beautiful afternoon

I search for you
in tears

raining
in the afternoon

a complex
land of emotion, are tides
of becoming, and of unbecoming

something far more than
before

a heart
filled with choice

a powerful feeling
empowerment’s
scope

shining
in the noontime sky

glistening
like so many bells
sounding

it’s their time

to move on
leaving behind

a ghost
of what once was

to learn more about
all that is

this
beautiful afternoon


Photo by MenielDM, Pixabay


I would like to thank Barbara Leonhard, and the team at MasticadoresUSA for publishing my poem, Twilight State. If you’ve not yet read it, you can find it here. Thank you!


A quick update on me; all is well. As I write this, I am currently in Bend, Oregon, at the Oregon Workforce Partnership (OWP) Conference, which has been educational, and fun. Next week, I will travel to Yachats at the Oregon Coast for some rest and rejuvenation. I love to visit the Oregon Coast in the winter, it’s less crowded, and always so beautiful. I’ll share some pictures with you upon my return.

Wishing you all a gorgeous coming week.

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 Pres


#poetry, #awareness, #beautiful-afternoon, #contemplation, #emotion, #empowerment, #growth, #life, #love, #nature, #poem, #reality, #realization, #senses, #truth

exhaling love

my heart bleeds my love for you
a reminiscence

and oft felt presence

the touch
of you close, holding memories more than
most

the scent of you filling our room, before
we felt the need to say
adieu

and, upon your return
the sound of your breath

exhaling the words

I love you


exhaling love was inspired by the poem Forevermore, by Kirsten Curcio.


Photo by Engin_Akyurt, Pixabay.



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, #30-poems-in-30-days, #exhaling-love, #gain, #heart, #loss, #love, #memories, #nature, #naturespeaks, #poem, #romance, #scent, #senses

#NatureSpeaks: 30 #Poems in 30 Days – Day 24: The Flush of Fall, by K. Hartless

The trees have ruddy cheeks
after a season of heavy drinking,
but as rays and rains retreat,
a skeletal hand
beckons me to lie in shadow
below my favorite tulip tree,
amidst the signature pattern
of DNA forestry.

If I escape into unknown dark,
a place sunlight can never hold,
will knowledge be bestowed
from the underside
of limb and branch?
I duck and take a chance, besides
enlightenment never trickles.
It is always avalanche.

The bark, a sort of braille,
is a hidden language,
and by touching it we speak,
myself and ancient tulip tree,
sharing spells through silent system,
wrinkled body ‘gainst wrinkled hand.
Is that not real wisdom?


The Flush of Fall was inspired by the poem Limbs and Leaves. You can read more of K.’s poetry at Yard Sale of Thoughts.



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, #30-poems-in-30-days, #avalanvhe, #dark, #enlightenment, #hidden, #knowledge, #life, #love, #nature, #naturespeaks, #pattern, #poem, #senses, #shadow, #touch, #trees, #tulip, #unknown, #wisdom

#NatureSpeaks: 30 #Poems in 30 Days – Day 21: Tuned Impulse, by Anca Horga

Inhale deeply
As you remember
Precious dreams
Your silky bud
Used to keep unfolded in the core.

Hold your breath,
Awaken the impulse
Residing in the love
Felt by your senses
While playing and creating.

Exhale to manifest
The rhythm of your heartbeat
Tuning to the sound of the wind
Whirling through the golden leaves
Dancing at your feet.


Image credit to manfredrichter on Pixabay


Tuned Impulse was inspired by the poem Mountain Gold. You can read more of Anca’s poetry at Poèmia.


Submissions for the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration are officially closed. Please stay tuned for an update on Sunday, 10/16. Thank you.



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, #30-poems-in-30-days, #breathe, #creating, #dancing, #dreams, #heart, #leaves, #life, #love, #manifestation, #nature, #naturespeaks, #playing, #poem, #poems, #sensation, #senses, #trees, #tuned-impulse, #wind

raging storm

I walk and wade
along a line in the sky

drawn by verses
twinkling in the night

a lullaby

calling out
sounds and notes

the last defense against allegories
of misanthrope

a raging storm

calmed
by tides of peace, love, and hope


Photo by RezaAskarii, Pixabay

Twitter #vss365 prompt words used: verse, lullaby. Follow me on Twitter here.


Submissions are still open for the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration. The submission details are located 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, #awareness, #brilliance, #calm, #feelings, #hate, #insight, #intuition, #joy, #lullaby, #music, #nature, #night, #peace, #poem, #senses, #storm, #violence

butterfly kiss

the sky, mountain
high

sits in my heart
and at the center of time

you, my love

bleed
through my skin, pores

thin

and, transparent
a fragrance

clandestine, and
hidden

beneath

a butterfly kiss
upon my forehead, to me

you gave this final gift


butterfly kiss was inspired by the poem Something Stuck, by Tricia Sankey.


Photo by Layers, Pixabay


Submissions for the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration are still open. Please see the submission details 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, #30-poems-in-30-days, #butterly-kiss, #connection, #desire, #healing, #heart, #hidden, #kiss, #nature, #naturespeaks, #pain, #passion, #poem, #senses, #sensitivity, #uncover

Butterflies in the Night

I sit on the front porch
considering
the moon, and the train
coming
down the tracks

I can feel it, the anxiety
the streets, and this sensation
not

missing a beat

Kinda like when you see a star
in the sky

you relate to it

it’s a mirror image of you, and you know why

Life is like this at times
full of whispers of insight

We simply need to remain open
to

the butterflies in the night


Photo by ArtTower, Pixabay


Submissions are open for the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration, and will remain open until September 23. The submission details are located here.

#poetry, #anxiety, #awareness, #butterflies-in-the-night, #calm, #emotion, #feelings, #healing, #insight, #life, #love, #open-heart, #poem, #sensation, #senses, #stars