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.
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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❣️
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.
… 😣
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. ❤️
It is resolved. Yay. Thanks. XoXo good morning
oh great and good night from California!!!!!
❤️
have a great day!!
❤️
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.
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.
A beautiful poem Selma
Thanks so much, Sadje.
FYI, the link has been sorted out. Sorry about that mishap 🙏
Yes, I read the poem on Jeff’s page.
So beautiful poem. Very nice words you write in poem .
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
You are most welcome 🌷
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 💝
Thanks Ellie dearest.
FYI, the link has been resolved
Sorry about that mishap 🙏
Hope you like the rest of the poem. Thanks, always.
Thanks for letting me know, Selma. I will go over and read the rest later today. Xx
https://jeffflesch.com/2022/10/16/naturespeaks-30-poems-in-30-days-day-23-gift-from-the-sea-by-selma-martin/
Superb experience and lines are awesome,
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.
found the rest here: https://jeffflesch.com/2022/10/16/naturespeaks-30-poems-in-30-days-day-23-gift-from-the-sea-by-selma-martin/ Prolific as always! 👏👏
You’re a treasure. And I’m grateful.
😘
Thanks so much. the link has been sorted out. Sorry about that mishap 🙏
🤗
💓
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
Hey Jeff. No worries my friend. Thanks for housing my poem there. Appreciate you. Xoxo
It’s my complete pleasure and honor. Thank you, my friend; I appreciate you too. xoxo
Congratulations Selma! I love ‘avant-garde gauge’ 😊 off to Jeff’s site to finish reading…
Lovely–congratulations Selma. (K)