“Lost Leaves” is a collection of short poems about nature and love, written jointly by poets Michael Lee Johnson and Irma Kurti and published by Ukiyoto Publishing. The poems explore the multifaceted nature of the world, balancing the beauty and destructiveness of nature with the complexity of human emotions such as love and loneliness. The book suggests that love, just like nature, flows and changes with the seasons. The collection stands out for its exploration of different natural elements, from the “dance of the leaves” and the “romance of sunsets” to the darker aspects of “darkness and stars.” The human experience is woven throughout with reflections on relationships, memories, and personal journeys.
Lost Leaves brings together the poetic worlds of Michael Lee Johnson and Irma Kurti, offering readers emotional nuance and striking imagery. From meditations on solitude to reflections on nature, love, and human connection, these poems invite readers to pause, breathe, and rediscover the beauty hidden in life’s quieter corners—a compelling addition to contemporary poetry shelves.
The preface, written by poet Michael Lee Johnson, states: “This book of short nature poems contains some hints of love poems interspersed throughout. Love, like nature, flows and changes with the seasons. Nature has existed independently of human influence since the beginning of time. It embodies the dance of leaves, the romance of sunsets, and moments spent sharing a bottle of wine by the river or lake, as well as the tranquillity of a rainy day. Nature inspires dreams, yet it can also bring destruction. It reflects both beauty and pain, gazing at the moon, darkness, and stars. Nature embraces life and values the love we express in return. As humans, we celebrate the beauty of winged creatures, the animals that tread upon the ground, the lily pads, and the serene ponds. Nature creates dreams, but nature also destroys.” The book is now available worldwide, with distribution expanding daily
MICHAEL LEE JOHNSON lived in Canada for ten years during the Vietnam era. At the time of this writing, today, he is a poet in the greater Chicago-land area, IL. He has 360-plus YouTube poetry videos. Michael Lee Johnson is an internationally published poet in 46 countries, a song lyricist with several published poetry books, and a nominee for 7 Pushcart Prize awards and 7 Best of the Net nominations. He is the editor-in-chief of three poetry anthologies, all of which are available on Amazon, and has authored several poetry books and chapbooks. He has over 653 published poems. Michael has administered and created 6 Facebook Poetry groups. Member of the Illinois State Poetry Society: http://www.illinoispoets.org/ and Poets & Writers: https://www.pw.org/. His poems have been translated into several foreign languages.
IRMA KURTI is an Albanian poet, writer, lyricist, journalist, and translator, and has been writing since she was a child. She is a naturalized Italian and lives in Bergamo, Italy. She was awarded the Universum Donna International Prize IX Edition 2013 for Literature and received a lifetime nomination as an Ambassador of Peace by the University of Peace in Switzerland. In 2020, she became the honorary president of WikiPoesia, the encyclopedia of poetry. In 2021, she was awarded the title of Liria (Freedom) by the Italian-Albanian community in Italy. In 2023, she was awarded a Career Award from the Universum Academy Switzerland.
Irma Kurti is a member of the jury for several literary competitions in Italy. She is also a translator for the Ithaca Foundation in Spain. Irma Kurti has published more than 115 works, including books of poetry, fiction, and translations. Her poems have been translated into 40 languages worldwide. She is one of the most translated and published Albanian poets. Her books have been translated and published in 23 countries.
View the Trailer on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUZcx2q1jO4.
Purchase Links (Original published by Ukiyoto Publishing)
Ukiyoto Publishing: https://www.ukiyoto.com/product-page/lost-leaves
Amazon
Kindle eBook: Available on Amazon Kindle and other locations.
First published in Enheduana
