Tag Archives: introspection

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on May 27, 2022
Tags: , anothology, , , introspection, , , , , , , , , , voting,   

A Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women Event on June 4, A Spillwords Nomination, and A Poem: the me, in you

Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women

When I learned last month that Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women was open to submissions from all sexes, I chose to submit two poems written specifically for this wonderful collection.

I am honored to announce that my two poems were accepted. I’m also excited to inform you about a WIH event on June 4.

From the Editor, Gabriela Marie Milton:

“On Saturday June 4, at 9 am CT – 10 am ET (USA) join me and Ingrid on Twitter Space for a lively discussion and updates on our anthology Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women. By saving and clicking on the link below you can listen to the discussion even if you do not have a Twitter account. Please share the link with those you think may be interested. I can’t wait to talk to those of you who can attend.“

https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1lDxLLreevkxm

That is 7 am PT (USA) for those on the west coast.  I will be there and hope to see you there too.

Spillwords Press, May Publication of the Month Nomination

I am also honored to announce that my poem, Hidden Inside, was nominated for May Publication of the Month at Spillwords Press. Whereas all of the poems I write have deep meaning to me, this poem is deeper than most.

As some of you know, there was a time when I was disconnected from my intention and all of the gifts that the connection to one’s heart entails.

It’s been a long time since that time, yet emotions still arise from that part of my life, as it was traumatic and very difficult.

It makes the nomination for my poem, Hidden Inside, more profound for me.

I would be honored if you would go here and vote. Voting closes on 5/29. Thank you!

A Poem: the me, in you

splashes of lilac dance across the sky
in tune with my heart denied

as aspects of you

hide
under the suffering moon

and, as it all takes root

I dance across tree limbs
looking for a commonplace to loom

in my quest
to understand the me, in you

Photo by Prawny, Pixabay

#poetry, #anothology, #event, #heart, #introspection, #life, #love, #nature, #poem, #publication, #publication-of-the-month, #reflection, #spillwords, #the-poetry-of-strong-women, #voting, #wounds-i-healed

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on May 21, 2022
Tags: , , , , , , introspection, , lovejasmine, , , ,   

scent of jasmine

You.

It’s always been, given to me once
at the precipice of a love

filled with tales
grim
and others’ riding the backs of whales

I listen for you in the nightshade
of a heart asundered

by the mere mention of your name in pale
and indigo fibers

filled with stitched together riders

their hearts, gold through and through
just like the love I feel for you

A moment.

I pause to breathe
and exhale the scent of jasmine

realizing you’ve come to me in time

with the music I hear, for two, everytime to my heart
nearer, are

You.

Photo by Mona Eendra on Unsplash

#poetry, #connection, #contemplation, #flowers, #healing, #heart, #introspection, #life, #lovejasmine, #music, #nature, #pain, #poem

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on May 15, 2022
Tags: , , , , , , introspection, , , , , , ,   

iron leaves

guidance comes on the shoulders
of mountain tops

a reliance

on the love living inside my fingertips
short, and stout

they speak to me of dreams, unseen

a reality
forged from iron leaves
while the fragrance of love always makes me believe

in you, my love

Can you see me through the pain inside the loving breeze?

I can see you too.

it’s here, my love
where I will always wait for you

Photo by ArtTower, Pixabay

#poetry, #connection, #contemplation, #guidance, #healing, #heart, #introspection, #leaves, #life, #love, #nature, #pain, #poem, #poems

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on May 6, 2022
Tags: , aspects, , , , , , introspection, , , , , , , ,   

the moon’s cusp

grass seed reminds me of
the inevitability

of time

skipping through fields, dusty
and wheat filled

as I grow through the earth’s crust, learning
I’m just enough

of the magic living inside the moon’s cusp

relating to me, another aspect
of the you

I see

it comes to me
while I lean into the garden of being

and transcend the pain I’ve been feeling

Photo by Prettysleepy, Pixabay

#poetry, #aspects, #connection, #earth, #healing, #heart, #hope, #introspection, #life, #love, #mind, #moon, #nature, #pain, #poem, #transcendence

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 7:00 am on April 29, 2022
Tags: , , , , , introspection, , lifeforce, , , , , ,   

the sweetest nectar, Published at MasticadoresUSA

I am so pleased to announce that my poem, the sweetest nectar, 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.

the sweetest nectar

with the wind at my back
I relax

and
sit inside all the glory before me

the blooming flowers
and the resplendent arches on the trees
as they hang with the most delicious…

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

Photo by mythuatungdungsla, Pixabay

#poetry, #contemplation, #emotions, #feelings, #healing, #introspection, #life, #lifeforce, #love, #masticadoresusa, #nature, #pain, #poem, #publication

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on April 27, 2022
Tags: , , , , introspection, , , , , , , , ,   

Realization Dawns, Nominated for April Publication of the Month at Spillwords Press, and alight and aflame

I was excited to learn this week that my poem, Realization Dawns was nominated for April Publication of the Month at Spillwords Press. I am so honored by this nomination and want to thank Dagmara K and the entire team at Spillwords Press for continuing to support my work.

I would also like to thank each of you, as this nomination is a direct result of your kindness, generosity, friendship, and unwavering support. You each inspire me to be the best I can be, and I appreciate you very much.

Voting for the April Publication of the Month closes on April 29.

I would be honored if you would go here and vote. Thank you!

alight and aflame

displays are on the screen
and behind them are clouds seen

as mysteries continue to pour into me

of a love lingering in the rain
specks of dust are always the same

tiny fragments of being, they came

to me at last
while I let my heart open to the possibilities

of you, my love
dancing into the night, alight and aflame

Photo by Hansuan_Fabregas , Pixabay

#poetry, #connection, #contemplation, #dancing, #introspection, #life, #love, #mystery, #nature, #nomination, #poem, #publication-of-the-month, #spillwords-press, #time

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on April 15, 2022
Tags: , , , , introspection, , , , , ,   

purple tears

purple colors fill the sky
a mixture of violet and lavender

like tears that have dried

they crumble through my pores
leaking a love that’s lived through more

than this man can define
the last time I faced these truths
I cried and cried

yet
knowing this truth today
my fear subsides

and sits in my heart
where love always resides

Photo by Prawny, Pixabay

#contemplation, #fear, #healing, #hope, #introspection, #life, #love, #nature, #pain, #poem, #trauma

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 10:00 pm on April 12, 2022
Tags: , , , , , introspection, , , , , , , ,   

cloudless drifter, Published at MasticadoresIndia

I am so pleased to announce that my poem, cloudless drifter, is now available at MasticadoresIndia. Thank you to Terveen Gill, and the team at MasticadoresIndia for their continued support, and for publishing this piece.

cloudless drifter

oranges and limes fill the sky
a scent reminiscent of another time

when love was like a drop of candy in the winter
and the fields were dusty

a cloudless drifter…

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

Photo by prettysleepy1, Pixabay

#poetry, #contemplation, #emotions, #feelings, #healing, #introspection, #life, #love, #nature, #pain, #poem, #reminiscence, #unknown, #wonder

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on April 8, 2022
Tags: , beatuy, , , , introspection, , , , , , , ,   

Realization Dawns, Published at Spillwords Press

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

Realization Dawns

Breaking waves,
remind me of
breaking hearts,
in time
with the juxtaposition
of life’s myriad, and
frantically felt…

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

PPhoto by Keith Misner on Unsplash

#poetry, #beatuy, #contemplation, #gratitude, #hope, #introspection, #life, #nature, #pain, #poem, #presence, #realization, #reflection, #spillwords

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on March 30, 2022
Tags: , , , , , hubris, humble, introspection, , , , , , poetrypartners,   

A lining of silver, and A heart of gold: A Poetry Partners Collaboration

Recently, David, of The Skeptic’s Kaddish launched an initiative called, Poetry Partners. It is an amazing initiative, which invites poets to submit a poem, and then David writes a response poem. I contemplated a poem to send to David for some time, and then finally did about a month ago.

Here is the poem I sent to David.

a lining of silver

I sit atop a tower, looking down
at the flowers briar,
calling to me at all hours

it is
beauty
seen
in

the myriad contours and folds of life’s road —
gold

and shining in the afternoon sun,
watching from afar,
they run

frolicking in nature’s bounty, like slivers
of dust, the night away,
they wash

as the
clouds hang
onto the love
they feel within

gathering
up our tears, a lining of silver
remains
thin

delivering back the tears collected,
delight spreads across the
land

as our tears seed
hope and love
inside
the

flowers briar once again

Now, here is David’s poem in response to my poem.

A crystalline by ben Alexander of ‘The Skeptic’s Kaddish’

An arrogant little man looked
out upon glowing sunflower fields.

If their lovely soul wouldn’t bow,
he’d simply be forced to Dehull her.

“Forward! Bring that fucking bitch to me!”
Soldiers marched, tanks rolled; rockets flew.

But the flowers resisted and stood
tall against the might of his troops.

‘Grind them down!’ he shouted, enraged,
‘Press forward! We shall Extract our price!’

Tears flowed forth from the flowers, but
they would not succumb to the Crude man.

Then, as though born of silver tears,
a Refined lady rose from their midst.

The train of her golden gown trailed
behind her, as she strode through the fields.

Thick clouds, hanging onto the love
they felt within, gathered up the tears.

“True hope,” the gentlewoman declared,
“shan’t be defeated by hubris.”

Deliberately, she stepped forward,
unfazed by the bullets, and beamed.

Thank you again to David for partnering with me on this amazing collaboration. What fun!

Photo associated with a lining of silver by Layers, Pixabay

#poetry, #flowers, #healing, #heart, #hope, #hubris, #humble, #introspection, #life, #love, #nature, #pain, #poem, #poetrypartners, #transformation