!
Welcome, Ingrid. Understandable about the bouncing children. See you when you can return 🙂
Lisa,
Love this defn of poetry: the art of “distilling big ideas into manageable pieces that can feel like hidden treasures to share.” Makes me think of several dVerse poems (yours included) that have done just that. Dredging something up from the depths to share with y’all. 🪣🙂
pax,
dora
Welcome, Dora. Glad you connect with that defn of poetry. May I get you a liquid refreshment or snack?
Indeed. How’s about a slice of mango mousse cake and a cool drink to go with it?! 😎
One chilled slice of mango mousse cake and a tall glass of strawberry lemonade coming right up. Cheers! That cake looks so good I will have a slice to go with my coffee.
Strawberry lemonade sounds awesome. Cheers, Lisa!
Pingback: I’m Guilty – bird poetry
Hi Li and all! Really enjoyed reading what you shared, Li. It’s past 1 am here. Will catch up when it’s morning here. Good night.
Welcome, Punam. Glad you dropped in for a moment and look forward to reading you on the poetry trail. Sweet dreams, and see you in the morning 🙂
On to poetry trail. 🙂
Good Evening Lisa, I so agree that poetry is good for the soul and definitely therapeutic when there are things you just have to say. Looking forward to reading the posts later tonight and tomorrow. Marion x
Welcome, Marion. Glad you connect with the message of poetry having a therapeutic aspect. See you later tonight and tomorrow ❤
hello lisa hello dverse poets
sorry if my piece comes over whinny just me having one of those days and needed a release. will be back shortly heading for a soak in the bathtub and i will be using some of the wifes candles and bubbles.
see you in a while
rog
Welcome, Rog. Whining is allowed in poetry, especially when whining is called for. Hoping you have a wonderful soak in the tub with your wife’s candles and bubbles, sounds so nice and relaxing. See you later!
It was great thanks
Hi Lisa (and all). Thank you for hosting. I missed the prompts this week, so I’m linking a poem inspired by Lillian’s prompt on Tuesday.
Welcome Merril, my pleasure to host. Looking forward to seeing your offering on Lillian’s Tuesday prompt. Would you care for a liquid refreshment or snack?
I’ll take a coffee and biscotti, Lisa. Thanks!
One hot coffee and biscotti, Merril. Cheers!
😀
Good evening Lisa and everyone else.
That performance gave me chills and made me tear up. So beautiful!
Thanks for including it! ❤️
Welcome, Helene. So pleased you enjoyed the Jon Batiste performance. My pleasure 🙂
Lovely read, and so interesting.
Welcome, Ain. Glad you enjoyed the post, thank you.
An interesting poem Lisa! Hopefully our words aren’t as hard to crack open and grow as the peach pit! :>)
Welcome, Dwight. Thank you and sometimes the pit has to protect its precious cargo. Would you care for a drink or snack? Everything from water to Everclear and the magic cupboard has whatever suits your palate.
I will have a big glass of cold cider!
Dwight, coming right up, one pint of ice cold Magners fresh from the barrel. Cheers, my friend!
Thanks for hosting, Jade! I was surprised to found a half dozen poems from the past month that I never posted here! I guess I’ve been more productive than I thought!
My pleasure on hosting, Alexandra. One’s muse has its way with each of us, often when we aren’t paying attention. Glad you were happily surprised by the bonus poems she wrote when you weren’t looking.
Great share on the benefits and intrigue of poetry thanks Lisa, posted an older poem on bravery … digging deep for resilience in the time of natural disaster. It’s the only one I’ve recorded my own reading … the piano on this video is magical!
Welcome, Kate. Thank you for your kind comment. I very much liked your poem and hearing you read it with your comments also. My library doesn’t have that video unfortunately. Maybe they will get it if I put in a request.
It’s made in australia so no idea how you’d get it … but if you click on the link in my article [linked in the post] surely you’ll get there?
OK thanks for the tip.
I did my Postcard Fest wrap up–this gave me the push to get it done. (K)
Welcome, Kerfe. I just read it, and am very happy it gave you the push. Thank you introducing me to POPO it was a most enjoyable pasttime while it lasted and am looking forward to 22 already.
me too!
I love Jon Batiste ❤️
❤
Good Evening, Poets! Sorry I’m late, Lisa, but better late than never, right? I’ll take some Cabernet Sauvignon, please! 😉
Frank, Welcome! No worries, the wine is ready to pour. One goblet of Cabernet Sauvignon coming right up. Cheers!
I think that is my favorite Beatles song, Lisa. Thanks for sharing this rendition.
Nice to know, Judy. Glad you like Jon’s rendition. You are welcome.
It was beautiful, but I missed the words and no one ever bested the Beatles.
I like this video for a couple of reasons. One is that Jon Batiste isn’t just another pretty face that can pound the ivories, he’s got classical training and gets to show it here. The other is the symbolism of having a black man play it his way and he does it just the way he wants to. I take it for what it is and don’t compare it to The Beatles’ original. That said, I’ve rarely come across a Beatles cover that is as good as the original.
I agree on all points.
It’s been a while since I joined the d’verse open link. I hope I followed the rules. 🙂
Welcome, Suzanne. I just checked and you’re linked up just right 🙂
LIsa,
Thanks for hosting. I loved the Raining Poetry project. What a cool idea!
I have a new full-time job that I love but it is leaving little time for writing lately. Therefore, I am late to this party but still will enjoy reading what others have shared. As I continue to lead writing circles I have witnessed firsthand the power of writing and reflective listening with a small group.
Have a beautiful day.
Ali
Welcome, Ali! Congratulations on the full-time job, (if that’s what you wanted!) Glad you made it to the pub tonight. I’m happy you see the evidence in your writing circles. There’s healing in those words! Thank you and hope you have a wonderful day as well ❤