Tag Archives: .poetry

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on January 19, 2022
Tags: .poetry, , , , , , , , , ,   

the red brick wall…

the red brick wall

is covered in stories, holding the heat of 1000 nations,
imbibed with something
extraordinarily

stationed…as
we bear witness to a

façade that cracks,
and crumbles,
as each piece
of story
falls,

and
tumbles…

picked up by passersby, as they journey behind time,
washing themselves in the riddle of
human
kind

leaving their fingerprints upon the surface, adding
their stories to the
collectivity

it is
their
purpose

molding their hearts together, while adding one more
story

to love’s, ever-burning, furnace…

Photo by uvlik05, Pixabay

#poetry, #collective, #connection, #heart, #humanity, #life, #love, #poem, #purpose, #shared, #stories

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on January 16, 2022
Tags: .poetry, , birds, , , , , , , , , , , , , sacredness, wdys#116   

wish upon the birds…

moon encrusted evening, walking among the fields
of daisies, birds circling in air, like thoughts
running through

veins,
fare and,
attention
made
bare

I dream of other lands, while grounded in the past,
and wish upon the birds, their beauty, at
times

misunderstood…

slowly, I crane toward the sky, their look is a
glimpse of magnificence, we all
should

take into
account, and
be proud of the beauty
throughout

the moments given, each one is sacred, bestowed
upon us with a love that is
thrilling
and

delightful, just like the pink hues look, as they
swallow my past, and take me towards
the present moment

at
last
it is
a stark
contrast…

In response to the WDYS #116 Prompt from Keep it Alive, by Sadje.

Image credit; LuizClas@ Pexels

#poetry, #beauty, #birds, #contemplation, #dreams, #flowers, #introspection, #life, #love, #moon, #nature, #past, #poem, #presence, #reflection, #sacredness, #wdys116

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on January 14, 2022
Tags: .poetry, , , , , , , , , , , realiztion, , , ,   

with all their scars, Published at Spillwords Press

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

with all their scars

they say, life
is a performance
of sorts, played out
on the background of
perceived solidity

young children,
learning quickly…

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

Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash

#poetry, #acceptance, #contemplation, #hope, #introspection, #life, #light, #love, #nature, #pain, #poem, #realiztion, #reflection, #scars, #shadow, #spillwords-press

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

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 6:00 am on January 11, 2022
Tags: .poetry, , , , , , , , , , ,   

the flowers speak to me…

the flowers speak to me, through the trees, as
they caress the wind so lovingly, and
offer us a glimpse of what love
could be…

nature advances past circumstance,
a human mind, relegated to
the back

beyond chance, and
destinies untoward advance
of a love

talked about for ages,
lived by sages, and ordinary folks
of all stages…

just like you and me, whispering through
the trees, past the winds, and to the
flowers kin, relating

the love
we feel within…

Photo by Pexels Pixabay

#poetry, #contemplation, #destiny, #flowers, #heart, #introspection, #life, #love, #mind, #nature, #poem, #reflection

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on January 8, 2022
Tags: .poetry, , , , , , , , , , , ,   

the resonance won…

I fell through the mirror once, and on the other side,
was you, hands clasped, and folded
neatly, you did always keep me
completely,
and
as

flowers fell from the sky, you gently made your way forward,
took my hand in yours, and then, the
question of my existence
spread…

arising in mind, the answer flooding my heart, as love
blossomed like the sun, retiring me to your
awaiting arms

the resonance, now,
won…

Photo by akirEVarga, Pixabay

#poetry, #connection, #existence, #flowers, #heart, #life, #love, #mind, #mirror, #nature, #poem, #resonance, #sun

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on January 4, 2022
Tags: .poetry, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,   

an afternoon under the sun…

I walked through the door once, and into a different land
entirely, sky full of blood, torn in two, it was
a wonder
to feel
the
loss at the center of the vacuum…

thoughts racing, with a heart rendering love, an afterglow
cast,
inside my
chest breathing
fast, and then,
in from the gloom

came you, sure-footed, with a love the size of the moon,
dispelling the shadows in heart and mind,
you did always remind me

of the aliveness
living inside of moments
won

as great clarity did come, and you and I settled in
for an
afternoon
under the sun…

Photo by Couleur, Pixabay

#poetry, #aliveness, #clarity, #connection, #darkness, #experience, #feelings, #heart, #life, #light, #love, #nature, #poem, #shadow, #sun

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on January 1, 2022
Tags: .poetry, candlelight, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , wdys#114   

let compassion soar…

a candlelight vigil, dispelling the darkness, in times
crucial, heart and hearth roam free, as we
settle into the
nature of
our

persistence, understanding more, let compassion soar
into the unknown, as we prepare for
another year
bestowed

we know not
what
comes,
yet faith can
guide us from

the shadows,
and into
the

glory of each moment, taking the time to smell
the flowers, and feel the breeze caress
our hearts gently

as we unleash the power of love from the tips
of our fingers, to the tops of
every tower, for

it is in
this
insistence,
we carry love forward

to assist,
in our collective existence….

In response to the WDYS #114 prompt from Keep it Alive, by Sadje.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

Image credit; Being. the. traveler@ Pexels

#poetry, #candlelight, #collective, #compassion, #connection, #contemplation, #existence, #heart, #humanity, #introspection, #life, #light, #love, #nature, #poem, #presence, #reflection, #wdys114

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on December 30, 2021
Tags: .poetry, , 2022, , contemplations, , , , , , , , , , , , 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 28, 2021
Tags: .poetry, , , , , , , , , , , , ,   

the shadow and stone…

waves break against my eyes, reveler caught,
in-between the shadow and
stone

feeling

the breadth and depth of this universal context,
shown, stars hanging off yonder, while
we continue to plunder, is it
any
real
wonder

about the pain beneath our feet, radiating up, and
through these bodies and minds,
not an accident, rather
something far
greater,
given

in-kind

it is
a love dispensed
from the
depths
of

the seas…

please, then, let us rewind this love transposed,
though, oft bemoaned,
know, it is always
present, and
bestowed…

Photo by MDARIFLIMAT, Pixabay

#poetry, #connection, #contemplation, #earth, #emotion, #introspection, #life, #love, #nature, #poem, #presence, #reflection, #seas, #waves