Sacredness, a poem by Gabriela Marie Milton and a photo by Naoki Kimura

My dearest followers,

I deeply regret that I can’t explore as many blogs as I’d love to right now, for I’m on an exciting journey! My heart swells with hope that everyone enjoys a spectacular and unforgettable August full of adventure and joy!

I urge you to pause for a moment and soak in the exhilarating news that Literary Revelations Publishing House is on the verge of unveiling a breathtaking fine-art photography and poetry album by the incredibly talented Japanese artist Naoki Kimura. This exquisite album, titled LULLASCAPES IN LIGHT AND SHADOW, is destined to become a treasured collector’s gem. Currently, the artist’s solo exhibition is captivating audiences at the Hilton Tokyo Hotel, showcasing many of the stunning works that will grace our album. Stay tuned, for this is just the beginning of the artistic journey that awaits!

Naoki Kimura sent me a photo from 神嘗祭 (Kannamesai) at Ise Grand Shrine, a harvest festival held at the shrine. The festival is a significant event where the first fruits of the year’s harvest are offered to the deities. It’s one of the most important annual festivals in Japan, with roots tracing back to ancient times. The festival is a way to express gratitude to the gods for the bountiful harvest and to pray for continued prosperity.

I added my humble voice and wrote a poem titled Sacredness for the exceptional photo taken by Naoki Kimura.

Sacredness – poem by Gabriela Marie Milton – photo Naoki Kimura

The fire burns sacred, unseen,
Silent as unfinished steps between,
A path unknown, a whispered quest,
I search for hearts I don’t possess.

Who am I in this endless night,
A shadow cast without a light?
No pulse to claim, no beat to own,
Just echoes where a soul is born.

A glimpse of humbleness
A quiet bow,
A softened breath
Of the unknown

The fragrance of new rice, pure and sweet,
I kneel where earth and heavens meet,
My soul is rising, gentle, deep—
A heart reborn in what I reap.

Between the silence and the song,
Unspoken morning, you belong—
A soul awakened by a light,
Kannamesai’s peace on a fall night.

My books (Only English)
#1 Amazon bestseller, Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings (Vita Brevis)
#1 Amazon Bestseller, Women: Splendor and Sorrow (Vita Brevis)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

Woman: Splendor and Sorrow: Love Poems and Poetic Prose by Gabriela Marie Milton in Portland Book Review
Woman: Splendor and Sorrow: Love Poems and Poetic Prose by Gabriela Marie Milton in Manhattan Book Review
Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings in San Francisco by Gabriela Marie Milton in San Francisco Book Review
Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings by Gabriela Marie Milton In Manhattan Book Reviews

A POEM BY GABRIELA MARIE MILTON AND A PHOTO BY NAOKI KIMURA

Good morning/good evening, my cherished followers:

Today: A POEM BY GABRIELA MARIE MILTON AND A PHOTO BY NAOKI KIMURA.

I hope you enjoy:

PHOTO

Naoki Kimura

POEM/SHORT PROSE

She perched at the corner of the old archway, her floral dress blooming against the steel, her eyes the green of rain-soaked moss.

“Hey, lady. Want me to read your future?”
“No, thank you.”
“Ever been sick?”
“No.”
“Ever had surgery?”
“No.”
“Broken bones?”
“No.”
“They’ve tied your health.”
“What?”
“Now, they can’t touch you.”
“Who are they?”

She laughed—a strange, yellow laughter, sweet and sour.

“Let me tell you your future.”
“No, thanks.”

I quickened my pace, heart thumping.

When I reached the center of the arch, I glanced back. She was gone—vanished like a forgotten dream.

My future flickered before my eyes:
a vision in black and white, sharp as shadows, silent as stone.

It rained that day.

My books (Only English)
#1 Amazon bestseller, Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings (Vita Brevis)
#1 Amazon Bestseller, Women: Splendor and Sorrow (Vita Brevis)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

Attic Melancholy – poetic prose/poem by Gabriela Marie Milton

In this attic, there is no light anymore. Nothing penetrates the small windows from which we used to watch the moon’s rays playing on the chestnut leaves during our first autumn.
In darkness, I sit down and wrap a piece of a burned candle around loves which are born out of pity. How pathetic.
I hear a whisper: perhaps my old toys locked inside the old Spanish chest. They still talk among themselves, don’t they?
You were right. I’ve never been what I appeared to be: an ordinary girl walking in the streets and drinking mocktails in bars.

I used to laugh. Yet you did not drown in my laughter. You vanished inside my melancholy; inside the dead world to which I’ve always aspired. You’ve remained there forbidding my laughter for fear of not forgetting me.
Oh, that loyalty of yours amid all temptations.

The night is blessed with darkness, which makes way for light in the morning.

I am the night.

Nobody escapes me.

You knew it.

My books (Only English)
#1 Amazon bestseller, Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings (Vita Brevis)
#1 Amazon Bestseller, Women: Splendor and Sorrow (Vita Brevis)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

Reminder

In August, Literary Revelations is set to unveil a stunning album of fine-art photography by the acclaimed Japanese artist Naoki Kimura. Measuring a refined 8.3 inches wide by 11.7 inches tall, this collection promises to be a visual feast, printed on the finest paper that Amazon offers.

What sets Kimura’s work apart is his unparalleled mastery of monochrome photography, which exquisitely captures the mesmerizing dance of light and shadows—transforming each image into a profound experience. The artist’s extraordinary photographic technique has garnered him countless awards and provided him with the opportunity to showcase his fervent dedication to beauty in art at numerous prestigious international exhibitions.

The collection also includes short prose, haiku, and tanka, written by Naoki Kimura.

This album is a collector’s piece. I hope you will enjoy it.

MATADOR – A POEM BY GABRIELA MARIE MILTON

Art: Bullfight (Spanish: Suerte de Varas) is an 1824 oil painting by Francisco Goya

MATADOR

in Salamanca’s golden square,
Where ancient stones remember pain,
The crimson sun, the dust- my reign

Red is my dress , the crowd ignites—
A sea of faces, hope and dread.

The bull, a shadow forged in night.

And you, my matador, in shining thread,
The cape—a flick, a whispered prayer—
Red as the roses on the grave.
The dance of death…

Now I scribble words in lonely Sundays,
Echoes of bull fights in Salamanca …

REMINDER:

Literary Revelations anthologies, including Hidden in Childhood and Petals of Haiku: An Anthology, alongside Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku, are soaring back to the pinnacle of success in the US. These remarkable works have reclaimed their status as #1 Amazon Bestsellers, with one even capturing the incredible #2 position on the charts!

As a heartfelt token of our deepest gratitude for your unwavering loyalty, and recognizing that some of our beloved authors may not have had the means to purchase our cherished books, we are thrilled to offer all three of these literary treasures completely free for a limited time!

Please take a moment to leave a review, if you can. After all, if you don’t, how will our message reach more people? We can’t exactly send carrier pigeons anymore!

LINKS (E-book versions free)

If the links do not work for you please search for the books on Amazon.

My books (Only English)
#1 Amazon bestseller, Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings (Vita Brevis)
#1 Amazon Bestseller, Women: Splendor and Sorrow (Vita Brevis)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

“With lush language and lavish imagery, Gabriela M. evokes a fantastic world ripe with emotion.”
Christina Schwarz, the author of the New York Times Bestseller “Drowning Ruth.”

A POEM BY GABRIELA MARIE MILTON AND A REVIEW OF MY BOOK PASSIONS, LOVE POEMS AND OTHER WRITINGS

Short Poem

The Enigma of “to be”
The simplicity of me..

Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings in Independent Book Review

“Passions is a collection for the contemplative reader, those who appreciate symbolic language, mythic references, and emotional depth. Gabriela Marie Milton has crafted a poetic world where spiritual longing meets sensual reality, and where even the quietest images pulse with significance. This book is a rewarding experience for lovers of lyrical, layered, and emotionally intelligent poetry.”

Please read here: https://independentbookreview.com/2025/06/11/book-review-passions-by-gabriela-marie-milton/

Thank you!

My books (Only English)
#1 Amazon bestseller, Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings (Vita Brevis)
#1 Amazon Bestseller, Women: Splendor and Sorrow (Vita Brevis)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

“With lush language and lavish imagery, Gabriela M. evokes a fantastic world ripe with emotion.”
Christina Schwarz, the author of the New York Times Bestseller “Drowning Ruth.”

A SUPERB PHOTO BY NAOKI KIMURA, A POEM BY GABRIELA MARIE MILTON, AND A VIDEO

Wishing all my amazing followers a truly enchanting weekend filled with magic.

Photo: Naoki Kimura

A poem by Gabriela Marie Milton

Memories,
static, a half-formed word.
The girls’ laughter
echoing through the hollow chest of a moment in time.

Gone now,
my eyes blurred
like rain on glass,
perhaps I dreamt them—

Young bodies flickering in the static,
their fancy emptied
like pockets after a carnival.
What did they buy from the pharmacy?

It smells like morphine—
sweet, chemical,
a day in life
dissolving at the edges.

I look through your eyes
at the girls’ nonexistent presence,
shadows in the room,
the laughter—
folded into silence.

I think of you.
Years inscribed on windows.
What did the girls buy from the pharmacy?

Sneak a peek at Naoki Kimura’s upcoming Photo Album from Literary Revelations.

Naoki Kimura, a celebrated artist known for his fine art photography, is set to release a breathtaking new album under the aegis of Literary Revelations. Tentatively scheduled for publication at the end of July, this highly anticipated album promises to be an unparalleled artistic experience and an exquisite addition to any coffee table.

Capturing the Essence of Japanese Sensibility

The album stands as a testament to the profound beauty of Japanese culture through the medium of monochrome photography. It artfully encapsulates cherished aesthetic principles such as “Mono no Aware,” the bittersweet awareness of impermanence; “Wabi,” the understated elegance of simplicity; and “Sabi,” the poetic grace of age and weathering. Each photograph invites viewers into a meditative space, allowing them to perceive the beauty hidden within the fleeting moments of life.

A Fusion of Art and Literature

Beyond its striking visuals, the album harmonizes the photographic artistry with the written word. It contains a rich tapestry of haiku, tanka, free-form poetry, and short prose, each piece carefully curated to complement the visual narrative. This literary inclusion elevates the album into a multidimensional experience, offering not just imagery but profound reflections that resonate deeply with the soul.

An Artistic Treasure for Every Home

Naoki Kimura’s album is more than a collection of photographs—it’s a piece of art that speaks to the heart. Its pages promise moments of introspection, beauty, and connection, making it the perfect centerpiece for contemplation and conversation. The fusion of visual and literary artistry ensures that this work will leave an indelible mark on all who encounter it.

Prepare to immerse yourself in an extraordinary experience when Naoki Kimura’s fine art photography arrives this summer. This album promises to be not only a feast for the senses but also a celebration of the timeless essence of Japanese sensibility. Truly, a masterpiece destined to touch hearts and enrich lives.

My books (Only English)
#1 Amazon bestseller, Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings (Vita Brevis)
#1 Amazon Bestseller, Women: Splendor and Sorrow (Vita Brevis)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

“With lush language and lavish imagery, Gabriela M. evokes a fantastic world ripe with emotion.”
Christina Schwarz, the author of the New York Times Bestseller “Drowning Ruth.”

Love in Blue and Black by Gabriela Marie Milton, and Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings featured in Independent Book Review

Wishing all my incredible followers a vibrant week overflowing with joy and boundless happiness!

Love in blue and black

my love,
I speak to you through centuries of pain
trees spin barren branches in the air
when loneliness rains on blue hills
I crush my heart
so yours can still beat

listen
ocean waves embrace the moon’s pale chest
instead of tears
I shed naked pearls
to wash the effigy of your acoustic agony
and mend the painful scratches from your skin

with my imaginary fingers
in blue and black the time I bend
and no matter who I am
a human or a spirit
I swear to you
I’ll love you till the end

Included in my book Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings

“Passions is a collection for the contemplative reader, those who appreciate symbolic
language, mythic references, and emotional depth. Gabriela Marie Milton has crafted
a poetic world where spiritual longing meets sensual reality, and where even the
quietest images pulse with significance. This book is a rewarding experience for
lovers of lyrical, layered, and emotionally intelligent poetry.“

Independent Book Review

My books (Only English)
#1 Amazon bestseller, Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings (Vita Brevis)
#1 Amazon Bestseller, Women: Splendor and Sorrow (Vita Brevis)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

“With lush language and lavish imagery, Gabriela M. evokes a fantastic world ripe with emotion.”
Christina Schwarz, the author of the New York Times Bestseller “Drowning Ruth.”

Play in the streets – Poem by Gabriela Marie Milton – and more new about Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku

My dear followers. I would like to share a poem that I wrote recently with you, entitled Play in the streets.

POEM

Play in the streets your mandolin for me
The sounds of love and Moorish winds
Born from the womb of the Mediterranean
With our bones, the Phoenix we can see

Shed the music of the mandolin on yellow walls
That meet us every day in hidden places
They bite the flesh of the cold statues, and the sun,
Stones and rays fall from the sky on our skin
Then comes the time when love gets thicker
Stories of the old Granada on your lips
On my breasts and ankles, angels fall
Kiss me my love
It’s the Apocalypse

NEWS

Now, more news about Literary Revelations and Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku.

Tranquility is currently the #1 top release in the US and the most gifted book in Japan.

Literary Revelations is deeply grateful to everyone who bought the book. That helped us to donate to several charities.

You can get the book here:

Literary Revelations and Victoria Onofrei of Bloomsbury Radio (Victoria in Verse Show), UK, will organize a Poetry Festival on Sunday, May 18, 2025 – 5pm London time. The festival will take place via Zoom.

All contributors will be invited, as well as, those who are not contributors but bought the book.

I will come back very soon with more details. Please follow us at Literary Revelations https://literaryrevelations.com/, @gabriela_marie_milton and @lr_publishers.

Thank you,

My books (Only English)
#1 Amazon bestseller, Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings (Vita Brevis)
#1 Amazon Bestseller, Women: Splendor and Sorrow (Vita Brevis)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

Christina Schwarz, the author of the New York Times Bestseller “Drowning Ruth.”

Phantasmagoria – Poem by Gabriela Marie Milton and more news about Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku

Poem

You made a doll and projected your soul into it.
You named it after me.
Oh, your infantile state filled with rage and creativity.
In the end, the earth devours us.
If you give me that doll, I promise
I will show you that we are the planetary twin-peaked mountains.

From black through red through gold,
we will ascend to the sky ending in the exact point where the universe blessed our love.

Our cross will bear fruits.
I love you.
Does it surprise you?
Now, please, give me that doll.

News about Literary Revelations’ Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku.

Dear Followers

Literary Revelations is thrilled to let you know that Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku will be released immediately after Easter.

The first page for you:

Have a beautiful week.

My books (Only English)
#1 Amazon bestseller, Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings (Vita Brevis)
#1 Amazon Bestseller, Women: Splendor and Sorrow (Vita Brevis)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

Christina Schwarz, the author of the New York Times Bestseller “Drowning Ruth.”

Three Monoku(s) by Gabriela Marie Milton and Updates on Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku

Skies, imperishable yellows coiled around your finger.

Under the coldness of your eyes, a flower blooms.

Prophesies melt in the waters of a changing time.

UPDATE:

Literary Revelations is thrilled to announce that we have finished the selections for Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku. If we selected an author, we selected the entire block of five haiku the respective author wrote. We included over 240 authors. This week, you, my dearest contributors, will receive an email of acceptance/and, regretfully, some of you of rejection. Please stay tuned.

Thank you for submitting and making Literary Revelations a great publishing house.

My books (Only English)
#1 Amazon bestseller, Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings (Vita Brevis)
#1 Amazon Bestseller, Women: Splendor and Sorrow (Vita Brevis)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

Christina Schwarz, the author of the New York Times Bestseller “Drowning Ruth.”

“With lush language and lavish imagery, Gabriela Marie Milton. evokes a fantastic world ripe with emotion.”
Christina Schwartz

Edited Collections:
#1 Amazon Bestseller, Hidden in Childhood (Literary Revelations)
#1 Amazon bestseller,Petals of Haiku (Literary Revelations)
#1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women (EIF)