honeycomb

I want to play with the nature
of pain

and hide
the existence of tears
dwelling
within the chambers of change

a doppelgänger
made from the cusp of our love
frosted over
with the nest of

a honeycomb

encircled
by clouds hanging upside down
from

the starry sky above


Photo by FreeCreativeStuff, Pixabay

Twitter #vss365 prompt words used: want, change, doppelgänger. Follow me on Twitter here.


MasticadoresIndia/USA Publications

I am always honored to have my poetry in MasticadoresIndia and MasticadoresUSA. It is a blessing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Terveen, and Barbara for always supporting my work; and, thank you to each of you for continuing to read, like, and comment on my poems on these two exceptional online magazines.

Here are my two newest pieces.

I would be honored if you would read them when you have a moment, thank you!


OUT NOW! Hidden in Childhood, A Poetry Anthology, edited by Gabriela Marie Milton

Hidden in Childhood, A Poetry Anthology was released this past week, and it skyrocketed to the #1 spot on Amazon New Release for several days. I am honored to have two pieces published in this gorgeous anthology. Thank you Gabriela for always supporting my work, for being an amazing friend, and for continuing to create new opportunities for writers all over the world to have their voices heard, and their stories read.

If you’ve not yet picked up a copy of this gorgeous anthology, please do so with the link above. Thank you!


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, #change, #healing, #hidden-in-childhood, #life, #love, #masticadoresindia, #masticadoresusa, #nature, #number-1-best-seller, #pain, #poem, #publications, #sky, #stars, #transformation

scripted truth

I rest my eyes
on the sunset, long in shadow
and lost in temptation

I recall
a coddled wall
of memories

where backlash
found safety, a thin membrane
of projection

and a hurled osmosis
of confusion

a scripted truth

of
transmigration, and the cosmosis birth
of you


Photo by PeterKraayvanger, Pixabay

Twitter #vss365 prompt words used: coddle, hurl, script. Follow me on Twitter here.


It occurred to me recently that I’ve not yet shared all of my response poems to the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration. Therefore, over the next several weeks, I will share a couple of them each week, along with the poet that inspired my poetic response.

Here are the first two.

Artless Love

they alight on a leaf
tranquil, and made up of a piece
of our love

the broken bits
sewn back together
by the sky

above

restless, and tired
I linger in the alcove

where mist
displays the toxicity of the pain
in my head
and

in my heart

drifting with the wind
I stop
and realize

you
are the one that’s always been
and will always be

dramatized
by the rendition of an artless love


Artless Love was inspired by the poem Butterflies Blue, by Shruthi.


Lonely, and Desolate

confusion abounds inside my head
while I linger along a street
lonely, and

desolate

ambling
toward the sunshine over the horizon
I melt

into
a pool of wonderment
and of awe

awaiting
the stars to appear in the sky
I too

realize
you are at the center of my life
teaching me more
than any book could possibly
confide

the love
you’ve delivered to me
over the course of my life


Lonely, and Desolate was inspired by the poem Stay Away, by Spriha Kant.


Jeff Flesch

Author, #1 Amazon Bestseller 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, #clarity, #confusion, #cosmos, #healing, #life, #love, #memories, #nature, #naturespeaks, #poem, #projection, #promise-and-possibility, #renewal, #scripted-truth

weathered bones

I skirt
and flirt
with dangerous territory
when thinking
of you–
you
remind me of all that was once
true

in life, in love, and in
the texture of weathered bones
drawn closed

like shutters upon my eyes
I

rely upon the truth
to open up
yet, also know the pain of the mountain
tops
call me home

where danger, and safety
resonate as equals

when you are close


Image by Counselling, Pixabay


Courage Resurrects, Published at MasticadoresUSA

I am honored to have my new poem, Courage Resurrects, published at MasticadoresUSA. Thank you Barbara Leonhard for supporting my work, and for all that you do

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

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

May your 2023 be filled with peace, love, and joy, and may all of your dreams come true.


Jeff Flesch

Author, #1 Amazon Bestseller 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, #closed, #connection, #danger, #fear, #healing, #heart, #loss, #love, #masticadoresusa, #mountain-tops, #nature, #open, #pain, #poem, #publication, #realization, #safety, #weathered-bones

coming home

I cross cross the earth
in search of something fleeting
knowing

the unknown
is a place of peace

of mind, and of body

a souls destination
housed

within a fractured
system
of thoughts, and of feelings

coming home
a respite from the storm

sitting
in the center of silence
watching

things come, and go

attraction
to the poles of
opposites

the healing of ego
and of the soul’s companion
on the way home


Photo by me, Oregon Coast


Soul’s Sojourn, Published at MasticadoresIndia

I am always honored when a piece of my poetry is published at MasticadoresIndia and MasticadoresUSA. It’s such a joy, and this publication at MasticadoresIndia is no different. Thank you, Terveen, for always supporting my work. I am beyond grateful.

I would be honored if you would go here, and read my new poem.

If you’ve not yet submitted to either of these fine publications, I invite you to; it’s an amazing experience.


Last week, I visited Justin and Izzy in Portland, and we had a great time. We went to a boutique event supporting local small business, ate some wonderful food at Blossoming Lotus, and then went to the Portland Trailblazers game on Sunday evening. It was grand.

I wish you all a wonderful week; see you next weekend!

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, #body, #coming-home, #ego, #feelings, #healing, #known, #life, #love, #mind, #nature, #pain, #peace, #poem, #respite, #silence, #soul, #storm, #thoughts, #unknown

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 Didn’t Learn in a Textbook, by Kym Gordon Moore

I was elated to receive Kym Gordon Moore’s new book about a month ago, and though I’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

“They 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 […]”

Absolutely stunning. If you’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 farmer’s marketing on Sunday, and then we are going to see the Portland Trailblazers on Sunday night. I’ve not been to an event of this size in years, thus I’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