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

Blood Sky, Published at Spillwords Press

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

Blood Sky

I sit with my mind
realizing

the names and forms

dawning
like the sun, were given to me
as a child

conditioning for sale…

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


Photo by LN_Photoart, Pixabay


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, #healing, #knowledge, #love, #mental-health-awareness-month, #mind, #names, #nature, #pain, #poem, #publication, #reality, #realization, #spillwords-press, #trauma, #understanding

rainbow sky

I spell your name
through the stars in the sky
and

with the love
in my

heart

a special place
of hope, and trust

and a single point of light
caressing

the trauma and pain

an allegory, saved
from past days

when your kiss was a rainbow
in the sky

and your embrace filled me with
love

now gone by


Photo by AStoKo, Pixabay


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, #connection, #embrcae, #healing, #heart, #hope, #life, #loss, #love, #nature, #pain, #poem, #rainbow-sky, #trauma, #trust

moon arises

the moon arises, like my heart
beating with the tide

I rely
on the mist in my eyes

relating
the misery of humankind
and

the stories we disrupt in the night


Photo by raheel9630, Pixabay


#disruption, #emotion, #feelings, #healing, #heart, #hope, #life, #love, #nature, #pain, #poem, #recilience, #sea, #stories, #tide, #trauma

blood and dust

residing in the night
are you

always there, steadfast
through your heart of care

I write from my soul
to share

a thought

built out of love, trust
and a common ground forged

through blood and dust

a reminiscence, like the sultry
taste of your skin

delivered
over the many years spent apart

drifting

like the sea again
I find you, the sky within


Photo by merlinlightpainting, Pixabay


#poetry, #blood, #care, #dust, #heart, #hope, #introspection, #life, #love, #nature, #pain, #poem, #resilience, #soul, #trauma

stone colored glass, Published at MasticadoresUSA

I am pleased to announce that my poem, stone colored glass, 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.

stone colored glass

I often think about the past
it’s like looking through stone colored glass

hazy, and filled with trauma, a cold place
inside my chest

lingering among flowers, thought and feeling

reconcile me…

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


Photo by sjainart, Pixabay


#poetry, #believe, #hope, #life, #love, #masticadoresusa, #nature, #pain, #past, #poem, #present, #publication, #reminiscence, #trauma, #trust