still rain shapes silence
subtle forms shift in shadows
stark supposition
©Jeff Flesch
#1 Amazon bestselling poet – 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
You speak to me in tongues
a chronicler of the past
and of a future yet to be known
regarded with trust
and with the dust of the unknown —
a kindred happenstance
wandering through the calm
and through the chaos of so many fenced-in streets
alone
Twitter #vss365 prompt words used: crowd, bittersweet, prize. Follow me on Twitter here, and Instagram here.
I am taking on more responsibilities at work and in the community, (super fun service opportunities like serving on a Board of Directors for a local foundation and serving on a search committee for a new Chamber CEO) which simply means that my blogging time is going to again be reduced. I’ve no idea how often I’ll be on WP and the social media sites, though it feels like every other or third week seems most likely.
I will visit all of you as often as possible. Know that no matter how often I visit you are always in my head and my heart.
Alright, here are some pics of Justin who graduated Magna Cum Laude this weekend with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from the College of Engineering at Oregon State University; he already has his first job at Dimler, an amazing company, which makes diesel trucks and Mercedes Benz.
Also located among these pics is a picture of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow on the shelves of the local bookstore. I appreciate them for carrying it and appreciate everyone who has purchased it.
I will see you all as soon as I am able and am sending you, as always, my love and blessings.
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
I’ve hiked
up and over mountains of love
and of pain
wandering
through fields of metaphors
and valleys of symbolism
exploring within
while watching
minimal expectations
arise again
a balance
of body and mind
and of the love manifesting
in between
your shadow and mine
©JeffFlesch.com
Image by MenielDM, Pixabay
Twitter #vss365 prompt words used: hike, explore, minimal, balance. Follow me on Twitter here, and on Instagram here.
I wrote two poems with the word prompts from Twitter this week. Here is the second one.
Shadow’s Sown
I explore the depths
of the wind
and the space that lives in between
this moment and the next
a balance of learning
and of unlearning
arises again
when
minimal expectations
are drawn together
like a bow
representing
the shadow of words
left behind to sow
We are at that time of year in the Pacific Northwest when the hiking trails begin to dry out, and hiking becomes something that I will take part in each week. For those of you who’ve followed me for years, you know how much I love to be out in the forest and at the coast, two of my favorite places, regardless of where I am living and or visiting.
Here are some pics from my first short hike of the season.
For those of you celebrating Easter, Happy Easter, for those celebrating Ramadan, Ramadan Mubarak, and for all of you, may your day, and week be peaceful, and full of love.
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
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
I cross cross the earth
in search of something fleeting
knowing
the unknown
is a place of peace
of mind, and of body
a souls destination
housed
within a fractured
system
of thoughts, and of feelings
coming home
a respite from the storm
sitting
in the center of silence
watching
things come, and go
attraction
to the poles of
opposites
the healing of ego
and of the soul’s companion
on the way home
Photo by me, Oregon Coast
I am always honored when a piece of my poetry is published at MasticadoresIndia and MasticadoresUSA. It’s such a joy, and this publication at MasticadoresIndia is no different. Thank you, Terveen, for always supporting my work. I am beyond grateful.
I would be honored if you would go here, and read my new poem.
If you’ve not yet submitted to either of these fine publications, I invite you to; it’s an amazing experience.
Last week, I visited Justin and Izzy in Portland, and we had a great time. We went to a boutique event supporting local small business, ate some wonderful food at Blossoming Lotus, and then went to the Portland Trailblazers game on Sunday evening. It was grand.
I wish you all a wonderful week; see you next weekend!
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
residing within
this skin
and the textiles of the night
a call from you
brings on a metamorphosis
in feeling, and in
contemplation
desiring more than is known
while
sitting at the center of the
unknown
I listen
to the wind
and take account of the person I’ve
been
and am becoming
harsh words leek from walls
and
crumble
until they fall
over a road, developed
out of tears of gold
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
Photo by Joshgmit, Pixabay
I see you in my heart
of
molten desires
where
embers
cascade
towards the cliff
edge
an abyss
of ink-petalled
darkness
where light conspires to
rise
from ashes of the past
an indomitable
conjuring
for the love of humanity
instead
Photo by Darkmoon_Art, Pixabay
Twitter #vss365 prompt words used: molten, indomitable. Follow me on Twitter 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
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
the desert has a feel
which cascades like water
an essence
pre-manifestation
awaiting
your heart, and mind
to connect
makinging sense
of the known, and unknown
a sensibility, and notion
of mist and tone, saddlebag-brown
bestowed
from the heavens, awashed and attuned
to the gifts
delivered
upon our beneficence
and loam
beneficence and loam was inspired by the poem The Desert Dance by Cindy Georgakas.
Photo by blende12, 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
A golden butterfly
lurks in dark passageways
where walls never age.
Gloomy ivory green leaves
gleam in dark
as the never old,
and always immortal butterfly
kisses the feet of rose petals;
that are shackled to the past of the known and the Unknowns.
Butterfly dances
on her feet, as the first snow of the year
melts the memory
of him; holding her hand on the roughest day of 2016.
A pink laughter lies to her eyes.
Pain engulfs the joy that was never hers.
Irony lies in her lies,
time slices the old wounds open.
Pain and love
compromises on the edge of void of tarnished dreams.
The butterfly dies at an untimely hour and she thus rises from the ashes of past.
The butterfly effect was inspired by the poem Butterfly Love. You can read more of Komaljeet’s poetry at flavoured poetry.
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
Shadowlight Words 