Hi! It is Lisa (aka Li) from Tao-Talk as your host this evening. Welcome once again to dVerse’ OpenLinkNight (OLN) Thursday, where you may link up ONE of your poems. Also included is an OPTIONAL prompt that you may choose to inspire you. Hoping that you are enjoying your bit of space in the world. Despite chaos in its many forms around us, poetry has a way of giving us respite, in the writing and in the reading and in the sharing of it.

The magic cupboard has eats of every persuasion. The bar is stocked with whatever you may have a thirst for. Please, pick your potent (or otherwise) potable, and I will be happy to serve it with a smile.

I enjoy hosting OLN because I can offer any image or quote. I started thinking about my trips to the Muskegon Museum of Art over the past couple of months. Between the trips I saw several works of art by women who have been purchased by two very generous benefactors, Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt and Steven Alan Bennett. In June, 2022, Schmidt and Bennett donated “gifts totaling $12 million from two of the country’s leading art collectors.” If you want to learn more about them, see a fact sheet here.

Julie Bell, “Pegasus Befriends the Muses” oil on wood panel, 48” x 60” 2018

I’d seen most of their donated works on other visits and was impressed by their subjects and quality which  enhance the already excellent museum’s permanent collection. Further, these benefactors have a competition, The Bennett Prize, that pulls in quality exhibitions of the works of female artists.

It was only at the most recent visit, when the whole family went down to see the Comic Book exhibit, that I noticed Julie Bell’s, “Pegasus Befriends the Muses” painting. If ever there were mythical superheroes, they are Pegasus and the Muses.  The light in this painting infuses my spirit!  This is the optional painting for today to use for an ekphrastic poem.

To join us for Thursday’s Open Link Night, here’s how to join:

• Write a poem in your blog. You have the option to use our optional prompt as described above.

• Enter a link directly to your 1 poem and your name by clicking Mr. Linky below and remember to check the little box to accept the use/privacy policy.

• There you will find links to other poets and more will join during the next 48 hours so check back to read other entries.

• Read and comment on other poet’s work, we all go here to have our poems read

• Please link back to dVerse from your site/blog.

• Comment and participate in our discussion below, if you like.

• Have fun.

Mr. Linky remains open until Saturday at 3pm NYT.