look to the sky, my love
and let the sun
arise
a flower blossoming in the summertime
for it is in you, I always confide
a whisper, and a prayer
in the meantime
take me halfway home
to you
in my heart and mind
Photo by 3569616, Pixabay
I am honored to share another advanced review with you, of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, by Jaya Avendel, of Nin Chronicles.
I met Jaya last summer sometime, and have been an avid reader ever since. Jaya uses language in ways that invite the reader to continuously ponder meaning, and the ways in which we construct the realities we hold about life. The poetry and prose are stunning.
I was honored when Jaya agreed to complete an advanced review of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow.
Here are a few excerpts from Jaya’s stunning review.
The poetry of Jeff is undulating and emotional. It explores love and loss and remembrance. It explores the nature of memory and the sweetness of life. Every word is intentional and every line sinks deep into the heart as the imagery of each poem takes hold and bursts into being.
From the moment I started reading this book, I was reminded of a quote by Cicero.
“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” ~ Cicero
If you have Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, you will have both a library and nature at your fingertips. You will find the flora and fauna of nature delicate and raw in this book, and the library of written emotions and experiences poignant and healing.
I recommend Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow to any lover of nature and all lovers of poetry. It is a powerful and vivid collection you will enjoy poem by poem again and again.
I would be honored if you would go here, and read the rest of Jaya’s review of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow. Thank you!
I would like to thank Jaya from the bottom of my heart for completing this gorgeous review.
the moon arises, like my heart
beating with the tide
I rely
on the mist in my eyes
relating
the misery of humankind
and
the stories we disrupt in the night
Photo by raheel9630, Pixabay
Another one of the ideas that Ingrid Wilson, of Experiments in Fiction, and I had to engage with all of you about the release of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, was to create a special event.
An event where we can all be in one space together, where I can read some of the poetry from Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, we can talk about taking a book project from concept through to publication, and also conduct a Q&A session about my book.
I’m so excited about engaging with all of you at this special Zoom event on Sunday, August 28 at 5pm BST/9am PT/12pm ET.
You can access the Zoom event using the details below. Guest numbers will be limited to 100, so attendees will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis:
Topic: Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: A Special Event
Time: Aug 28, 2022 05:00 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82659112725?pwd=UE9YQ1FjNUpaTm9FNFBMNGNZcStvdz09
Meeting ID: 826 5911 2725
Passcode: 231356
We hope to see you there!
We are exactly 15 days away from the release of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, and what I am most present to right now, is the love and care I have for all of you.
You are the reason I am here.
You are all special to me, and I appreciate each of you more than words can possibly convey.
All my love and blessings on a beautiful remainder of your week.
residing in the night
are you
always there, steadfast
through your heart of care
I write from my soul
to share
a thought
built out of love, trust
and a common ground forged
through blood and dust
a reminiscence, like the sultry
taste of your skin
delivered
over the many years spent apart
drifting
like the sea again
I find you, the sky within
Photo by merlinlightpainting, Pixabay
This week, I am excited and honored to share another poetry reading from Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, and an advanced review by Gabriela Marie Milton.
The poem I chose for this week’s reading is called Limbs and Leaves. I hope you enjoy it.
I met Gabriela Marie Milton, of Short Prose, early last year, and remember vividly the first time I visited Gabriela’s site. I fell in love with Gabriela’s writing, all of it.
Gabriela’s writing stimulates the intellect and engages the heart. I was honored when Gabriela accepted my invitation to review Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, and I am deeply grateful for the beautiful words Gabriela uses to describe my book.
Here are a few excerpts from Gabriela’s review of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow.
Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, by Jeff Flesch, is a superb collection whose pages are saturated with poetic intelligence. The author builds a magnificent correspondence between the natural realm and the spiritual one, without making use of language techniques most symbolists employ(ed), preferring the un-revealed/the unknown to the revealed/the known. In Jeff’s poetry nature does not need any intermediary to speak to the soul and vice versa.
I find it interesting that despite the restorative capacity of nature, and its intimate link with the human soul, the ultimate healing does not come from nature. It comes from time. A change of perspective that adds new depths to Jeff’s book.
Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow is an astonishing collection. Jeff’s poetry not only delights the soul. Equally it delights the intellect. It is a must have. No one will regret reading it.
I want to thank Gabriela from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to review Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow. The review is gorgeous, and I would be honored if you would go here, and read the rest of Gabriela’s review. Thank you!
A quick note: I am posting Monday through Friday this week, as I am visiting Justin this weekend, and will be a little less available Saturday and Sunday. I also have some more surprises to share with you about the release of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow over the next few days.
tired, and wanting to know
more
I cast my heart into the sea
and watch
as it stares back at me
winking, like the stars in the sky
making me realize
every ounce of the love we carry inside
belongs to the tide
Photo by Layers, Pixabay
I am pleased to announce that my poem, rainbow trim, is now available at MasticadoresUSA. Thank you to Gabriela Marie Milton, and the team at MasticadoresUSA for their continued support and for publishing this piece.
rainbow trim
folded end over end, like a piece
of steel
with rainbow trim
a fascinating deluge of colors
vibrant and felt within
my heart
it beats to a steady rhythm, resonating…
I would be honored if you would go here, and read the rest of my poem. Thank you!
Photo by allyartist, Pixbay
I am honored to share a surprise with you today, which is another early review of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, by Terveen Gill, of It Ain’t Right Until I Write.
I started following Terveen over a year ago, I think, and honestly, I cannot remember how I found Terveen’s blog, but, I’m sure glad I did. Terveen’s writing is intelligent, witty, dark, at times, and often downright funny. I love Terveen’s style of writing, and the short stories she crafts are some of the best I read on a weekly basis.
I was honored when Terveen accepted my invitation to conduct an early review of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, and am beyond humbled by the words Terveen uses to describe the book.
Here is an excerpt from Terveens’ review.
But for me the most moving sentiments in this book are LOVE and HURT that often flow in cyclic patterns. Every poem has a life lesson to convey to the reader. The familiarity of life’s ups and downs is the strong connection the poet makes with the reader, and it remains untarnished till the end.
Who hasn’t loved?
Who hasn’t been hurt?
Who hasn’t found the courage to do it all over again?
Honesty and passion are trademarks of Jeff’s writing. Every poem has a few lines that reach out and embrace the reader, leaving them humbled or in a state of contemplation, giving solace or demanding attention to unresolved thoughts and feelings.
I would like to thank Terveen from the bottom of my heart for crafting such a beautiful review of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow. I am beyond honored.
I would be grateful if you would go here and read the rest of Terveen’s beautiful review. Thank you!
I am so pleased to announce that my poem, cosmos within, is now available at MasticadoresIndia. Thank you to Terveen Gill, and the team at MasticadoresIndia for their continued support, and for publishing this piece.
cosmos within
I sit, knees and hands folded
end over end
awaiting the cosmos to appear
within
my heart, a flower blooming
in the vacuum of space and time
a riddle, when chasing…
I would be honored if you would go here and read the rest of my poem. Thank you!
Photo by manychoice, Pixabay
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