
Hello to All d’Versians gathered here today at this site of pubtalk and poetry! Lisa here, hosting Open Link Night, where you can write to the offered optional prompt OR link up any poem of yours that you fancy. The jukebox is queued, and the magic cupboard, where snacks and liquid refreshment are held, are on standby.
I know we are just a week away from the spookiness of All Hallow’s Eve. The creative air has been permeated with darker and more colorful shades of autumn on either side of the veil. However when I decided to share a couple of ekphrastic options to write to today, Teresa Dunn’s, “All Yellow (Morgan Hill)” painting, which is currently on exhibit at the Muskegon Museum of Art, came to mind. Dunn’s bright, summer creation won Best of Show this year at the museum’s 95th Michigan Contemporary Art Exhibit. From Ms. Dunn’s website:
Teresa Dunn is a Mexican American artist raised in rural Southern Illinois. Her identity, life, and art are influenced by her racial and cultural heritages and the complexities of being a brown woman in the Midwest.

All Yellow (Morgan Hill), by Teresa Dunn
I wrote to Ms. Dunn, asking for and obtaining her permission to use the painting as an ekphrastic prompt. I really hope she reads what her work inspired in us.
The other image I chose for you to possibly write to is a photo I took on October 8 at dusk, as we walked through Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. In it, Joseph Kinnebrew’s sculpture ensemble, titled, “Visitations: Majorette, Hand Stands, Gifts, A Slight Lapse of Purpose, Yea” rises to the moon. Learn more about the ensemble here.
Visitations: Majorette, Hand Stands, Gifts, A Slight Lapse of Purpose, Yea, by Joseph Kinnebrew.
I hope one of the two images may draw your muse closer, to paint with words.
On the jukebox tonight, Canadian musician, JP Hoe, singing, “Safe and Sound.” I really don’t think I’ve heard a voice more beautiful!
And now we have come to the moment we’re here for: please feel free to write to the optional prompt or to link up one of your poems. Let the poeming commence!
Just a reminder: Open Link Night means you can post ONE poem of your choosing (no specified form, length, word prompt etc.)
If you choose to write to one of the artworks, please include artist attribution on your post.
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
•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 so do stop by another day and read a few of the latecomers too.
•Have fun!
Hello Poets! The bar is open. What can I get you?
Our autumn weather is a see-saw. A hot chocolate for me please. Thank you for the poem links as well as the images – always nice to learn new artists.
Hot chocolate coming right up, Grace. Cheers! You are welcome on the introduction to Ms. Teresa Dunn. She is a very talented artist!
Hello, nice ekphrastic, but alas my mind was to write a dark sonnet so that is what I did.
Welcome, Bjorn. I know approaching November puts you in a dark frame of mind. Looking forward to reading it.
Good evening poets, and thanks for hosting, Lisa. This is a flying visit, as I’m still not back to normal and I’m off to visit my daughter next week. I’ve linked up an old poem from 2018, a creepy one for Halloween, as I won’t be around. I’ll try to come back tomorrow to read and comment. Have a great evening!
Welcome, Kim. Thanks for dropping in and linking up. My pleasure on hosting. What a beautiful time of year for traveling and visiting loved ones.
Hi Lisa – I liked the ekphrastic prompts but in the end I went for one closer to home
Nothing for me from the bar as I’ve just eaten!
Welcome, Laura. Looking forward to reading your poem. Are you sure you wouldn’t like some dessert? I’ve got fresh-made tiramisu 🙂
Go on then – can’t resist that!! With a coffee rum liqueur shot too please
🙂 One large square of chilled tiramisu with a coffee rum liquor shot. Cheers!
Hi Lisa. I love the ekphastic challenge one. Thank you for hosting.
Welcome, Grace. So happy you like the ekphrastic challenge. My pleasure on hosting.
It doesn’t get much tougher than this for me….and I needed that! Both so interesting…your photo wins out I think…
Welcome, Ain. Glad to challenge you. Can’t wait to read what you’ve written.
Am so sorry Lisa…I struggled and went back to another poem…..should have kept trying but nothing good was happening…
No worries, Ain. Can I get you a toddy or a snack?
I arrived after closing time again! Anything that goes well with a pint of a nice dark beer!
How about a bowl of pretzels and some brie toasted on rye bread?
Hi there! I am working on a poem right now that I hope is “publish worthy” soon .. in the meantime I would love a mug of eggnog sprinkled with nutmeg, please. [it will help, I think]
Welcome, Helen. A mug of eggnog sprinkled with nutmeg coming right up. Cheers!
Eggnog did not work its magic … I reached deep into “the vault” ~~~
Looking forward to what you reached in the vault. Heading to poetry trail now…
Hi Lisa! We’re having something of an Indian summer here on the east coast but it can’t stave off the Halloween vibes. I thought I’d link up a dark narrative verse I wrote earlier this week. How about a tall glass of sweetened ice tea with a slice of lemon? Cheers!
Welcome, Dora. Happy Indian summer is visiting you. I understand about the Halloween vibes. A tall glass of sweetened ice tea with a slice of lemon coming right up. Cheers! 🙂
I added a poem I’ve been working on. Some wine from the bar, please!
Welcome, Nolcha. A glass of Roscato coming right up. Cheers!
I will go with Helen’s poison please – Eggnog with a sprinkle of nutmeg please, Lisa. I loved your choice of images but at the end of my working (half) week I decided to air something I had already written…
Welcome, Andrew. One eggnog with a sprinkle of nutmeg coming right up. Cheers! I just finished reading your wonderful poem. Enjoyed how you flipped the script on magic.
Hi Li! Thank you hosting and for the ekphrastic prompt. I decided to revise an ekphrastic from a few Octobers back. I’ll come back to read tomorrow.
Welcome, Merril. I very much enjoyed your spooky poem! Seeya on the flip side.
👻👻
Thank you for hosting, Li. 🙂
Welcome, Kitty, and my pleasure 🙂
Thank you for hosting Li, a double whiskey would be wonderful please 🙂
Welcome, Paul. Setting up 2 double whiskeys, one for you one for me. Cheers, my friend!
p.s. my pleasure on hosting 🙂
Rob, I don’t know if you will see this, but when I left a comment on your poem, it disappeared and I saw no other comments on it, which leads me to believe you have moderate and approve setting on — or that something is preventing the comments from getting through at your blog. I hope you see this.
Hi Lisa, thanks for hosting☺️. I went another way with this. A good weekend to you.
Pat
Welcome, Pat. Just read about your tiny dreamer 🙂
Tiny, indeed. My garden has a life of its own ☺️.
❤
Hi Lisa. I liked the J.P. Hoe song 🙂
Welcome, Christine. Glad you liked the song. It’s one of my favorites by him.