prodigal sun

I find callousness at noon
desirous
of the prodigal sun

washing
my hands of understanding
and of ignorance

I call out to you

recognizing the moon
carries the seeds of our love
and

the cognition of the stars above


Photos by me, Oregon Coast


New and Forthcoming Publications

Angels Outlined, Published at MasticadoresIndia

I am pleased to announce that my poem, Angels Outlined, is now available at MasticadoresIndia. Thank you to Terveen Gill, and the team at MasticadoresIndia for their continued support, and for publishing this piece. Iโ€™d be honored if you would read the full poem here. Thank you!

Hidden in Childhood: A Poetry Anthology

I am elated to share that one ore more of the poems I submitted to Hidden in Childhood: A Poetry Anthology, edited by Gabriela Marie Milton, have been accepted. Thank you, Gabriela, and the editing team at Literary Revelations Press for this acceptance, and for supporting my work. I am honored and humbled beyond words.


It is amazing to reflect back upon this year, so full of wonderful memories and experiences, which you are all a part of. I am thankful everyday to be a part of this loving community, and I want to thank all of you for your continued support and friendship.

You all continue to inspire me, and I look forward to creating new experiences and memories with all of you in 2023!

Wishing you all a joyous, peaceful, and wonderful holiday season.

All my love and blessings,

Jeff


Jeff Flesch

#1 Amazon Bestselling Author of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow

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

Jan/Feb 2022 Author of the Month, Spillwords Press


#poetry, #cognition, #contemplation, #contentment, #desire, #hidden-in-childhood-a-poetry-anthology, #ignorance, #intuition, #life, #literary-revelations-press, #love, #masticadoresindia, #nature, #new-publication, #poem, #prodigal-sun, #realization, #seeds, #stars, #transformation, #understanding

memories left

I walk, and watch
a time of trees
and of the silences that speaks
of mist

covered evenings
and of the memories
you left

by the gravestone
etched with the blood of
our love

a time of desperation
and of sorrow

dwelling in hearts
beating in sync with lost
time

and
with the cosmic qualities
of our lives


Photo by jplenio, Pixabay


We Are Poetry: Lessons I Didnโ€™t Learn in a Textbook, by Kym Gordon Moore

I was elated to receive Kym Gordon Mooreโ€™s new book about a month ago, and though Iโ€™ve only read a few selected chapters thus far, I can write here that it is an amazing read. Here is an example:

I Am

โ€œThey say I am nothing

in my someone-ness

traverse into a flow

of the seen but not heard

nonexistent, divisible where liberty is not just

not considered worthy to speak,

or to be respected

just an invisible occupation of space,

you think that of me

yet my existence is more

than the archives of silence

I am.

Refusing to conform [โ€ฆ]โ€

Absolutely stunning. If youโ€™ve not yet picked up a copy of this amazing book, you can do so here.

Update on Me

It was great to catch up with many of you last night. I am doing very well, and enjoying the travels. There is so much beauty in the world, and it is a privilege, and a joy to get out and see it.

Today, I am off to see Justin, which will be a lot of fun. We will do some shopping, and farmerโ€™s marketing on Sunday, and then we are going to see the Portland Trailblazers on Sunday night. Iโ€™ve not been to an event of this size in years, thus Iโ€™m filled with excitement and some anxiety. Very normal.

I look forward to catching up with all of you again next weekend.

Have a wonderful weekend, and upcoming week.

All my love and blessings,

Jeff


Jeff Flesch

#1 Amazon Bestselling Author of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow

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

Jan/Feb 2022 Author of the Month, Spillwords Press


#poetry, #contemplation, #cosmic, #despair, #experience, #healing, #introspection, #knowledge, #life, #love, #mist, #nature, #poem, #publications, #silence, #sorrow, #travels

beautiful afternoon

I search for you
in tears

raining
in the afternoon

a complex
land of emotion, are tides
of becoming, and of unbecoming

something far more than
before

a heart
filled with choice

a powerful feeling
empowermentโ€™s
scope

shining
in the noontime sky

glistening
like so many bells
sounding

itโ€™s their time

to move on
leaving behind

a ghost
of what once was

to learn more about
all that is

this
beautiful afternoon


Photo by MenielDM, Pixabay


I would like to thank Barbara Leonhard, and the team at MasticadoresUSA for publishing my poem, Twilight State. If youโ€™ve not yet read it, you can find it here. Thank you!


A quick update on me; all is well. As I write this, I am currently in Bend, Oregon, at the Oregon Workforce Partnership (OWP) Conference, which has been educational, and fun. Next week, I will travel to Yachats at the Oregon Coast for some rest and rejuvenation. I love to visit the Oregon Coast in the winter, itโ€™s less crowded, and always so beautiful. Iโ€™ll share some pictures with you upon my return.

Wishing you all a gorgeous coming week.

All my love and blessings,

Jeff


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 Pres


#poetry, #awareness, #beautiful-afternoon, #contemplation, #emotion, #empowerment, #growth, #life, #love, #nature, #poem, #reality, #realization, #senses, #truth

dancing magic

leaves turn and bend
a winter scheme

inside my heart

dancing magic
in the sky, and in the wind

natureโ€™s purveyor
and plenitude
of love

weaved
with delicate hands

a gift
beyond the scope
of mind

where
it remains lost
and

is only found
when we realize
itโ€™s been there all along


Photo by bugent, Pixabay


I would like to thank Barbara Leonhard, and the team at MasticadoresUSA for publishing my poem, Starburst Pattern. If youโ€™ve not yet read it, you can find it here. 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 Pres


#poetry, #contemplation, #found, #heart, #introspection, #life, #lost, #love, #magic, #mind, #nature, #poem, #realization, #reflection, #solitude, #winter

lonely trails

I walk
along lonely trails
desolate footpaths, where my heart
trades

in an economy of grief
and despair

these two feelings
come without thought or conception

relegating needs to another
mist-covered

field
a place to lay down our weights
and

pick up the threads of love, lingering
in the shade
where

they continue to take shape


Photo by 1162835, Pixabay


My Dearest Friends,

Beginning next week, and continuing for the remainder of this calendar year, I am traveling within and without the country. The travel combined with my ever iterating and changing professional life will demand more of me, which means I will be less active here going forward. I will still visit your sites, and read your beautiful poetry and writings, however, it will be less often. I will also post less often.

I am choosing to pause, possibly indefinitely, the weekly prompt. As to next yearโ€™s collaborative project, I am still very passionate about making this happen, yet at this time, cannot write here, when, or how that will go next year; know that when I know, you will too.

Please know I am very well; all of the changes are positive, and I am very excited about them, though, paradoxically, I am sad about taking more time away from this space. This is how life goes, though, we never know what we will be gifted, and when we are open to all of lifeโ€™s gifts, we walk into them with open arms.

I will update you here as my schedule and professional life continue to take shape in the coming months.

All my love and blessings,

Jeff


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, #connection, #contemplation, #control, #feelings, #grief, #guided, #heart, #letting-go, #life, #lonely, #love, #mind, #nature, #poem, #resolve, #thoughts, #trails

velvet soft

the water flows gently
cascading
over pain and grief
a letter or two is all it takes

bringing me present

to the petals of your love
as soft as velvet

shining
like your smile in winter

snow falls like dandelion fluff
and I find you again in between moments
of despair

opening me up, a shell
traveling without your insistence

yet
the love we shared is more than enough
to stay

grounded

in your contemplative existence


velvet soft was inspired by the poem Scattered Sakura, by C.X. Turner.


Photo by Nancy1730, 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 Pres


#poetry, #30-poems-in-30-days, #contemplation, #despair, #existence, #grief, #grounded, #heart, #hope, #human-connection, #life, #love, #nature, #naturespeaks, #pain, #petals, #poem, #velvet-soft

sun rising

I learned about love
when young
and

impressionable

a life, nobody knows but
me

listening to the wind
I

allowed feelings to
arise within

just as they should be
eyes

always watching, growth come
up and
in

a sun rising, at the horizons end


Photo by 8385, Pixabay

Twitter #vss365 prompt words used: nobody, eyes. Follow me on Twitter 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, #arising, #contemplation, #feelings, #growth, #introspection, #learning, #life, #listen, #love, #nature, #poem, #resilience, #rising, #sun, #young

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

Glowing Sunrise, Published at Spillwords Press

I am excited to announce that my poem, Glowing Sunrise is now available at Spillwords Press. A big thank you to Dagmara K., and the whole team at Spillwords for publishing this piece, and for their continued support.

Glowing Sunrise

one, two, and three
are the stars
I count in the sky

there are so many more thoughโ€ฆ

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


Photo by Fausto Garcia Menendez


Submissions are open for the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration, and will remain open until September 23. The submission details are located here.

#poetry, #connection, #contemplation, #earth, #grateful, #humanity, #joy, #life, #love, #nature, #poem, #publication, #sky, #spillwords-press, #world-gratitude-day

ghosts linger

ghosts of the past
linger

in my memory

with a sky full of love, dried
bone, and blood

which come

by land and sea, this onslaught
always pervades me

as I watch
the trees sway back and forth
remembering

the truth about this paradoxical life course


Photo by 12019, Pixabay


Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow has been #1 Amazon New Release for 8 of the psat 13 days, and on the top 20 Bestseller list much of this time.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for making this so.


Submissions are now open for the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration, and will remain open until September 23. The submission details are located here.



#poetry, #consciou, #contemplation, #healing, #heart, #introspection, #joy, #love, #mind, #nature, #pain, #past, #poem, #presence, #present, #sorrow