heart’s harmony

There are ways the earth feels
underfoot

an extinction
and extension of self

boiled over
with the last of the snowflakes that
dwell

within bridges
made of surrender
and of love

a predesigned configuration
of

your heart’s harmony
felled

like a star
from the sky above


Photo by AlanFrijns, Pixabay

Twitter #vss365 prompt word used: extinct. Follow me on Twitter here.


Petite Pen Poetry Prompt

Petite Pen is a fun and collaborative prompt that my dear friend, K Hartless posts approximately once a week. If you are interested in inspiring poetry prompts, I recommend checking out K’s website. Usually the Petite Pen prompts are posted on Tuesdays.

Here are a few poems that I’ve written in response to the Petite Pen prompts in the past several months.

I dream
of the space
in between you
and me

a serendipitous feeling

this
unseen majesty
of calm and quiet progress
demanding

we pay attention
and notice


I in wait
calming my spirit, and mind

seeds unadorned
spend time
securely in my heart

shifting
energies

from callous hands
dripping with fever tense
and moist

with tears remorse


I look for you
in the notes, and sounds
dripping

honey, profound

a secret lullaby
washing over my mind

letting limbs of the dead
and old

come alive

with a misty hello
I remember

it is night

and
almost time to say
goodbye


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, #awareness, #connection, #destiny, #earth, #extension, #extinction, #heart, #hearts-harmony, #love, #nondual, #oneness, #petite-pen, #poem, #realization, #stars, #surrender, #truth

2022 Author of the Year Nomination at Spillwords Press, and Reorganizing Possibility, by Jeff Flesch

I am elated, and so very honored to let you all know that I received a nomination this week for the 2022 Author of the Year at Spillwords Press. I am humbled by this wonderful gesture and have written the following poem as a thank you to all of you and to the Spillwords Press editorial team for supporting me, and for making dreams of possibility become reality.

Reorganizing Possibility

Trust in the feelings at dawn
conspiring
to leave you confused about
the nature of pain

and
about the love you see
in every single drop
of rain

falling
over the bloody streets
reorganizing

the possibility of something
great

out
of the melancholy, we once tried to
escape

This poem speaks to the relationship between pain and possibility; simply, through trying experiences, we emerge as something more, something, in many ways, transformed.

Voting is open through January 31 at Spillwords Press. I would be honored and forever grateful if you would vote. Thank you!


Photo by alegria2014, Pixabay


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, #author-of-the-year-nomination, #clarity, #confusion, #dreams, #escape, #known, #pain, #poem, #possibility, #realization, #spillwords-press, #transcendence, #trasnformation, #truth, #unknown

watching wicked

I sit in silence
watching
wicked blues, and greens
arise

across the horizon of mind

a prompt
and nature of cosmos
in, and out of time

days once lost
are now filled with love, and with the
promise

of you close
realizing this truth

I hold tight
and never let you go


Photo by M_Graham, Pixabay

Twitter #vss365 prompt words used: wicked, prompt, day, lost. Follow me on Twitter here.


Prized Possession, Published at MasticadoresUSA

I am pleased to announce that my poem, Prized Possession, is now available at MasticadoresUSA. Thank you, Barbara Leonhard, and the team at MasticadoresUSA for your continued support, and for publishing this piece.

Prized Possession

I look in the mirror
and find
a reflection, known to none, yet
known to all

a persona of nature
and of soul, dancing within
an interlude, a prized possession –
desire…

I’d be honored if you would read the full poem here. Thank you!


Here is the last poetic response to the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration that I have written at this time. If time permits, I will write poetic responses to the last 4 or 5 beautiful poems that were submitted to this collaboration.

Rise Again

sitting with the feelings that arise
it was your eyes
I

always looked into
like the sun

among
a shadowed world

grays, mixed with other fragrant
colors

creating
a burgeoning in my heart

when you chose to depart
this plane for another, it kept me
lingering

among the pain and mourning
deep within

though I now realize
this pain wasn’t a sin

so, I rise again


Rise Again was inspired by the poem, The Resurrection of Red by, Camellia.


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, #30-poems-in-30-days, #awareness, #colors, #cosmos, #heart, #life, #love, #masticadoresusa, #mind, #nature, #naturespeaks, #poem, #promise, #publication, #realization, #silence, #truth, #watching-wicked

dusted stars

I live along thin
and narrow streets, and
there are dreams
which always seem to
be

hiding
just behind the next bend
in the road

where
a flower grows
from a seed

and a building
comes to fruition
from steel, and cables
released

from
the center of the Universe
a quantum theory
practiced underneath

the dusted stars
sparkling across the sky

a realization of truth
we’ve known
have forgotten, and remember
to scale this night


Photo by Prawny, Pixabay


Threads, Published at MasticadoresUSA

I am honored to have my new poem, Threads, published at MasticadoresUSA. Thank you Barbara Leonhard for supporting my work, and for all that you do. I look forward to working with you more in the new year!

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

Book Reviews

As you all know, I began the year with a wrap-up post each month, and in each of these posts, I included book reviews. Due to the preparation for, and release of #1 Amazon Bestseller Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, the demands of my job, and other personal responsibilities, the monthly wrap-up posts didn’t make it too far into the year, yet I did continue to read and review some amazing books. Here are a few more of these reviews.

40 Poems at 40, by Ingrid Wilson

40 Poems at 40, by Ingrid Wilson is a brilliant compilation of poems that takes the reader into their heart. A journey through pain, suffering, and great elation and joy; Ingrid connects to the reader through experience and through nature, by creating and weaving elegant language around the challenges and opportunities we all face in life. Challenges and opportunities of confidence, resistance, love, beauty, rapture, hope, sadness, and much more are contained in this beautiful book. Ingrid walks the reader by the hand through each poem, carrying them with an elegance and cadence that leaves the reader wanting more. 40 Poems at 40, by Ingrid Wilson is a treat, a delightful read that every reader will connect to, and love. I highly recommend this wonderful compilation.

Once Upon A You And Me, Anabel Kluny

Once Upon A You And Me, by Anabel Kluny takes the reader through the world of the seen and unseen, and everything in between. Anabel invites the reader to reflect upon the love felt within their heart, as they engage in beautiful words and imagery, evoking sentiments of deep love, transformation, self-awareness, passion, destiny, and much more. Anabel’s poetry speaks to the soul through vivid and engaging language focusing on the inner and outer worlds, and their connections to each other. Once Upon A You And Me is beautiful, expressive, and is a must read. I highly recommend this gorgeous collection of poems.

Kindled Roots, Love Poetry, By Ujjal Halder

Kindled Roots, Love Poetry, by Ujjal Halder takes the reader into the heart and mind, exploring the paradox of life, through manifestations of nature, and a self awareness that leaves the reader reflecting deep within themselves. Ujjal explores pain and love via transformation, and relates these concepts and the experiences behind them to nature in a language of love. Kindled Roots, Love Poetry, by Ujjal Halder is a book full of heart, leaving the reader questioning their perceptions of our individual and collective connections to nature. A lovely read.

Write Out Loud, by Daphny Nianghoi

Write Out Loud, by Daphny Nianghoi is an exploration of the deepest and darkest places we all navigate as human beings, from horribly traumatic events to the breaking of one’s heart again and again; yet, this book shines through the authors beautiful heart and deep love for everyone and everything on this planet.

Daphny expresses resilience stunningly, leaving the reader with tears streaming down their face, while also feeling that internal smile bourgeon like the sun; knowing that even in our darkest hours we will be okay. 

Daphny also expertly evokes nature though beautifully imagery connecting that which we see to every fiber of who we are as human beings. Write Out Loud is a gorgeous book, which will leave you feeling connected to the beauty of nature and humanity. I highly recommend this lovely book.

I still have lots of books to read and review, and will continue to share these reviews when they are complete. If you’ve not yet picked up copies of these amazing books, I recommend doing so.


As we continue through the end of this year, and into next year, I will continue to read all of your wonderful poems, writings, and posts on the weekend. I will also post once a week on the weekend. This new blogging schedule will continue into the foreseeable future, making room for my new job and life responsibilities, which are super exciting. I will have more to say about these new developments in future posts.

Alright, that’s all for this week.

I wish you all a beautiful Sunday, and a glorious 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 Press


#poetry, #book-reviews, #dreams, #dusted-stars, #growth, #hidden, #insight, #life, #love, #masticadoresusa, #memory, #nature, #poem, #punlications, #realization, #reslience, #seeds, #truth, #universe

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