Shining Heart

Photo by Erik Witsoe on Unsplash

watching life
move by, disengaged
as it rattles around
in my brain
without significance
or a way to rebound

detached
from reality,
like a kite that loses
itโ€™s tether,
and flies off into
space with nary a
tarry nor a sound,
not heard, and never found

reflective processes
go unnoticed,
buried deep in
the heart, without
a tool to unearth
the myriad of possibilities
that live for a rebirth

then,

a shift
in consciousness
comes calling,
releasing the pain
a little at a time

and,

new tools
are brought forth,
provided by people
just like
you and me,
whoโ€™ve already
dug deep
removing the layers
of debris,
shining heart
we can now see


Utmost Feelings โ€“ Just Released!

If youโ€™ve not yet checked out Asthaโ€™s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, well, you can now order it online. Hereโ€™s where you can find it:

Paperback-

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9390817455

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/9390817455

Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/9390817455

Amazon FR: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/9390817455

Amazon ES: https://www.amazon.es/dp/9390817455

Amazon IT: https://www.amazon.it/dp/9390817455

Amazon JP: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/9390817455

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/9390817455

Ebook

Payhip- https://payhip.com/b/DjE8x

Kobo Books- https://www.kobo.com/in/en/ebook/utmost-feelings

B&N Press- https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/utmost-feelings-astha-srivastava/1139758293?ean=2940162372431

#poetry, #connection, #contemplation, #emotions, #heart, #huamnity, #introspetion, #life, #love, #pain, #poem, #poems, #reflection, #resilience, #shiningheart

Haiku #30

Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash

flower grows tall, we
sit in silence, quietness
emboldens wisdom


As I do not have a diary entry this week, here are my wishes for a beautiful, beautiful coming week!

Utmost Feelings โ€“ Just Released!

If youโ€™ve not yet checked out Asthaโ€™s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, well, you can now order it online. Hereโ€™s where you can find it:

Paperback-

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9390817455

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/9390817455

Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/9390817455

Amazon FR: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/9390817455

Amazon ES: https://www.amazon.es/dp/9390817455

Amazon IT: https://www.amazon.it/dp/9390817455

Amazon JP: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/9390817455

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/9390817455

Ebook

Payhip- https://payhip.com/b/DjE8x

Kobo Books- https://www.kobo.com/in/en/ebook/utmost-feelings

B&N Press- https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/utmost-feelings-astha-srivastava/1139758293?ean=2940162372431

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

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

#contemplation, #flower, #haiku, #nature, #poem, #poems, #reflection, #slience, #stillness, #wisdom

we wave goodbye

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

the tree sways
in the wind,
just as the life
we live comes to
bear on all our sins

past mistakes,
felt deep within,
often shunned,
in favor of a wide-
eyed grin

hiding the story
weโ€™ve kept
bottled up,
and locked tight
away
from imaginings
of another day

we dig deep
into those fields
of amber,
and recollected
memories
of all our patterns

excavating them
one at a time,
we relish each moment,
even though,
we are present
to the pain conveyed

radiating from
the center,
shuttering, and
quaking from all
our errors

splitting time
in two,
past
meets present
in a dance of
healing, and
a whole lot of feeling

calmly,
we breathe
through the pain,
and realize
itโ€™s just another day

one at a time,
now,
we prepare
ourselves
for a lullaby,
and to our
dismay, we
wave
goodbye


Utmost Feelings โ€“ Just Released!

If youโ€™ve not yet checked out Asthaโ€™s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, well, you can now order it online. Hereโ€™s where you can find it:

Paperback-

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9390817455

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/9390817455

Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/9390817455

Amazon FR: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/9390817455

Amazon ES: https://www.amazon.es/dp/9390817455

Amazon IT: https://www.amazon.it/dp/9390817455

Amazon JP: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/9390817455

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/9390817455

Ebook

Payhip- https://payhip.com/b/DjE8x

Kobo Books- https://www.kobo.com/in/en/ebook/utmost-feelings

B&N Press- https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/utmost-feelings-astha-srivastava/1139758293?ean=2940162372431

#poetry, #contemplation, #emotions, #gain, #healing, #introspection, #life, #loss, #love, #pain, #poem, #poems

of love and honor

Pixabay

houses made
of straw, and
fortresses,
created
on the shifting
sands of time,
without knowing
of another relevant
offering.

ensues,
instability,

during,

the most
prestigious
journey,
of a life lived, of
love known,
and loss
betrothed.

wedded,
hand-in-hand,
we search for reasons,
contemplate
the faltering, and
fight
the quell
on the inside.

battling back,
we retrace
our steps,
and begin to create
new foundations,
one brick at
a time;

laying them
one upon another,
in a fantastic
lattice,
of love
and honor.


Utmost Feelings โ€“ Just Released!

If youโ€™ve not yet checked out Asthaโ€™s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, well, you can now order it online. Hereโ€™s where you can find it:

Paperback-

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9390817455

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/9390817455

Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/9390817455

Amazon FR: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/9390817455

Amazon ES: https://www.amazon.es/dp/9390817455

Amazon IT: https://www.amazon.it/dp/9390817455

Amazon JP: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/9390817455

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/9390817455

Ebook

Payhip- https://payhip.com/b/DjE8x

Kobo Books- https://www.kobo.com/in/en/ebook/utmost-feelings

B&N Press- https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/utmost-feelings-astha-srivastava/1139758293?ean=2940162372431

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

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

#contemplation, #creation, #emotions, #foundation, #humanity, #introspection, #life, #loss, #love, #poem, #poems, #resilience

whole and complete once more

Photo by Orane Thomas on Unsplash

broken,
my fragments
of being,
call out to me
with such intensity
it makes for
a show
of great propensity.

the desire
to know more,
to be more,
lingers in the heavens
and within my heart,
just like you do,
as I look
at you,
and

remember,

the tides,
rushing
towards me
on that fateful
night.

you fill
the spaces
in between
with light,
and I am
resurrected
in your sight.

recalled,
rejoindered,
and made
whole,
and complete
once more;

I let go

of the fright,
and abide
in the knowing
that everything
has been, is,
and always will be
alright.


Utmost Feelings โ€“ Just Released!

If youโ€™ve not yet checked out Asthaโ€™s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, well, you can now order it online. Hereโ€™s where you can find it:

Paperback-

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9390817455

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/9390817455

Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/9390817455

Amazon FR: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/9390817455

Amazon ES: https://www.amazon.es/dp/9390817455

Amazon IT: https://www.amazon.it/dp/9390817455

Amazon JP: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/9390817455

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/9390817455

Ebook

Payhip- https://payhip.com/b/DjE8x

Kobo Books- https://www.kobo.com/in/en/ebook/utmost-feelings

B&N Press- https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/utmost-feelings-astha-srivastava/1139758293?ean=2940162372431

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

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

#poetry, #connection, #consciousness, #contemplation, #humanity, #introspection, #life, #love, #poem, #poems, #shared, #whole

Blessings in the Sky: Diana and Jeff

The sky is full
of stars, and
as we gaze up,
and wonder why,
a pattern
of constellations emerge,
reminiscent
of all that weโ€™ve purged.

The lost stories that
peek from behind
the moving clouds,
of love,
of life, and
treasured bruises that
paved our path.

A hope,
and knowing
from long ago,
just like the stars
we see,
timeless, and
beyond the dream,
so we continue
into the unforeseen.

I stroll the contours
of a hanging rainbow, letting the taste of beautiful
tragedies linger on my breath,
and icy winds cut through my weight
of woes.

I want to know now
what hope feels like,
and devour drops of peace,
because โ€ฆ. nothing lasts forever,
even the darkness, one day, will cease.


I am honored to present a first-time collaboration between Diana Menezes, of Be Inspired, and myself. Dianaโ€™s poetry blog was one of the first poetry blogs I began following last year. Dianaโ€™s blog is full of poems about life, love, hope, dreams, and so much more. If youโ€™ve not yet checked out Dianaโ€™s blog, please do so, thank you!

Utmost Feelings โ€“ Just Released!

If youโ€™ve not yet checked out Asthaโ€™s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, well, you can now order it online! Hereโ€™s where you can find it:

Paperback

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9390817455

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/9390817455

Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/9390817455

Amazon FR: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/9390817455

Amazon ES: https://www.amazon.es/dp/9390817455

Amazon IT: https://www.amazon.it/dp/9390817455

Amazon JP: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/9390817455

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/9390817455

Ebook

Payhip- https://payhip.com/b/DjE8x

Kobo Books- https://www.kobo.com/in/en/ebook/utmost-feelings

B&N Press- https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/utmost-feelings-astha-srivastava/1139758293?ean=2940162372431

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

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

#poetry, #blessings, #hidden, #poem, #poems, #sky

Our Hearts Guide

Photo by jae bano on Unsplash

as the ground
cracks
beneath me, Iโ€™m
reminded,
of the fissures
running along
the entirety of
my being.

cracks that,
at times,
become craters,
wide, with unknown
depths,
just like the earthly
realm we see, full
of paths on land,
and under the sea.

cracks
and craters
stepped,
and leapt, over,
Iโ€™m now moving
beyond times measure.

unknown distance
from the center,
and yes,
hard to measure.

scraping
and clawing
our way into that
center, is
of utmost pleasure,

and pain, both.

yet,
what other way
would we have it?

inside the depths
of those fissures
lies the heart
of another life
lived, discarded,
and now, intentionally
picked back up for progression.

moving again,
in synchronicity,
as we glide,
we will abide,
and once again follow
our hearts guide.


Utmost Feelings โ€“ Coming Soon!

If youโ€™ve not yet checked out Asthaโ€™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 Asthaโ€™s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, are creating a space for people to send their sentiments to Asthaโ€™s family.

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

#poetry, #connection, #contemplation, #heart, #humanity, #introspection, #life, #love, #ourheartsguide, #poem, #poems

A Bloggerโ€™s Diary 6/28/21: On the Week, Writing and Reflecting, WordPress, Gardening, and Appreciating 950 Followers

The Week

This week I learned that my cousin passed away in a car accident. I was, and am, saddened by the news; and, my heart goes out to all of my family in Los Angeles, and everywhere else that my family is today. Sending love and blessings to all of you.

At work this week, I prepared to take the team through a team building in two weeks, which is about creating next year. I am excited, as the entire team has not gathered in a while. Should be fun.

Writing and Reflecting

Writing did occur, as it always does, and was, well, quite prolific this week. Meaning, poems continue to come, and I am deeply grateful for the experience.ย 

Itโ€™s interesting, sometimes thereโ€™s nothing there, and at others, itโ€™s like a flood of emotions and writing all at once. Pretty amazing, indeed.

I also submitted four poems recently for publication. Two to MASTICADORESUSA, edited by Gabriela Marie Milton, which were accepted.

I am super excited about these two poems being published, and am grateful to Gabriela and the team at MASTICADORESUSA for accepting these poems.

Thank you.

I also submitted two poems to Spillwords. Iโ€™ve not heard anything back from Spillwords yet, and will keep you posted on these two submissions, as well as the two submitted to MASTICADORESUSA. Grateful, grateful.

WordPress

I also found out this week that my WP reader is not linked to all of the sites Iโ€™m following, which makes interacting with everyone a little more challenging. Therefore, I am planning to unfollow and refollow a whole bunch of sites in the next two weeks.

I think this will work, as it has in the past. So, if you see me unfollow and then refollow, thatโ€™s whatโ€™s happening. Thanks for being patient with me!

Gardening

Itโ€™s been a few weeks since Iโ€™ve created a Community Gardening post, and I chose this week to update all of you via my diary entry, as writing another Community Gardening post eludes me at the moment.

Yes! Everything is growing quite well; and, yep, Iโ€™ve got some weeding to do too!ย 

The peas and broccoli are delicious, and I am really excited about the tomatoes, squash, and, well, everything else thatโ€™s planted.

Appreciating 950 Followers

Photo by Kevin Butz on Unsplash

I am ecstatic to share that the site has surpassed 950 followers. My goal at the beginning of the year was to get to 1000 followers by the end of June. Though Iโ€™ll fall a little short of that goal, I am overjoyed about, and appreciative of, each of the 950 people that are following this site. Thatโ€™s you! Thank you!

The past year has been lots of things. Hard, sad, and, it has also been wonderful, and beautiful. And, at this moment?ย 

I am grateful.ย 

Grateful to each of you for viewing, liking, commenting, and sharing my posts. Beyond grateful.

I appreciate each of you, and am thankful to have met each and everyone of you.ย 

You are all inspiring and beautiful.

Sending love and blessings for a splendid week.


Utmost Feelings โ€“ Coming Soon!

If youโ€™ve not yet checked out Asthaโ€™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 Asthaโ€™s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, are creating a space for people to send their sentiments to Asthaโ€™s family.

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

#appreciation, #blog, #bloggers-diary, #blogging, #community, #conenction, #friends, #gardening, #life, #love, #reflecting, #writing

Forever Intertwined

Photo by bhuvanesh gupta on Unsplash

As tiredness
sets in
I recall the splendor
of the moment forever

When your hand
met mine
and we divined
to stay together
until another

pastime

of ages
have gone through
once again
moving forward
without a trace or a resonance
of the lost or the found
only the

bound

Together like two pieces โ€“ nay
parts of a larger whole
oh โ€“ please say youโ€™ll
be mine until
weโ€™re old

We look
into each otherโ€™s eyes
and there seen
is a knowing
something
not from this world
more from another realm
entirely

As we sit
alongside each other
hand-in-hand
such pleasure
we do find
of heart and mind
forever intertwined


Utmost Feelings โ€“ Coming Soon!

If youโ€™ve not yet checked out Asthaโ€™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 Asthaโ€™s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, are creating a space for people to send their sentiments to Asthaโ€™s family.

If you are interested, please add your sentiments into this document, thank you, and stay blessed.

#poetry, #connection, #forever, #humanity, #intertwined, #knowing, #life, #love, #poem, #poems, #relationships, #shared

Haiku #29

Photo by Al Soot on Unsplash

lotus flower blooms,
as the mind expands, and learns
from past circumstance


Utmost Feelings โ€“ Coming Soon!

If youโ€™ve not yet checked out Asthaโ€™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 Asthaโ€™s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, are creating a space for people to send their sentiments to Asthaโ€™s family.

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

#poetry, #consciousness, #contemplation, #expansion, #haiku, #humanity, #learning, #life, #love, #meditation, #mind, #nature, #poem, #poems