
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


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.ย
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.
Iโm 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.ย
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 weekโs 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 Gabrielaโs site. I fell in love with Gabrielaโs writing, all of it.
Gabrielaโs 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 Gabrielaโs 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 Jeffโs 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 Jeffโs book.
Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow is an astonishing collection. Jeffโs poetry not only delights the soul. Equally it delights the intellect. It is a must have. No one will regret reading it.ย ย
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 Gabrielaโs 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, resonatingโฆ
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 Ainโt Right Until I Write.
I started following Terveen over a year ago, I think, and honestly, I cannot remember how I found Terveenโs blog, but, Iโm sure glad I did. Terveenโs writing is intelligent, witty, dark, at times, and often downright funny. I love Terveenโs 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 Terveensโ 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 lifeโs ups and downs is the strong connection the poet makes with the reader, and it remains untarnished till the end.
Who hasnโt loved?
Who hasnโt been hurt?
Who hasnโt found the courage to do it all over again?
Honesty and passion are trademarks of Jeffโs 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 Terveenโs 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 chasingโฆ
I would be honored if you would go here and read the rest of my poem. Thank you!
Photo by manychoice, Pixabay


In January, I wrote that one of my goals this year was to create and post poetry readings. Iโm happy that day has come.
As I looked over the poems in Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, Cosmic Arts called to me, so I present to you the first of four poetry readings being posted every Monday in August.
Here is Cosmic Arts, from Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow.
I am also honored to share with you an early review of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow by a dear friend and fellow poet, Cindy Georgakas, of Unique Times with Cindy.
I met Cindy about 2 years ago. At that time, I was very new to blogging, and remember seeing Cindy everywhere I went in the blogosphere. Well, it didnโt take long to develop a connection with Cindy, who is an amazing human being, and weโve been close ever since.
I was honored when Cindy accepted my invitation to review Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, and send her my deepest gratitude and love.
Here is an excerpt from Cindyโs heartfelt review.
I remember how I connected with Jeff a couple years back when we met through our blogosphere and I read the comments he left me and others and I was stunned how genuine and caring he was with each of his followers.ย ย
You can feel his heart and authenticity through the page as though you were sitting and having tea together or going for a walk.ย ย
He makes you feel like you are the most special human in the universe and in fact you are because we all are, in his eyes.ย ย
Iโm so honored to read these beautiful words, and would be further honored if you would visit Cindyโs blog and read her review of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow.
You can read Cindyโs review here. Thank you!
Please stay tuned for more surprises this month, and for the next poetry reading from Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, which will be posted on August 15 at 6 am PT (USA).
A big thank you to all of you for being here, for supporting me, and for being the most amazing of friends.
All my love and blessings to you for a beautiful week.


soft and supple, bending
with the wind
I dream
of a life given
to my heart, getting out of the way
of results
knowing
they belong to the riddle of time
freeing me
like a wind chime
blowing back and forth
making beautiful music out of sounds and notes
Photo by Studio10-27, Pixabay
A quick reminder that the first reading from my debut poetry book, Natures Speaks of Love and Sorrow is this coming Monday at 6 am PT (USA). Iโm excited about all 4 of these upcoming poetry readings, and hope you enjoy them!
