Expressions on a Leaf: Poetry, Verses, and Tiny Stories

By Jeb DeVor

An eclipse of shade is when the moon makes love to the sun; trees dump leaves for the perfect autumn; caterpillars transform into beautiful butterflies; and bees flirt with flowers to make them more beautiful than they already are.

Many people spend a lifetime searching for their purpose in life. During the global pandemic, Jeb DeVor sought to recapture his emotions and the freedom to self-govern his narrative. In doing so, he found purpose.

In a collection of unconventional poetry, verses, and tiny stories, DeVor thoughtfully reflects on a variety of themes that include the invisible face of time, dark memories from the past, the pleasing melodies of nature, recurring words and dreams, a teenage girl on the wrong side of the tracks, a meaningful hug that ignites a spark of passion, the ups and downs of dating and relationships, and much more.

Expressions on a Leaf is a volume of nontraditional writings that explore one man’s life and experiences as he finds hope and purpose amid a chaotic world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: May 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9781665723640

Jeb DeVor

Jeb DeVor is a motivational speaker and entrepreneur who works with groups and teaches young men the standard for achieving the American dream. He is a graduate of Blackstone Career Institute (BCI) and is a Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) and Certified Paralegal (CP). Jeb also teaches incarcerated inmates the procedural mechanisms for perfecting an appeal. He lives and writes in Kincheloe, Michigan.

Book preview

EXPRESSIONS

ON A LEAF

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Poetry, Verses, and Tiny Stories

Jeb DeVor

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Copyright © 2022 Jeb DeVor.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,

graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or

by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the

author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents,

organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products

of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Archway Publishing

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.archwaypublishing.com

844-669-3957

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or

links contained in this book may have changed since publication and

may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those

of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher,

and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

ISBN: 978-1-6657-2363-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-2364-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022908550

Archway Publishing rev. date: 05/27/2022

Contents

Acknowledgment

Preface

I.   POETRY

Blessed Be the Child

Gratitude 101

That Time of Day

Forty Miles

Unwanted

The Former

Love Starved

Probable Cause

Back from the Past

Mental Anguish

A Life Worth Writing About

Unkept New Year’s Resolution

For What It’s Worth

All Eyes off Me

Convincing Little Vincent

Kid Joy

Teardrops on My Life

I Hear It’s Cold in Michigan

Fall Break

Lights over the Riverbank

Conversations over Soothing Waters

Flowers in the Sun

Opposite Day at Sunset

Written on a Leaf

Romancing the Sea

Switching Colors

Vice Versa

Classical Reflections

Unbound

Lady of Ladies

Censored Love

You Are

Roses through a Brick Wall

Nurses of a Kind

Inches from Destiny

Matching Shadows

Las Laura

Gifts Me Send to Have Don’t You

The Last of a Dying Connection

This Is That

Recurring Words and Dreams

Love Letter

Old Flame

The Woman I Never Saw

Beyond First Names

She Gives Me Love, Crazy Love

A Different Kind of Freedom

To Each Their Own

Carved In Concrete

Suspended Hearts

Life is Chess

Senseless Losses of 1979

Africa Is Just as Guilty

Black Apathy

Nightmare On Tulsa

A Dark Text

Overcoming Tragedies and Coping with Losses and Pain

Dream inside a Dream

Where Did Life Go?

The Blue Journal

Stone Suey

Darkness

Unfitting

Coloring outside the Lines

Really, Not Really!

Delayed Errands

Images by Illusion

Motion for Friendship

Legal Note

The Perfect Secretary

II.   VERSES

Forward Abecedarian

Reverse Abecedarian

I Believe

One Hope

Basic Principle

The Countdown

Fictionalized

Worst Case

Hidden Faces

Another Elephant

Moot Point

Undeniable

True Navigation

Essentials

Hard Truth

All for Nothing

Lack Thereof

Ten Concerns

Six Words

III.   TINY STORIES

Lost Boy

Lost Girl

Like Grandfather, like Grandson

Justified

Come From

I Remember

The Second Kiss

Letter #1 (Care)

Letter #2 (Character)

Letter #3 (Attraction)

Letter #4 (Goodbye)

Echoes of Passion

Blissful and Miraculous

The Great Steal

Goodnight Irene

Heels and a Trench Coat

Anatomy From Head to Toe

The Beauty Of 69

Vision Persona 1

Vision Persona 2

Vision Persona 3

Vision Persona 4

Vision Persona 5

Vision Persona 6

Vision Persona 7

Triple Rainbow

Seeds Underneath the Snow

A Sight to Remember

The Luck of the Irish

Wingless Angles

IV.   WRITTEN IN THE DARK

Dangerous Secrets

Tricky Mermaid

Decking Out My Aquarium

Wilk

Ten Lies and One Truth

Closest to the Truth

Apples to Oranges

A Cause to Rant

Directions

Letter of Confusion

A Poem about Something (A)

A Poem about Something (B)

A Poem about Something (C)

A Poem about Something (D)

A Poem about Nothing (E)

A Poem about Nothing (F)

A Poem about Nothing (G)

A Poem about Nothing (H)

Acknowledgment

This book is my first of many creations to come and like so many projects, it was the result of a team effort. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude and appreciation to the following:

L.B., for recognizing a talent within me. Words fall short to the endless energy, selfless support, and dedication you gave to this book. It would have been impossible without you. You are by far the most trusted advisor and motivator any author could ask for.

Trevel Hardy, for your existence is why I continue to push to make you a proud mom. Omar Martinez Garcia, for the amazing sketches you put together. Archway Publishing from Simon & Schuster, for allowing me to use your platform to showcase my talent. Heather Dawn Smith, Publishing Consultant,, each coordinator, and my entire editorial team, I am truly thankful for all of you.

The Universe is good!

Preface

Perhaps this will be one of the cleverest succinct books ever written by a first-time author, writer Jeb DeVor. I am an up-and-coming poet who firmly believes in variety. I wrote this book with a latitude of freedom, eroticism, fictionalization, and other relatable issues of concern. I understand everything has a beginning, or happens for the first time. I have no previous books to refer you to but Expressions on a Leaf is unique and mostly comparable to the style of Mark Twain. It’s one of those books you won’t forget to pack in your suitcase for a memorable trip. It’s a great read when waiting in line to pay for groceries, doctor’s office visits, or just sitting around the house. My sincere wish is to inspire, contribute to the world, and have my words quoted by fans, teachers, lawyers, celebrities, and fellow authors for years to come.

I

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POETRY

Blessed Be the Child

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For life’s sake, may you remember to honor your mother and father. / May you understand why facial skin peels in seven-year increments. / May you understand that life is temporary, and may you see that love, reproduction, and good food are the best things going. / May you realize the seriousness of climate change and that spreading the word will bring awareness to its relevancy. / May you not judge people for wanting to be with whomever makes them happy, and may you allow them to marry from London to New Hampshire. / May you understand that everybody can’t help a village, but everybody can pick one out of a bunch. / May you take heed and not minimize the struggles of

Reviews for Expressions on a Leaf

[Lea Elkins · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have read this book several times and each time, I enjoy it and see different things. I can’t wait to read the next book by Mr. DEVOR.