Author Archives: Jeff Flesch

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on June 22, 2021
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,   

The Moonlights Kiss

Photo by Evan Leith on Unsplash

fingers glide
along the edges
of the velvety landscape
while
wishing upon a star
for all those who have died
and come before

dreams larger
than life itself
seeded
when young
and
given the proper care
while
attended with love
and devotion
their utmost bared

connection
to the landscape
so clear
it’s as if the sky
has opened up
and given itself to me
as a gift

sun shining down
petals an afterglow of
revelry
and
the mysterious
challenges
we face
hidden
along the lines
we trace

leaving behind
shadows dancing
while
attracting
the moonlight’s
kiss
upon our
collective
face

Utmost Feelings – Coming Soon!

If you’ve not yet checked out Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, please check it out when you have a chance, and share as you are able. Thank you.

Additionally, the coauthors of Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, are creating a space for people to send their sentiments to Astha’s family.

If you are interested, please add your sentiments to this form, thank you, and stay blessed.

#poetry, #collective, #connection, #contemplation, #humanity, #introspection, #life, #love, #mystery, #nature, #poem, #poems, #resilience

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 3:00 pm on June 20, 2021
Tags: , being a father, , , , , father's day, , , , , true dreamster,   

A Blogger’s Diary 6/13/21: On the Week, Writing and Reflecting, Collecting Sentiments, and Father’s Day

The Week

Well, after the trip to Los Angeles, work was/is busier than ever. We are now planning for the Fall Term and are going to offer in-person classes for the first time in over 15 months. Wow. Excited and, well, somewhat nervous. Normal, of course.

Alright, let’s take a look at some reflections on my latest writing.

Writing and Reflecting

Photo by Tong Nguyen van on Unsplash

I’ve kept to my new blogging schedule, and it feels good. I enjoy having a couple of days off, where I can simply focus on seeing what all of you inspirational people are up to and writing about. Much fun.

I do have some leadership posts in mind, and have one on Servant Leadership that is just about completed, yet, am being so drawn to writing poetry right now, I don’t see those new leadership posts being published soon. However, who knows? Maybe, they’ll find their way into a post sooner than later.

I’ve been reflecting more upon compiling a poetry book, and will start to look into this soon. I am also a part of two new Anthologies, through True Dreamster, which I am also excited about, and will have more details about in the next few weeks.

Collecting Sentiments

As you all know, I am very honored to be a part of Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, which will be published soon through True Dreamster.

In my first post about Utmost Feelings, in last week’s A Blogger’s Diary post, Alec made a lovely comment about Astha, and asked if his sentiments could be passed along to Astha’s family.

I am glad to report this is now possible. If you are interested in sending your sentiments about Astha to Astha’s family, you will find a Google Form at the end of this post, and all of my future posts for, well, I don’t know how long. For a while anyway. Thank you for considering.

Father’s Day

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

On July 10, 2019, my dad passed away. It was sudden and unexpected. I was at work when my younger sister called me and told me what was happening. When she first called, it was unclear whether he would survive the heart attack and stroke.

I learned rather quickly that, indeed, he would not. I remember being overcome with emotion, and yet, also in action. Meaning, that I immediately talked to the doctors, got clear on his condition, called and booked a plane, and was in Los Angeles within 4 hours.

When I arrived, he looked quite peaceful, and, of course, my mom and sisters were, just like I was, distraught, confused, and full of sadness. My dad’s soul left his body that evening.

On this father’s day, I am reminded of all the times my dad was there for me, supported me, encouraged me, and, in his way, loved me deeply, as he did my mother, sisters, and all of his grandkids.

I love and miss you dad.

I am also reflecting upon being a father, and how lucky I am to be the father of two beautiful young men. I am so lucky, and I love them more than these words could possibly convey.

I hope you all have a wonderful Father’s Day.

Sending you all love and blessings on a wonderful week.

Utmost Feelings – Coming Soon!

If you’ve not yet checked out Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, please check it out when you have a chance, and share as you are able. Thank you.

Additionally, the coauthors of Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, are creating a space for people to send their sentiments to Astha’s family.

If you are interested, please add your sentiments to this form, thank you, and stay blessed.

#astha, #being-a-father, #blogger, #bloggers-diary, #blogging, #blogs, #fathers-day, #life, #loss, #love, #reflecting, #true-dreamster, #writing

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on June 20, 2021
Tags: , , , , , , , magnitude, , , ,   

A Collective Magnitude

Photo by Daniel Olah on Unsplash

Fingers clutching,
gripping, and
ripping
at the pain,
tearing away, yet,
another piece of me
from the fray.

As they walk
along the edges
of my pain, I,
at times feel dismay, and
a growing sense of tame,
which was once only known
to me as shame.

I can taste the bitterness
of the pain endured,
and taught to me and you,
yet, for now, let us refrain.

We all learn to walk once,
and as age progresses, we
may learn to again
walk through
that door of obsessions.

A door once closed,
becomes a profound
sense of renewal,
just as a key lost
and now found,
opened the door
once more.

Heart fit the lock
just right, and
what came walking through,
sent me into
a love so cavernous,
it’s all one can do
to simply
become ravenous.

Filling oneself
on life’s love,
jubilant and triumphant, and
all the while
humbled by gratitude
of a collective magnitude.

Utmost Feelings – Coming Soon!

If you’ve not yet checked out Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, please check it out when you have a chance, and share as you are able. Thank you.

Additionally, the coauthors of Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, are creating a space for people to send their sentiments to Astha’s family.

If you are interested, please add your sentiments to this form, thank you, and stay blessed.

#poetry, #connection, #gratitude, #heart, #humanity, #life, #love, #magnitude, #pain, #poem, #poems, #shared

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 3:00 pm on June 19, 2021
Tags: , , , juneteenth, , , , , , ,   

Juneteenth

juneteenth, remember
and pay homage to those that
have come before, while
holding
the knowing
that slavery’s insidiousness
still resides within the framework
of this nation’s handiwork

“Won’t it be wonderful when Black history and Native American history and Jewish history and all of U.S. history is taught from one book. Just U.S. history.” —Maya Angelou

Reader’s Digest

“If the cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition we now face will surely fail. Because the goal of America is freedom, abused and scorned tho’ we may be, our destiny is tied up with America’s destiny.” —Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Reader’s Digest
c|net

Image Credits

Photo by Thomas de LUZE on Unsplash

Photo by LOGAN WEAVER on Unsplash

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Utmost Feelings – Coming Soon!

If you’ve not yet checked out Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, please check it out when you have a chance, and share as you are able. Thank you.

Additionally, the coauthors of Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, are creating a space for people to send their sentiments to Astha’s family.

If you are interested, please add your sentiments to this form, thank you, and stay blessed.

#poetry, #creating-change, #equity, #juneteenth, #life, #love, #poem, #poems, #rememberance, #social-change, #social-justice

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on June 19, 2021
Tags: , , , , , , , , , notbeyondrepair, , , ,   

Not Beyond Repair

Photo by Flash Dantz on Unsplash

Head under water,
necessitates
another way of being,
while the paradox of life
keeps on playing.

Hard to breathe,
lungs burning,
heart aching,
all the while,
the mind
keeps

straying.

Tears fall,
while hope
lingers
along my fingers.

A subtle touch,
and feeling returns
to the essence
of my being.

While drenched
in my solitude,
the connection
remains
among you.

Like the birth
of a flower,
time is now
flourishing
without heartache
or sorrow.

And,

as time skips a beat,
love finds me,
cradles me
with care,
and in that moment,
I know,
I’m not beyond repair.

Utmost Feelings – Coming Soon!

If you’ve not yet checked out Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, please check it out when you have a chance, and share as you are able. Thank you.

Additionally, a few of the coauthors of Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, are creating a space for people to send their sentiments to Astha’s family.

If you are interested, please add your sentiments to this form, thank you, and stay blessed.

#poetry, #contemplation, #emotions, #healing, #hope, #introspection, #life, #love, #nature, #notbeyondrepair, #poem, #poems, #presence, #time

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on June 17, 2021
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,   

hearts fill again

Photo by Moritz Knöringer on Unsplash

petals grasp
silence,
as the grass
grows taller,
and the weather fonder

a miracle of nature, and
beauty in simplicity,
without conjecture
or the need
for any grand gesture

just silence
and stillness,
amidst the chaos
and shrillness

being,
without thinking,
and living and loving
until our hearts are breaking

and,

inside this
brokenness,
lives the mystery
of all that’s
been promised us

a wholeness,
which lives
and breathes

thus,

remember,
my dear,
that brokenness
mends,
and hearts fill again

Utmost Feelings – Coming Soon!

If you’ve not yet checked out Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, please check it out when you have a chance, and share as you are able. Thank you.

Additionally, the coauthors of Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, are creating a space for people to send their sentiments to Astha’s family.

If you are interested, please add your sentiments to this form, thank you, and stay blessed.

#poetry, #broken, #heart, #humanity, #life, #love, #mystery, #nature, #poem, #poems, #whole

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on June 15, 2021
Tags: , , , , , , , , , oneforever, , , ,   

One Forever

Numb to the pain
of a very long
day,

I ponder
the way of it,
and also consider
the play a bit.

Two warring factions, looking
for attention,
and peace of mind,
regardless
of our time,
so please be kind.

Think about the paradox
you’ve created
to talk about;
knowing all the while,
each faction
is only a distraction

of mind.

And, when we get clear
on all that we find, we realize,
the truth about this clever
semantical lever,
and make the
two, One
forever.

Image Credit

Photo by bantersnaps on Unsplash

Utmost Feelings – Coming Soon!

If you’ve not yet checked out Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, please check it out when you have a chance, and share as you are able. Thank you!

#poetry, #clarity, #connectedness, #connection, #duality, #humanity, #life, #love, #nondual, #oneforever, #paradox, #peace, #poem, #poems

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 3:00 pm on June 13, 2021
Tags: , anthology, , , , , , , garduation, grifithobservatory, , lazydog, , , , seal beach, tacosurf, truedreamster   

A Blogger’s Diary 6/13/21: On the Week, Traveling to Los Angeles, and Utmost Feelings

Well, as you all know, this past week, I traveled to Los Angeles (LA) to see my family. First time in an airport and on an airplane in over 15 months. It was, well, amazing.

I flew out of the Eugene airport, which is a small airport about 45 miles south of Corvallis, where I live, and is super easy to fly out of and into. The airport was not crowded at all. In fact, it was super slow, and the plane was only about half full. However….

Upon landing in Los Angeles, that all changed. LAX was super busy. In fact, when I finally made it to the rental car company, there were about 30 people ahead of me in line. 

Now, I had two meetings that afternoon, yes, working while on my trip, so after waiting in the line for about 25 minutes, I chose to call an Uber and cancel my reservation. Was a good idea, as the line didn’t move much as I waited for the Uber driver.

It was great to see my mom, sisters, and nieces and nephews. Here are a couple things we did, while I was in LA.

Griffith Observatory and Hollywood

In the hills of LA there is the Griffith Observatory, which looks out over the city. Beautiful. Though the Observatory wasn’t open, you could walk around the grounds and take in all of the views. Here are some pics from our time at the Observatory, and our drive through Hollywood.

A High School Graduation

It was wonderful to see my niece graduate High School on my trip. I was surprised to see so many people, and, well, not surprised. It was a lovely ceremony. Here are some pics of the graduation.

After graduation, we went to the Lazy Dog restaurant, which I had never been to. The food was excellent, and the service was outstanding.

Seal Beach and Taco Surf

On my last day in LA, we took my niece and nephew to the beach in Seal Beach. It was a lovely day, sunny, yet cool. The beach was not overcrowded, and the water was, well, rather cold, yet felt lovely. Here are some pics of the beach.

After spending some time at the beach, we went to a local restaurant I loved to patronize when I was living in LA and working in Seal Beach, Taco Surf; and then stopped in a local bakery, Sweet Jill’s, delicious. Excellent food. 

Utmost Feelings, Coming Soon!

About two months ago now, I learned that Astha, of Writing feels good, passed away. I learned of this very sad news from our dear friend Cindy, of Unique Times. Cindy’s post talked about Astha’s Anthology that was being carried forward by Navin, of Navin’s Poetry.

I immediately visited Navin’s blog, and left a message. Navin responded very quickly, and asked for a poem, and said he would speak with the publishers, True Dreamster, about the possibility of making a late addition.

I was astonished and honored when they accepted the poem I shared with Navin. I am so honored to be a part of the beautiful Utmost Feelings Anthology. The Anthology is full of wonderfully inspirational poets, and is a beautiful tribute to Astha.

Thanks again, to Navin, True Dreamster, and all of the poets in Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings. 

Please visit the True Dreamster Instagram page, when you have a moment, and share the news about Utmost Feelings. Thank you. 

Here are all of the co-authors of Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings.

Beautiful people, just beautiful.

Alright, everyone, that’s all for this week.

Have a fantastic week, my dear friends.

#poetry, #anthology, #astha, #blog, #bloggers-diary, #blogging, #collaboration, #family, #garduation, #grifithobservatory, #hollywood, #lazydog, #life, #los-angeles, #love, #seal-beach, #tacosurf, #truedreamster

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on June 13, 2021
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , walkingwithin   

Walking Within: Soni and Jeff

I love to walk, to walk
among the trails
I find in my mind,
they often remind me of the
trails I find, when out
in the forest entering
into a blissful state
of love combined.

I always wonder,
is there anything
more pulchritudinous
than mother nature?

I keep walking deep into
the unending route,
I feel an unspoken warmth
from the dark tall trees underneath.

Little I go on ahead
bracing breeze
kisses my face, as
a chilled emotion
rushes into my heart.

I stand still
and enjoy
the trees embrace.

Get to hear
soothing sounds,
pondering,
if the sea
is somewhere around.

Ambled
with a bit of excitement
I walked ahead;
admired the waves play,
little I came closer,
saw the setting sun
bidding me goodbye.

As I revel in the landscape,
and fiery sky one last time,
it occurs to me to rub my eyes,
and prepare for a lullaby.

Sung softly and sweetly,
by the trees surrounded,
as they shift and swing
in the breeze,
and deep down, I feel
something move, and within
a smile parts my face as I revel
in all that’s known today.

I am honored to share this collaboration between Soni, of Soni’s thoughts, and myself. Soni also drew the art, which was another of the amazing gifts Soni created for those that placed in the top 8 (of a host of amazingly talented and inspirational writers) of Soni’s Writing Contest. A lovely collaboration, and a wonderfully inspirational friend, is Soni.

#poetry, #beauty, #contemplation, #humanity, #introspection, #life, #love, #meditation, #nature, #poem, #poems, #walkingwithin

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 3:00 pm on June 12, 2021
Tags: , , , , ,   

Masterstroke, or Practical Joke?

Full of curiosity,
and hope, which bespoke
a quadril of smoke

in their eyes,

as they look up,
considering a
host of possibilities,

which some may
deem a masterstroke,
and others?

A practical joke.

As I pondered this week’s WDYS #85 prompt from Keep it Alive, by Sadje, I reflected upon our family cat, Whiskers, who still resides with my ex-wife.

I did not have a cat growing up, so when we got Whiskers, I remember watching as she continuously scaled the (un)scalable, thus, masterstroke, and also devoured, well, food, that was not part of her diet.

For example, Whiskers once ate some left over pizza that had been left out. I found this out on my way to the bathroom in the middle of the night by stumbling across the completely empty storage bag, thus, practical joke.

That was fun.

Image credit

Iqbal Nuril @ Pixabay

#poetry, #hope, #poem, #poems, #possibilities, #wdys