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Gift From The Sea, Inspired by Jeff Flesch

Hello dear friends, word lovers. Look how quickly we’ve arrived at the middle of October– the days do whizz by so.

As light softens, in the Northern Hemisphere,
and we transit into fall and its romantic hues
the days grow noticeably shorter
and the sea– that beautiful emblem of all life,
from now on, will make me think of Jeff Flesch
and his beautiful book of poetry. 


So, you know how gifted Jeff is already and how enamored I am with his newly
released book of poetry. Did you read my review? *wink*
But are you also aware he has a collaborative project? He does, and today he is featuring one
of MY poems on his website. How very cool, right? It’s to be published today, October 16th, at 6 am PT (USA). Yay!
But first, let me show you the poem that inspired mine, which I titled, Gift From The Sea.

Here’s Jeff’s poem from page 66 in Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow:

© 2022 Jeff Flesch
The Ocean's Rocks

the sun rises
as the tide surmises the nature of all the spots
within the ocean's rocks

they wash in
carrying love in all the grains of sand

once held beneath this land
now 

dredged up
like a dream
cast to the past

and
bringing forth the present with alacrity,
with a new version of posterity

love forms the center of our poetry

© 2022 
Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow
Jeff Flesch

And now, my poem, Gift From The Sea

Gift From The Sea
© 2022 Selma

I am not jealous of the rocks
that dwell deep in the ocean bed
they have nothing to covet;
nothing to look forward to
(scoff)
but for sore backs from laying stiff
under kelp beds in seagrass--
as threshing sea-doormats
-- and perhaps of sand in their eyes
but I suppose I'm predisposed to
how heavy its shoulders must be
when my avant-garde gauge
is the emptiness I suffer
after yet one more mate left my bed

I met a starfish at the shore the other day
when my shoulders were laden with pity
and boy, was I surprised... 

My poem sits at Jeff’s amazing website, where he has tons of incredible poetry I’m sure
you’ll enjoy. I’d be grateful if you swung over to Jeff’s website to view the rest and
browse his wide selection.

OR, read the rest of mine here.

…and boy, was I surprised by the story she shared!

she named a rock in the intertidal zone
that dreamed about being a rock on Mt. Everest
where he’d lay under a female Juniper tree–
in the forested zone, no less,
to wait for Juniper to drop him her berry-cones

“Don’t ask,” the pink starfish exclaimed,
rolling her eyes before she continued,
“but he is lots of fun and such a loving rock;
everyone respects him– we hope to keep him
grounded and curious.
We cannot make him change, but we can make him
grow aware of his unrealistic expectations,”
she said, and then she left with the tide
shouting I-don’t-know-what at me and that she’d
write her rock a love poem

How curious, thought I of the soliloquy
that even rocks have dreams to profess
curious-er still about the rock’s recklessness
to plant ideas into the heads of sea stars
Is that what life’s like at the bottom of the sea?

Today I met a rearing Adélie penguin pair
hit with a dire dearth of rocks to steal–
they have their eyes on the stones
at the bottom of the oceanic crust
but by golly, those are unwieldy
and immerse too deep to even try

“We’re the pebble poachers in these lands,”
the female told me, “with brave dreams of getting
our hands on those stones.”
“Stones that just lay on sea beds–
doing nothing,” offered the male.
Then, just as they came, they ran
off to write each other love poems
I nodded, supposing I understood their plight.
Is it thievery when this couple
could put those rocks to good use–
and grant the rocks a purpose to be?
All for the sake of their offspring?


As I trudged home, my shoulders felt lighter
I didn’t know I didn’t know– but now I know!
Thinking hard about being jinxed by getting
the feted short end of the stick in life
which amounts to not having someone
to cohabit my bed with at night
Is my qualm due to quixotic expectations?
Do I need more lessons from the sea?
Perchance now I’m more ready to give it one more try
I’ll start today by writing to myself a love poem.

Thanks so very much for visiting me today.
You’re the best.
And I wish you miracles.

Selma Martin
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This Post Has 27 Comments

  1. Cindy Georgakas

    Such a lovely review of Jeff’s book Selma and I love your poem so beautiful with the lovely starfish at the shore. Nicely done❣️

    1. Selma Martin

      Houston, we have a problem! 🥸😰Cindy dear, looks like I goofed with the link Jeff sent me. 🙈 what to do, what to do. I’ll do nothing because I’m heading to bed this minute. Hopefully it will get resolved by morning. Sorry about that, Cindy
      AND ANYONE ELSE WHO READS.
      … 😣

      1. Cindy Georgakas

        I read yours and it was beautiful… don’t worry a thing.. he’ll get it resolved. Enjoy the beauty. Maybe it will be there by then.. sleep well. it’s your beauty month you need it. lol. ❤️

          1. Cindy Georgakas

            oh great and good night from California!!!!!
            ❤️
            have a great day!!
            ❤️

  2. sgeoil

    Once you sort out the link, I’d love to finish reading your poem! Because of your review, I purchased Jeff’s book and I have been enjoying it. One of my favourites is Strident Tides.

    1. Selma Martin

      Hi, Heather. So happy to know you read that review. And that it prompted you to purchase Jeff’s book. How lovely. On Jeff’s behalf, thanks for the support. I know the one you mean — it is lovely. All of them are.

      Thanks for reading my post. The link has been sorted out. So sorry about that mishap. Have a great rest of your day. Blessings.

  3. Sadje

    A beautiful poem Selma

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks so much, Sadje.
      FYI, the link has been sorted out. Sorry about that mishap 🙏

      1. Sadje

        Yes, I read the poem on Jeff’s page.

  4. rajkkhoja

    So beautiful poem. Very nice words you write in poem .

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks, Raj. I’m glad you came.

      FYI, the link has been sorted out. Sorry about that mishap 🙏

      So if you’d like to read the rest of the poem kindly head over to Jeff’s website. Thanks so much. XoXo

      1. rajkkhoja

        You are most welcome 🌷

  5. Ellie Thompson

    Beautifully written so far, Selma. I will go over to Jeff’s blog to read the remainder of your poem when you have sorted out the link. Thank you for sharing thus far. Xxx 💝

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks Ellie dearest.

      FYI, the link has been resolved
      Sorry about that mishap 🙏
      Hope you like the rest of the poem. Thanks, always.

      1. Ellie Thompson

        Thanks for letting me know, Selma. I will go over and read the rest later today. Xx

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks, Sir. FYI, the link has been sorted out. Sorry about that mishap 🙏
      If you’d like to read the poem in its entirety please click on the link.

    1. Selma Martin

      You’re a treasure. And I’m grateful.
      😘

      Thanks so much. the link has been sorted out. Sorry about that mishap 🙏
      🤗

  6. Jeff Flesch

    Dear Selma, my deepest apologies again for the posting error this morning. Your poem is beautiful, and I’m honored to have it on my site. Thank you for collaborating with me. xoxo

    1. Selma Martin

      Hey Jeff. No worries my friend. Thanks for housing my poem there. Appreciate you. Xoxo

      1. Jeff Flesch

        It’s my complete pleasure and honor. Thank you, my friend; I appreciate you too. xoxo

  7. Ingrid

    Congratulations Selma! I love ‘avant-garde gauge’ 😊 off to Jeff’s site to finish reading…

  8. memadtwo

    Lovely–congratulations Selma. (K)

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