butterfly kiss

the sky, mountain
high

sits in my heart
and at the center of time

you, my love

bleed
through my skin, pores

thin

and, transparent
a fragrance

clandestine, and
hidden

beneath

a butterfly kiss
upon my forehead, to me

you gave this final gift


butterfly kiss was inspired by the poem Something Stuck, by Tricia Sankey.


Photo by Layers, Pixabay


Submissions for the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration are still open. Please see the submission details here.



Jeff Flesch

Author, #1 Amazon New Release Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow

Co-Author, #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women

Author of the Month, Jan/Feb 2022, Spillwords Press


#poetry, #30-poems-in-30-days, #butterly-kiss, #connection, #desire, #healing, #heart, #hidden, #kiss, #nature, #naturespeaks, #pain, #passion, #poem, #senses, #sensitivity, #uncover

#NatureSpeaks: 30 #Poems in 30 Days โ€“ Day 7: Fireflies, by Punam

The gift of love that you gave
burgeoned in my heart
its roots anchoring my unsteady life
calming all my inner turmoil

the pain of your sudden abandonment
left me bereft and alone. Yet, I stand tall
butterflies flit by, ignoring me
yet I know in the spring
when I am done with mourning
clothed in new leaves
self-love will resurrect me
with the ashes of pain swept away
I will then attract fireflies.


Image (From The Week)


Fireflies was inspired by the poem Butterfly Love. You can read more of Punamโ€™s poetry at paeansunpluggedblog.wordpress.com.


Submissions are still open for the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration. The submission details are located here.



Jeff Flesch

Author, #1 Amazon New Release Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow

Co-Author, #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women

Author of the Month, Jan/Feb 2022, Spillwords Press


#poetry, #30-poems-in-30-days, #alone, #determination, #fireflies, #gift, #heart, #love, #mourning, #nature, #naturespeaks, #pain, #peace, #poem, #resilience, #resurrect, #roots, #self-love, #stand, #transformation, #turmoil

#NatureSpeaks: 30 #Poems in 30 Days โ€“ Day 6: The Butterfly Poet, by Paula Light

Asleep in her chrysalis,
Small and insignificant,
Sheโ€™s waiting,
Hesitating,
Unsure where she fits in.
Her dreams ebb and flow,
Gentle and slow;
Desire and longing
Lie obscured in the mist.
Sheโ€™s safe in this womb,
Her cozy cocoon,
Where no judgments can drift.
But life teems all around:
The scents and the sounds,
Meter and rhyme forming verses sublimeโ€“
She breaks free and takes wing.
Adrift on a breeze,
She spies the nectar she needs;
Vast fields of inspiration
Fill her heart with elation.
Now proud and unafraid,
Her emotions are displayed
On the outside.
No more pseudonyms
And no need to hideโ€“
Sheโ€™s finally at peace
Inside her own skin.


The Butterfly Poet was inspired by the poem Butterfly Love. You can read more of Paula Lightโ€™s poetry at Light Motifs II.


Submissions are still open for the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration. The submission details are located here.



Jeff Flesch

Author, #1 Amazon New Release Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow

Co-Author, #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women

Author of the Month, Jan/Feb 2022, Spillwords Press


#poetry, #butterly, #chrysalis, #desire, #dreams, #emotions, #flight, #heart, #inspiration, #love, #nature, #peace, #poem, #sensation, #strength, #the-butterfly-poet

liquid heart

I look up, and down
liquid heart

in pools, I drown

waiting for the sun to arise
again

in my heart

capitulation strong
and armed

with love

and light
a transformation
in kind

with the river, I flow with time


Photo by 12019, Pixabay

Twitter #vss365 prompt word used: liquid. Follow me on Twitter here.


Submissions for the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration are still open. Please see the submission details here.

Jeff Flesch

Author, #1 Amazon New Release Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow

Co-Author, #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women

Author of the Month, Jan/Feb 2022, Spillwords Press


#poetry, #contemplation, #flow, #heart, #human-connection, #kindness, #light, #liquid-heart, #love, #poem, #reflection, #strength, #transformation

#NatureSpeaks: 30 #Poems in 30 Days โ€“ Day 5: My Blood, by Eunice Aformanor

They bloom with vibes
as grapes drive on vines,
butterflies welcome their
seasons in species,
My blood celebrate me.

But, when blooms derail
when transitions
cut off maturity,
and my blood
betrays me,
Can l announce
to denounce ?
Can any type
fit in tighter
than โ€˜Aโ€™?
Denouncing it
is denouncing
self and soul
denouncing it
is denouncing
my nature.

As healing rains fall
with water and fire
to take us higher,
so do l prepare
for the smooth,
the rough and
tough turns,
even for the never hoped for,
to be at peace with pains,
For no other can hide my
heartaches in smiles
than myself,
for Sorrow is a perfect Picture
of Love in progress.


Image from Vectorstock.com


My Blood was inspired by the poem Butterfly Love. You can read more of Eunice Aformanorโ€™s poetry at UNIZ BISSIE.


Submissions are still open for the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration. The submission details are located here.



Jeff Flesch

Author, #1 Amazon New Release Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow

Co-Author, #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women

Author of the Month, Jan/Feb 2022, Spillwords Press


#poetry, #30-poems-in, #acceptance, #blooms, #butterflies, #healing, #hope, #human-nature, #humility, #love-and-sorrow, #my-blood, #nature, #naturespeaks, #pain, #poem, #poems, #renounce

hope’s truth

I walk along the streets

a desolate
and desperate domain
filled

with shadowed pain

in the alleyways, and
along the riverfront

whispers

brought forth
turning my stomach end over end

like butterflies

arising again
under the brisk, and breezy moon
I see you

hopeโ€™s friend

our one and only truth


Photo by Prettysleepy, Pixabay


hopeโ€™s truth was inspired by the poem Hot Ashes, by Benjamin Nambu.


Submissions are still open for the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration. The submission details are located here.



Jeff Flesch

Author, #1 Amazon New Release Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow

Co-Author, #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women

Author of the Month, Jan/Feb 2022, Spillwords Press


#poetry, #anxiety, #butterlies, #desolation, #excitement, #healing, #heart, #hopes-truth, #moon, #nature, #naturespeaks, #pain, #poem, #truth

#NatureSpeaks: 30 #Poems in 30 Days โ€“ Day 4: Winter Sunshine and You, by Sadje

Itโ€™s the winter sunshine
Pale and just warm enough
The tangy smell of citrus fruit
Warms my nostrils with anticipation
Lime and lemons
Oranges and kinoes
The perfect accompaniments
To the afternoon sun in winters
Sitting partly in shade, a little in the sun
I enjoy our futile debates on theology and politics
The memories stay forever in my mind
Winter sun, citrus and your invigorating company.


Photo by Victoria_rt, Pixabay


Winter Sunshine and You was inspired by the poem, Lemon and Limes. You can read more of Sadjeโ€™s poetry at Keep it Alive.


In the event you missed my interview with Victoria Onofrei of Bloomsbury Radio, you can tune in this week at 7 am, and 2 pm PT (USA) to catch the rebroadcast.

You can access Bloomsbury Radio here.



Jeff Flesch

Author, #1 Amazon New Release Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow

Co-Author, #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women

Author of the Month, Jan/Feb 2022, Spillwords Press


#poetry, #citurs, #companionship, #connection, #conversation, #fruit, #heart, #huamnity, #life, #love, #mind, #poem, #sun, #warmth, #winter-sunshine

Plum Trees, Published at MasticadoresUSA

I am pleased to announce that my poem, Plum Trees, 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.

Plum Trees

plum trees always take
my breath away

as in their shade, we play
with notions of hope and trust

and a little bit of the magic seen
within the last bunchโ€ฆ

I would be honored if you would go here, and read the rest of my poem. Thank you!


Photo by ArtTower, Pixabay



Jeff Flesch

Author, #1 Amazon New Release Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow

Co-Author, #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women

Author of the Month, Jan/Feb 2022, Spillwords Press


#poetry, #dream, #flowers, #heart, #hope, #life, #love, #masticadoresusa, #nature, #plum-trees, #poem, #pulication, #trust

#NatureSpeaks: 30 Poems in 30 Days โ€“ Day 3: Love and Pain, by Peace Isama

I light the candle of love
Beaming a radiant glare of pain and gain
I reminisce about the feeling,

Lingering butterflies in the meadow of my heart
I kissed each flower in nectar sweetness
For you were the garden

But I once read, โ€œlove and pain are perfect twinsโ€

So letโ€™s kindle and rekindle this candle of love
Till it forever glows the undying mystery
โ€œlove and pain are perfect twinsโ€!


Love and Pain was inspired by the poem Butterfly Love. You can read more of Isama Peaceโ€™s poetry at Isama Peace Blog.


Submissions are still open for the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration. The submission details are located here.



Jeff Flesch

Author, #1 Amazon New Release Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow

Co-Author, #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women

Author of the Month, Jan/Feb 2022, Spillwords Press


#poetry, #butterlies, #garden, #healing, #heart, #hope, #life, #love, #love-and-pain, #meadow, #nature, #naturespeaks, #pain, #peace-isama, #poems, #reminiscence

#NatureSpeaks: 30 Poems in 30 Days โ€“ Day 2: Something Stuck, by Tricia Sankey

I fall from white skies
and curse cold air

itโ€™s snowing

I feel the heat
as you rise

with eyes
ice-bright

(you make no sound)

does it captivate God to watch
us both spin around?

I splash into waves
but your warm aroma

still clings

I climb up tall trees
and sit with butterflies

(they surround)

we weave our own
happy endings

still, your scent
never leaves


Something Stuck was inspired by the poem, Butterfly Love. You can read more of Tricia Sankeyโ€™s poetry at https://milspouseprose.comย orย www.triciasankey.com.


Image Credit: Cindy Scott atย www.ArtStudio444.com


Bloomsbury Radio Interview This Morning

A quick reminder that my interview with Victoria Onofrei of Bloomsbury Radio is this morning

The interview airs today at 6 pm BST, and 10 am PT USA.

You can access Bloomsbury Radio here.

I would be honored if you would tune in, thank you!


Jeff Flesch

Author, #1 Amazon New Release Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow

Co-Author, #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women

Author of the Month, Jan/Feb 2022, Spillwords Press


#poetry, #30poemsin30days, #butterflies, #cling, #connection, #happy-endings, #heart, #life, #love, #nature, #naturespeaks, #ocean, #poem, #scent, #something-stuck, #trees