Robert J. Tiess
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Robert J. Tiess
@robertjtiess.bsky.social
900 followers 1K following 850 posts
Published poet/author/writer
Career in libraries
Poetry/nature/library/education advocate
Musician artist philosopher
Married to Sandra Sprague

Books:
+ Gracious Nature
+ May We Learn from the Earth
+ The Humbling & Other Poems

robertjtiess.wordpress.com
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Robert J. Tiess @robertjtiess.bsky.social · Nov 28
My poetry collections:

Gracious Nature:
Poems on Earth and Life

May We Learn from the Earth:
Nature Poems and Reflections
on the Environment

The Humbling and Other Poems

Books include essays.

More Info + Book Reviews:
robertjtiess.wordpress.com

#booksky #poetry #books #poetrycommunity #reading
The image contains five areas: three book covers, a small photo of the author, and an area of text that says: About the Poet: Recognized for crafting clear, creative, and compelling works, Robert J. Tiess began writing poetry in the 1980s. A SUNY New Paltz graduate with an English Literature degree, Robert has enjoyed an inspiring career in public libraries since 1995. His acclaimed poetry explores nature, human nature, and much more. You can explore his books and reviews of his publications at www.RobertJTiess.net. The three book covers are 1: GRACIOUS NATURE: POEMS ON EARTH AND LIFE. 2: MAY WE LEARN FROM THE EARTH: NATURE POEMS AND REFLECTIONS ON THE ENVIRONMENT. 3: THE HUMBLING AND OTHER POEMS. ALL THREE BOOKS ARE BY ROBERT J. TIESS.
robertjtiess.bsky.social
My poem "To a Bay Window"

submitted to a window-themed poetry challenge.

I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for reading.

ALT text + poem text link: allpoetry.com/poem/1890850...

#poetry #poems #windows #perspectives #gratitude #insights #awareness #openmindedness #mindfulness #inspirational #metaphors
THE TITLE OF THE POEM: To a Bay Window THE POEM: Your openness, your patient charity... all gifts I welcome, friend, now that I'm at your sill again with questioned memories and sometimes dreams like dragonflies that eye these country scenes you frame like painted art. I haven't thanked you well enough for this, especially around mid-March, when you'll remind me winter's letting go of loss. Then June's new music full of wind and wings! And fall's reviving flights of phoenix hues! Through you, I see we ought to survey earth, our souls, search outside outworn vantage points to learn what different heights and angles teach. Perspective is the best gift you can give, now I've seen many other ways to live! . THE END OF THE POEM. Poem by Robert J. Tiess Copyright © 2026
January 30, 2026 at 2:59 AM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
My poem Psychomachian

on the ongoing "soul war" for and in minds all over.

It's partly inspired by Prudentius' ancient poem Psychomachia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychom...

ALT text + link: allpoetry.com/poem/1890075...

#poetry #poems #souls #goodvsevil #spirituality #wars #awareness #minds #peace
THE TITLE OF THE POEM: Psychomachian THE POEM: Believe there will be finer times when chilling possibilities are mostly fictions scarcely read in warmer small-town living rooms, where TVs never bleed out news and dreaming heals easily along with more belonging songs. Believe there climbs a higher hill untouched by such destructive "love" that worshiped as the heretic no longer living by the word because the lie became its truth, chaos its rule, fool's gold its wealth, inequity its principle. That's how soul wars snuck up on us: so stealthily as decadence disguised as riling righteousness —so "good" so many swore by it, its dogma marking darkness light, disharmony harmonious, all crucifixions beautiful. With flashbang headlines quaking faith and splintered pillars faltering, foundations cracked, no longer kept facades and constitutions firm on top of every dithering and trembling and dissembling and aftershocks of aftershocks. With winning losing, virtue vice, confusion oozed unfought through thought. Deceit invaded reigns and gains to pledge allegiance to the sin that twists illicit into fit, pollution into oxygen, demonic into godliness. Then "strength" made weakness, honor shame, prosperity our poverty —yet questions meant deliverance once we could leave our lesser selves, return our search toward something more than worldliness, that great disgrace. That's how we started saving souls. .THE END OF THE POEM. Poem by Robert J. Tiess Copyright © 2026
January 25, 2026 at 6:42 PM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
For #TankaThursday #frozen

+
++
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degrees snowballing
glaciers bursting into bergs
water wears away:
melting permafrost assures
no frozenness holds for good

. . .
. .
.

#TankaPoem #micropoetry
#climatechange #globalwarming
#poetry #poem © me 2026

@evecastle.bsky.social
January 23, 2026 at 5:42 AM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
For #vss365 #bend

||/
||
||/
\||
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|| dense
|| roots
|| strengthening;
||
||
\||
|| bending
|| stems
|| recovering:
||
||\
||
|| bamboo
|| through
|| the storm
||
||
||
||

#poetry #poem
#haiku © me 2026

@vss365hq.bsky.social
@blsamaddar.bsky.social
January 22, 2026 at 3:30 AM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
1/2

In his 1967 "Time to Break Silence" speech on Vietnam and justice, Martin Luther King, Jr. quoted James Russell Lowell's poem The Present Crisis.

The speech at American Rhetoric
www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlk...

The poem at AAP
poets.org/poem/present...

#poetry #speeches #mlk #history
The Present Crisis
Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide
poets.org
January 19, 2026 at 4:59 PM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
My poem A Knights Progress

(spanning 2 columns)

partly inspired by the Knight's Tour chess idea
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight%...

ALT text
+ text link
allpoetry.com/poem/1888866...

#poetry #poem #chess #metaphors #suffering #progress #unity #peace

Image:
Life Is Not a Game
© 2005 Robert J. Tiess
THE TITLE OF THE POEM: A Knight's Progress THE POEM: How could I visit every square around this boundless checkered board that's running out of sight and time? I've learned the rules, moved nobly on, respecting measures, turn by turn, yet I see pieces leaping wrong. No rook should glide diagonal. Now random knights ride anywhere? Since when are kings bulldozing pawns? Break free from dead chess metaphors which trick us into "wins" or "loss" and treat like life a battle zone. Among the trillion intervals between our charge and charred extremes old ranks and files vanish fast. Ignore false talk of royalty: maneuvers need humility, not crowns or jewels or pageantry. Let's not pretend we're enemies invested in these tournaments competing for a day of praise. I think you're wanting progress too beyond the cardboard armor, shields, these backdrop castles, paper swords. Forget crass gambits, sad pursuits, the made-up banners, plastic grails. The stalemate was no strategy. Let's check and best ourselves instead and make a nation love may reign —in all directions—glorious! Or would you be "victorious" and game away so hatefully? Know love is my Excalibur. .END OF POEM. Poem by Robert J. Tiess Copyright © 2026 Image credit: Life Is Not a Game by Robert J. Tiess Copyright © 2005 Image description: on a black and red chess board there are human-looking chess pieces looking on with concern and sadness at one of their own fallen pieces who is disappearing into the board. One chess piece near the top center of the image looks up toward perhaps the player with a facial expression that may suggest bewilderment or simply a question of why such suffering is taking place.
January 18, 2026 at 11:44 PM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
For #7syllablesentence #love
.

+

Love,
let no one
gain your hate.

+

.

#writingcommunity #poem
@poetguygabe.bsky.social
January 18, 2026 at 6:17 PM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
My #DailyHaikuPrompt #haiku
(theme: #lotus)

_.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__._

beetles, Buddha, bees!
lotuses so welcoming,
spreading tolerance

_.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__._

#poetry #poem © me 2026
#nature #flowers #buddhism

@dailyhaikuprompt.mastodon.world.ap.brid.gy
January 18, 2026 at 6:50 AM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
"Dark Adaptation"

my poem + image + essay
on seeing more in the darkness

It draws some inspiration from backyard astronomy and eyes adapting to see more stars...
robertjtiess.medium.com/dark-adaptat...

#poetry #poem #essays #essay #awareness #darkness #light #mindfulness #attention #caring #truth
Dark Adaptation
Clarity through Patience and Perseverance
robertjtiess.medium.com
January 17, 2026 at 11:36 PM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
#7syllablesentence #awe

Simpler things awed us back then.

#words #writingcommunity
@poetguygabe.bsky.social
January 17, 2026 at 6:46 AM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
For #vss365 #sear
.

TO A MAD BRANDER

You stoke a low flame,

smirk and brandish
burning iron,

thinking you might
sear my hide.

But have you seen these
hooves and horns?

Imagined how
they may impress?

Or must you learn
the difference
between a frail calf
and a bull?

.
#poetry #poem
© me 2026
January 17, 2026 at 6:28 AM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
For #PoemsAbout #TimeSlips

.

FREEZING POINT

You wear shoes where
we've needed skates?

Who managed traction in
this frost?

We're slipping over thinning
time,

its lake of April memories
winter didn't crystalize.

You'd wait for August?
That's too late.

.

#poetry
© me 2026
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
January 17, 2026 at 5:26 AM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
My #haiku entry
for #DailyHaikuPrompt
(theme: #candle #sunset)

.
+

sunset then... candles?
why not starlight, meteors?
fireflies count too!

+
.

#light #nature #illumination
#poetry #poem © me 2026

@dailyhaikuprompt.mastodon.world.ap.brid.gy
January 17, 2026 at 3:48 AM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
For #vssdaily #raft
~

EVEN KEEL

Observing paddlers
oaring rapids:

shared efforts
keep the raft afloat

through spinning, misting,
turbulence.

They never dwell
on capsizing.

They know there is
no going back

and steer together
as a crew.

That could be us:
a real team.

~
#poetry
#poem © me 2026
January 17, 2026 at 1:46 AM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
"Gardens Beyond the Gates"

my essay on T. S. Eliot's Four Quartets,
Possibilities, Decisions, Time,
and What Was and Might Yet Be...

I hope you enjoy it.

Essay link:

robertjtiess.medium.com/gardens-beyo...

#poetry #essay #possibilities #decisions
#doors #gardens #time #metaphors
Gardens Beyond the Gates
Contemplating Doorways of Possibilities
robertjtiess.medium.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:22 AM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
My #haiku for #DailyHaikuPrompt
#creek #smoldering

________________________________

lightning, smoldering...
blame late or absent rainfall,
not the dried-up creek

________________________________

#poetry #poem © me 2026
#fire #droughts

@dailyhaikuprompt.mastodon.world.ap.brid.gy
January 11, 2026 at 5:40 AM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
My 2009 3D art project "The Snowman Who Longed to Touch the Sun" drew some inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen's 1861 "The Snow Man" story:

andersen.sdu.dk/vaerk/hersho...

I have more to say about this here...

www.facebook.com/robertjtiess...

#parables #education #reality #poetry #art #snow
Robert Tiess
My 2009 3D art project "The Snowman Who Longed to Touch the Sun" drew some inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Man" story: https://andersen.sdu.dk/vaerk/hersholt/TheSnowMan_e.html...
www.facebook.com
January 10, 2026 at 11:09 PM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
"May Perpetual Light Shine"
by Patricia Spears Jones

(courtesy of Poets.org)

a gentle meditative poem on grief,
love ("the heart's food"), and life.

Highly recommended reading.

About the poet:
poets.org/poet/patrici...

poets.org/poem/may-per...

#poetry #grief #love #hope #peace #inspirational
May Perpetual Light Shine
We have encountered storms
poets.org
January 10, 2026 at 6:12 PM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
A brief and kind reminder from Thoreau

(courtesy of Poets.org)

poets.org/poem/true-ki...

#poetry #poems #thoreau #kindness #bekind #loveothers #peace
True Kindness Is a Pure Divine Affinity
True kindness is a pure divine affinity
poets.org
January 10, 2026 at 5:49 PM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
1/2

Let us never forget the warmth and rays of hope we can extend into the existence of others.

We can become beacons in dark hours, sources of strength, knowledge, peace, bringing comforting and optimistic glows to needed truths with honest loving clarity.

#light #knowledge #truth #peace #hope
Image credit: The Radiance of Stars Is within You by Robert J. Tiess © Copyright 2015 Description: the image is a portrait of an otherworldly being that's somewhat human in appearance. Beams of light emanate from the being's head. The being wears a flowing robe and a necklace bearing a glowing medallion. Behind, there are stars and maybe planets varying in size and brightness. The being smiles with eye closed and seems to be contemplating something (life? the universe? love?) joyfully and with incredible warmth.
January 9, 2026 at 5:39 AM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
Words for #vss365
#adorn
.

*

TO A SOURCE OF RADIANCE

Like atmosphere adorning dawn
with opalescent scattered light,

confusion could be beautiful,
as when your brilliance floods my mind:

perplexity bejeweled with truths
escaping vain embellishments...

*
.

#poetry #poem © me 2026
#beauty #love
January 9, 2026 at 4:33 AM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
My #DailyHaikuPrompt #haiku
#time #glade theme

-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

glades gaining daylight,
forest shadows narrowing:
tree time's not our time

-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

#poetry #poem © me 2026

@dailyhaikuprompt.mastodon.world.ap.brid.gy
January 9, 2026 at 4:20 AM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
My #TankaThursday #tanka
#midst theme

~ ~ ~

gulls filling our midst,
shoreline ninety miles away,
no storms approaching:
hunger, or do they mistake
our pooling tears for the sea?

~ ~ ~

#poetry #poem © me 2026
#TankaPoem #micropoetry
#sorrow #crying
@evecastle.bsky.social
@pvcannon.bsky.social
January 9, 2026 at 2:36 AM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
My poem Nova Lux

(paired here with a 3D sculpting project of mine from 2007).

Nova Lux is Latin for New Light.

Why Latin?

I think it fits with the "old becoming new again" spirit of this poem.

Happy New Year!

#poetry #poem #winter #snow #happiness #renewal #rebirth #hope #joy #newyear #renewal
Image credit: Winter's Givings by Robert J. Tiess Copyright © 2007 Alt text description: three polar bears (one small, one medium, one large) watch snowflakes descend. The polar bears seem entranced if not amused. The snowflakes are large, richly geometrical, and highly stylized. There is snow throughout the picture and a hint of stars in the background. It's an enchanted sort of image, not photorealistic, one focusing mostly on the natural beauty and magic of winter. Nova Lux Why wait for spring's revival when rebirth may come mid-winter—now! Broke moments cry for restoration, resurrecting Hopefulness. Dawn, you need not wait for Night. The age of Light dwells outside time. Come, reawaken, Dreams of Peace! Be Optimistic Lazarus! We'll marvel at the simplest things, crawl back to life with newborn eyes! Let stars and snowflakes fascinate! Familiar Things, astonish us! And let's go meet our former selves and see how strange we feigned back then. Revisiting all starting points! Rejuvenescence! Youth resumes! Within this sprightly wilder light, today may be our renaissance! . Poem by Robert J. Tiess Copyright © 2025
December 31, 2025 at 11:54 PM
robertjtiess.bsky.social
No need to wait for Valentine's Day.

Let's replenish hearts with love today.

Love being alive.

Love being yourself.

Love more...
the Earth...
the Moon...
the universe!

Love more! Love love!

See love is divine.

Believe in its powers.

Know you are loved!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

#poetry #love #inspirational
Image credit: Let Your Heart Overflow with Love by Robert J. Tiess Copyright © 2011 Alt text description: the image is filled with traditional simple symbols of hearts reaching out in all directions. There are smaller hearts within larger hearts, brighter hearts among darker hearts. Many hearts are overlapping, and most are interconnected. The image overflows with love as hearts go past the margins of the image, perhaps into infinity or eternity.
December 31, 2025 at 5:44 PM