Purple Haze

I learned from you
and the sumptuous sky
about lessons in pain
and in love

at times
there is no dignity
in a world devoid of feeling
and of knowing

yet, the world continues to spin
on the gravity of your gaze
and on the wellness held at bay
in a spinning top of purple haze


Image aalmeidah, Pixabay

Twitter #vss365 prompt words used: sumptuous. Follow me on Twitter here, and Instagram here.


MasticadoresIndia/USA Publications

I am always honored to have my poetry at 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!


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, #boundness, #dignity, #emotion, #feelings, #gravity, #grow, #healing, #knowledge, #learning, #life, #limitlessness, #love, #masticadoresindia-masticadoresusa, #nature, #newest-publications, #pain, #poem, #purple-haze, #shame, #sky

October Rain

My father
a talisman of probability
and of broken hope, found
underneath a staircase
drunk
on October rain.

A teacher
who left probability aside
in favor of developing brokenness
into the night —
he fashioned emotions
into sleeves
of tears held at bay
a dam no one wants to make.

It is a skill learned
out of survival
when we feel like a mistake, and
a burden to life
and to an imagined view
staring back at me in the mirror —
You.


©JeffFlesch.com
Image by Mysticsartdesign, Pixabay


Recently I sent two poems to Rust & Moth, an amazing online poetry journal. While both were rejected, it reminded me that acceptance lives inside rejection, and is part of the writing process. It also reminded me to continue to pursue new topics and feelings in my writing. October Rain is a poem that explores both of these.


White-tipped Waves, by C.X. Turner

cradling the light
I didn’t ever hope
to find you

wave after wave
breaking down

retreating with the tide

awash
with past mistakes
in an ocean of loss

love
came to
remind me
take me with you
but let me go

I contemplate the seasons
you and I went through

find myself
inland on foreign soil
alone yet not lonely

discover
peaceful opportunities
to carry light
however deep the fight

White-tipped Waves is a poem that was created by a dear friend of mine, C.X. Turner, in response to velvet soft, which was a response poem to Scattered Sakura. Scattered Sakura was submitted to the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow 30 Poems in 30 Days collaboration by C.X. Turner. I love this poem with all of my heart.


#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, #broken, #burden, #c-x-turner, #emotional-turbulence, #hiding, #learning, #life, #love, #mirror, #mistake, #naturespeaks, #pain, #poem, #realization, #seeking, #sorrow, #tears, #trauma, #white-tipped-waves, #whole

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

to live a life as full as heeded

Photo by Svyatoslav Romanov on Unsplash

locked inside
a container,
of my own making

I struggle to find
the light,
complete absence
thereof,
sets me off with a fright

struggling
to breath,
wondering
if life
is all that it seems

I get quiet,
quiet enough
to hear
the hammering
of my heart,
against
my painful chest

then,

it picks up
speed,
in relation
to the myriad
thoughts
roiling around my head,

faster
than anything
can be said
to have sped

slowing
them down
not possible,
tools escape me,
trapped,
and isolated,
tears well
in my eyes,
and I even,
at that time,
struggle to cry

they
leak instead,
when fullness
overflows
into stations
of another
portended foundation

and,

years later,
I will reflect on
these times,
after learning
has been delivered,
and understanding
is bourgeoning
within my hearts center

holding
these memories
ever so lightly,
abiding in my center
and knowing,
though painful,
these experiences,
were necessary, and
needed,
to live a life as full
as heeded


#poetry, #center, #emotions, #foundation, #heart, #knowing, #learning, #letting-go, #life, #living, #love, #memories, #poem, #poems, #reminiscence, #understanding

step into the self

Photo by Faris Mohammed on Unsplash

the rain falls,
drops
known to all,
reminiscent of tears
present
when I was very young

told not to let them
show,
we pretend when
we’re grown,
that all of life
is hidden from view
and within
our complete control

a myriad
of illusory contexts
derived from
well-
intentioned people,
learning themselves,
what it’s like
to be
a pupil

life happens,
and,
as it does,
we grab onto
anything that’s solid
and stable

while also knowing
these
concepts
are mere principles of

nature’s
way

of showing us
what we’re
becoming

delivering pain
when we
least expect it,
and asking us
to step into
the self
we know is there,
and we relate to


Utmost Feelings – Just Released!

If you’ve not yet checked out Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, well, you can now order it online. Here’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 Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, are creating a space for people to send their sentiments to Astha’s family.

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

#poetry, #connection, #emotions, #humanity, #illusion, #learning, #life, #love, #poem, #poems, #reality, #relate, #shared

Haiku #29

Photo by Al Soot on Unsplash

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


Utmost Feelings – Coming Soon!

If you’ve not yet checked out Astha’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 Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, are creating a space for people to send their sentiments to Astha’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