Tag Archives: Poems

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on August 1, 2022
Tags: , debut, , , , , , Poems, , , ,   

Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, Cover Reveal, and Release Date!

It gives me great joy to share with all of you the title and cover of my debut poetry book, Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow. Compiling the book was a labor of love, which took almost a year to complete.

As I was contemplating the poems, which eventually ended up in Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, I remember collecting intro lines to poems on scraps of paper as I worked, or was out in the community, and most of them made their way into the book.

I enjoyed every moment of contemplating and writing this book.

A Reminiscencne

As a youth, I loved to write. I remember writing to the local paper once about an issue in the community, and the letter made it into the local paper. A transformational moment for me.

Though this was a transformational moment for me, it took many more years before writing would show up again, first as a nontraditional student at University, and then in the blogosphere.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine the possibility of publishing a poetry book. Oh, how life changes, iterates, and keeps us on our toes. A blessing always.

Upcoming Activities

This month there are some activities scheduled to celebrate the upcoming release of my book, the first of which are poetry readings.

Over the next 4 Mondays, I will select and read one poem from Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, and post the readings to my blog and Twitter, beginning on August 8 at 6 am PT (USA).

There are also a few surprises in store, as we move toward the September 1 Release Date. I will let you all know about these activities, as we get closer to the date of their occurrence.

Thank You

For now, I want to acknowledge and thank each of you.

I know in my heart that Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow is now a reality because of your love, support, and friendship. Words cannot properly convey how much you all mean to me, so I will simply say, thank you, and I appreciate you.

I also want to thank the best publisher and editor in the world, Ingrid Wilson, of Experiments in Fiction. Ingrid took this book into her heart and worked hard to create a book that we are both proud of.

I hope you enjoy the upcoming poetry readings and the other surprises that are forthcoming.

All my love and blessings on a splendid week.

#cover-reveal, #debut, #experiments-in-fiction, #life, #love, #nature, #nature-speaks-of-love-and-sorrow, #poems, #publication, #release-date, #sorrow, #writing

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

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 8, 2022
Tags: , april month in review, book review, , , , , Poems, , , , ,   

The Month in Review, April 2022: At Home & Work, Debut Book Update and Writing & Blogging, and A Poem

Photo by Anestiev, Pixabay

April was an exciting month filled with much activity, both in my personal and professional life. It’s so much fun to watch life unfold, participate in it, and be fully engaged in every aspect of life. A true blessing.

At Home & Work

Linn-Benton Community College, Albany, Oregon

This month I spent time at the Community Garden, getting the soil ready for planting, which will begin in late May and early June. As you will read later in this review, I also spent a lot of time in April on my debut poetry book, and on book reviews. It’s so much fun. 

As some of you know, I had planned a trip to London in May of this year, alas, I have rescheduled this trip to later in the year. I am excited about the new timing of this trip, as I will end up in London during the holidays, which feels lovely to me.

I am contemplating a trip to Los Angeles to see my mother and sisters this summer, which is always fun for me. It’s always great to see them and my nieces and nephews.

The team is busier than ever. The traction we have across all of the programs within Extended Learning is at an all-time high, and the services we are delivering are reaching a wider audience with each year that passes.

The Commercial Driver License Program completed its first cohort, with tremendous success; and the second cohort will begin training in two weeks.

A very busy month at home and at work, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Debut Book Update, and Writing & Blogging

Photo by TuendeBede, Pixabay

My debut poetry book now has a title, and Ingrid Wilson, of Experiments in Fiction, is currently working on the cover design.

When the cover design is complete, I will update all of you on the cover design and the title.

Most of my writing time in April was dedicated to the book. I am excited to share that I have a rough manuscript, which I will begin to edit this month.

Once the editing is complete, I will send it to Ingrid, which will be in late May, or early June.

I am also continuing to send two poems each month to MasticadoresIndia, and MasticadoresUSA. I love being a part of both of these wonderful online publications. Gabriela Maria Milton and Terveen Gill are amazing editors and wonderful friends. Working with them is a blessing.

If you’ve never submitted to these two online publications, I encourage you to do so. You can find out about submission details on the respective websites.

April also found one of my poems, Realization Dawns, nominated for publication of the month at Spillwords Press. Though the poem was not voted as the publication of the month, the mere fact that it was nominated, is a great joy and honor for me.

I would like to thank each of you for continuing to support my writing and for being wonderful friends. Whether you are a new reader of my blog or someone that has been here for years, I appreciate each of you for taking the time you do to engage with me. You are all inspiring, and wonderfully talented.

Book Reviews

Photo by BridgeHouse , Pixabay

Resounding Lights, by Tanushree Taruchaya

Resounding Lights, by Tanushree Taruchaya takes the reader through reflections, contemplations, and introspections on deep pain and brilliant beauty.

Making connections to a life lived, and to nature, Tanushree draws the reader into poetry weaved from the soul.

The poetry contained in Resounding Lights will speak to every human being on this planet, for we’ve all known pain, and we’ve all known beauty, and both of these attributes are created gorgeously in this book.

I highly recommend Resounding Lights, as it is a bright light in a world that can sometimes feel very dark. 

A Poem

If you are not following me on Twitter, you can follow me here.

That’s all for this month, my dear friends. Sending you all my love for a beautifully blessed May. 

#poetry, #april-month-in-review, #book-review, #debut-poetry-book, #education, #masticadoresindia, #masticadoresusa, #poems, #publications, #publishing, #spillwords-press, #travel, #writing-and-blogging

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on February 20, 2022
Tags: , , , , , , , , Poems, , ,   

the blue

the sky’s canopy lives in my mind,
restless at any given moment,
yet with the blue
contained
inside
of

this torment, transformation occurs, giving
way to stars that line my veins,
and suns that linger
inside
my

eyes for days

it is
the nature
of life’s canopy
on display

within the heart of you and I, if
we learn to love the pain,
and give it
away

while refreshing ourselves in the sun and stars
of another day…

Photo by Prettysleepy, Pixabay

#poetry, #contemplation, #hope, #introspection, #life, #love, #nature, #pain, #poems, #sky, #stars, #transformation

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on January 30, 2022
Tags: , , , , , , january review, , , , , , Poems, strategies,   

The Month in Review, January 2022: At Home & Work, Writing & Blogging, A WDYS Poem, and A Note on Overwhelm

At Home & Work

Last Years Garden, Corvallis Oregon

This past month I’ve begun preparing for the community garden, which will officially start in March. As you all know, I participated in a community garden last year, and it was a wonderful experience.

I’ve started to think about the veggies and flowers I want to grow, and have also started to collect cardboard, which will be used to cover the plot until it is seeded. The harvest last season was abundant, and I look forward to more fresh vegetables from the garden this year.

The boys are doing well, Jason is with his mom full-time, and will turn 18 this year; and, Justin is preparing for his internship, and last year at University. Amazing. These two boys, nay, men now, are the light of my life, and seeing them succeed in their individual endeavors fills my heart.

At work, we are preparing for the spring term schedule. We will have about 150 classes on offer, most of them will continue to be remote. We are also filling our Leadership Academies, and will begin to fill our Small Business Management classes in March. 

Both of these training programs are excellent opportunities for local leaders and small business owners to be in critical conversations creating transformation within their lives and their businesses. So much fun.

Writing & Blogging

Photo by ractapopulous, Pixabay

As you know, I had a poem accepted at Spillwords Press this month. What you may not know, is that the poem, with all their scars, was trending as one of the top 3 poems the week it was published. This happened because of your unwavering support. 

Many of you took the time to visit Spillwords and read and like the post. For that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You all mean the world to me, and your support is a blessing.

I also had four poems published this month in MasticadoresIndia and MasticadoresUSA, 2 poems in each respectively.

In case you missed them, here they are:

Another heartfelt thank you to all of you for visiting both the Masticadores sites and reading, liking, and commenting on my poems. It means a great deal to me.

I also have a few new things planned for the blog this year. 

  • This month I published the flowers brome, which is a piece of prose poetry. I will write and publish more prose poetry in the future, and may even have a piece of prose to add as well.
  • I am also planning on doing some spoken word poetry this year, and have already purchased a microphone for this new endeavor.
  • Additionally, the month in review will be a new series this year, and will come out at the end of each month.

I will also submit poetry to new magazines and journals this year. I’ve actually already submitted to two, one of which is the Bangalore Review. I’m excited about these new publishing opportunities.

A WDYS Poem

Image credit; Tathanhtaun @ Pexabay

I’ve been doing the WDYS prompt for over a year-and-a-half now. It’s the only prompt I do on a regular basis, and is always fun. The WDYS prompt is created by Sadje, at Keep it Alive. 

If you’ve never done the prompt, I invite you to visit Keep it Alive and take a look sometime. You might find it fun, as I do. 

Alright, here is my response to the WDYS #118 prompt.

our heart’s love…
glasses set for two, the beauty in you,
I see too

a rose
tinted fragrance
wafts upon the shore

it is discord, and accord
both, a common
motion
of

this hearts healing contortions, as
pain racks the heart
and mind

two
becoming one
combined

in a
tale of
romance and
tragedy

we think and feel close…

loving,
while
wandering
a

tightrope

designed for those destined to love
the most, sending their
hearts out, into
the fields
they
go

spreading our heart’s love,
in repose…

A Note on Overwhelm

Photo by Hermann, Pixabay

As I get insights on any developmental topic, I always find avenues to share them with family, the team, and with all of you. They are shared via my poems, the A Blogger’s Diary series, and will also be shared here in this new series.

These developmental insights come as a product of my own internal development, and spending a large portion of the past 30 years in leadership and education.

This month, I’ve been reflecting upon overwhelm. Partly because I’ve been present to my own overwhelm, which comes and goes, and because I’ve been present to the team’s overwhelm, which also comes and goes.

Overwhelm as a concept and practice is simply a state of being overstimulated by our environments. These moments of overwhelm, sometimes last longer than we’d like. They are moments where our bodies are physiologically, psychologically, and sociologically, under more stress and this stress manifests in various ways for people.

For me, the most important thing to remember about overwhelm is that it comes and goes. It is a state of being, like most, which is transitory, yet, often, as human beings, we desire to hold onto these states, and do so unconsciously. 

Yet, as we become more aware of our own overwhelm, we can make new choices. We can stop what we are doing, take a break, go for a walk, sit somewhere quiet and just breathe in and out. 

It is very important to stop when overwhelmed. Stop what we are doing, and do something else. Sounds simple, and is quite simple. When we create the space to breathe, to do something different than we’ve been doing, we create a different response to our environment, and will get back a different reaction.

The next time you are overwhelmed, I invite you to stop what you are doing, and do something different, and see what you get back. You might be surprised.

Alright, that’s all for the January month in review.

I appreciate each and every one of you, send you my love,  and wish you a blessed coming week.

#poetry, #breathe, #healing, #heart, #home-and-work, #human-development, #january-review, #life, #love, #mindfulness, #overwhelm, #pain, #poems, #strategies, #writing-and-blogging

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 9:00 pm on January 11, 2022
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , Poems, , ,   

ravens flying on wings, Published at MasticadoresIndia

I am excited to share my poem, ravens flying on wings, which is now available at MasticadoresIndia. A big thank you to Terveen Gill, and the entire team at MasticadoresIndia for publishing this piece, and for their continued support.

ravens flying on wings

the curtains, pulled tight, made of silk, and
reminiscent of the night, reminds me of
a time, before transgression,
and

possessions of body and mind…

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

Photo by Ryunosuke Kikuno on Unsplash

#poetry, #clarity, #connection, #contemplation, #dream, #freedom, #heart, #illusion, #introspection, #masticadoresindia, #mind, #nature, #poems, #publication, #reality, #reflection

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 7:00 am on January 6, 2022
Tags: contem, , , , , , , Poems, , , , ,   

our love, airborne…, Published at MasticadoresUSA

I am excited to announce that I have been asked to be a regular contributor to MasticadoresUSA. I now have the great honor of being a regular contributor to both MasticadoresIndia and MasticadoresUSA. It is a dream come true. You can read more about all of the MasticadoresUSA monthly contributors here.

I would like to thank Gabriela Marie Milton, and the entire time at MasticadoresUSA, for thinking of me and inviting me to be a regular monthly contributor.

Here is the first of my January poetry submissions.

our love, airborne…

the sun rising in the morn, reminding me of times,
forlorn, dust-laden hands, breathing in all I can,
while looking to the stones in the
riverbend

wafting this way and that…

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

Photo by Kanenori, Pixabay

#contem, #introspection, #life, #love, #masticadoresusa, #nature, #poem, #poems, #publication, #reflection, #river, #sun, #tranquility

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on December 30, 2021
Tags: , , 2022, , contemplations, , , , , , , , Poems, , , , wordweavings, , year in review   

A Few Reflections on 2021, Contemplations on 2022, and a Twitter Poem

As I reflect upon 2021 and contemplate 2022, there are so many wonderful things to write about. Choosing among them is difficult, yet worthwhile. Let’s take a quick look at this past year.

2021

Living Alone

Personally, this past year was one in which I learned about living alone. Now that the boys are grown, and I am recently divorced, after being married for over 20 years, living alone has been painful and beautiful. Both, wouldn’t you know.

It’s been a time of great reflection for me, contemplating my life up to this point. A time of grieving, and a time of great joy. I’ve learned more about myself as a human being on this planet this past year than I have in the past 20 years. Solitude is like that. A gift.

I am looking forward to more time alone, and to the learning that comes as the days, weeks, and months unfold this next year. I look forward to all of it.

The Team

The team is healthy and well, and is, quite frankly, one of the best noncredit education teams in the State of Oregon. Some would argue in the Nation; and, I wouldn’t argue, as it is quite possibly true.

We’ve been through a lot as a team these past 4.5 years, and the resiliency, innovation, and heart this team has displayed and continues to display is astonishing.

We are currently working on many new projects, the output of which will continue to increase access to education for many populations that face barriers to education in this country. That we continue to create bridges to education for our local community, and across the state, nation, and globe through our new remote program models fills my heart with joy.

The Blog

Develop. Inspire. Transform

Well, if someone would have told me in the summer of 2020 that at the close of 2021 the blog would have acquired almost 2,400 followers, which it has, I would have listened carefully, yet would have set a more realistic goal, which I did.

My goal to close this year was 1,600 followers, and we have surpassed this number quite substantially, and I owe that to each of you. You have built this blog and the wonderfully thriving space we share together, and I honor and appreciate each of you for being here.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting me, and for creating a space full of love, light, and compassion.

Writing

Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that I would be writing poetry at the rate I am today. Writing poetry began in the summer of 2020 as a way to continue to process my own internal work, which is a part of my spiritual practice.

It started with a poem I wrote in response to another blog, I think, and from there began to blossom in my mind and heart, and today, I write poetry all day. Seriously. You should see the post-it’s I have laid out everywhere. It’s quite comical, and lovely.

This year I was blessed to be a part of our beloved Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, and several other Anthologies through True Dreamster. I was also blessed to have been published at Spillwords Press three times, at Word Weavings, and at MasticadoresUSA, and MasticadoresIndia, several times each. As you know, I am now a regular monthly contributor to MasticadoresIndia, which is a dream come true.

I am grateful to each of these wonderful editors for believing in my work, and for supporting me. They are amazingly talented people, and I am lucky to know them and to have my work published in their respective publications.

2022

I look forward to this coming year and know that there will be challenges, just as there will be many blessings. I’ve learned a lot this year, and I am grateful for each lesson.

I plan to continue to learn more about myself this year, continuing to dive deep within, uncovering more aspects of my human beingness, and the love I have for everyone and everything on this planet.

The team will continue to thrive and grow this year, as we set our sights on making 2022 another year of exceeding service capacities to our local community, by making noncredit education available to everyone, everywhere.

The blog will see a lot more poetry this coming year, and will likely see the Blogger’s Diary post continue, yet I am reflecting upon iterating the latter. I’ve not yet had the insight needed to do so, however, so we will see.

I am currently looking for new publications to submit poetry to this next year, and have already happened upon one, which I will submit to soon. I was planning to compile a book over this winter break, alas, that is not going to happen. Thus, it may be in 2022 that a debut book is forthcoming. All I can write now is that I will know when the time is right.

I am closing this 2021 reflection and 2022 contemplation with a Twitter poem.

as the earth swallows me whole
it is our love to
behold

a spotlight drowned

like
in the east
the sun rising &
the love deep within me
arising

a destiny ground
as mind & heart
are brokered with peace
no sound

needed
for it is in this display
of love where we are
found

You can see the original Twitter poem here, amongst other poems, and follow me on Twitter here.

I want to thank each of you again for being a part of my life. Being here is a blessing, and I cherish each interaction I have with you. You are appreciated immensely.

Alright, that’s all for now.

May the New Year bring you joy, peace, love, and many blessings.

Sending you all my love.

Photo by Tumisu, Pixabay

Photo by MAKY_OREL, Pixabay

#poetry, #2021, #2022, #blogging, #contemplations, #development, #leadership, #life, #love, #masticadoresindia, #masticadoresusa, #noncrediteducation, #poems, #publications, #reflections, #spillwords, #wordweavings, #writing, #year-in-review

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on December 10, 2021
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , Poems, ,   

the pages of our story…

you whispered to me once, it came through
the trees, unseen, a beautiful thing
discovered
amidst
the

flowers, and turbulent troubles, left for the moment,
like leaves falling from the sky,
you remind me
of the
why

in existences’ cry….calling to you and me, a
new whisper seen, and felt
in-between
the

pages of our story, lived, loved, and magically
created, like two dancers, entwined
in a kiss so
soft

subtleness

takes on a new form, as realization dawns, and two
hearts are, together, as one,
drawn…

Photo by miroslavkaclik, Pixabay

#poetry, #connection, #existence, #heart, #introspection, #joy, #life, #love, #magic, #mystery, #nature, #pain, #poems, #realization, #romance

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on October 23, 2021
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Poems, ,   

the love we’ve all been waiting for…

Pixabay

a broken land,
found in my dreams
distant, yet close to hand,
presence felt, matters not, as

everything stops…yet, the seas continue to

breathe in, and

hold my heart tight,
letting relations drop
when biting starts,
as a safe haven
draws stars upon

our collective scars, stored…as the wind
exhales deeply, and

infuses us, with
the love
we’ve all been waiting for…

#contemplation, #emotions, #feelings, #healing, #heart, #introspection, #life, #love, #nature, #poem, #poems, #scars, #seas