Home » Poems » Susan Ashley » Cutting My Losses

Cutting My Losses

Atmospheric grayscale mirrors my mood where rainbow pastels are loath to intrude, monochrome perverse looms ‘cross universe - black powder train, mind is gun barrel gray cold dispassionate muzzle of dismay. My happiness; my death will reimburse - lifeblood bleeds an anemic attitude. Susan Ashley November 17, 2018

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

Mahtab Bangalee

Date: 1/5/2020 10:04:00 PM

My happiness; my death will reimburse -/ lifeblood bleeds an anemic attitude./// great poetic writing

Susan Ashley
Date: 1/6/2020 2:18:00 PM

Your inspiring comments are truely appreciated, Mahtab. Thank you for sharing your treasured thoughts with me. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Kurt Ravidas

Date: 8/30/2019 7:26:00 PM

Shades of gray with steel gleams and the smell of blood and gunpowder. Pleasant aftertaste)

Susan Ashley
Date: 9/3/2019 9:05:00 PM

This dark one was inspired by someone very close to me who struggles with deep depression. This was written during one of their darkest hours, and thank God, they got through it to still be in my life today. Your thoughts are appreciated, Kurt. Warmest wishes always my dear friend.. ~Susan

Vijay Pandit

Date: 12/1/2018 2:39:00 PM

This poem feels so deep, Susan. Somber but far reaching.. no one should have to feel the pain this way..but your poem is true to life--it really does happen and you said it well in just a few words.

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/1/2018 9:46:00 PM

Yes, I was hoping my words would be felt in this way, Vijay. Thank you for your compassionate comments, that are so thoughtful and meaningful. Your gracious presence here is truly appreciated. Warmest wishes my friend.. ~Susan

Eve Roper

Date: 11/27/2018 9:08:00 PM

Cutting your losses as sometimes is the best choice... enjoyed reading, Susan...

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/29/2018 2:43:00 PM

Thank you, Eve! Warmest wishes always. ~Susan

Robert Bellam

Date: 11/26/2018 3:49:00 PM

Rainbow pastels dare to intrude...Great line so sad, know the feeling of a gun metal grey mind... Bob

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/26/2018 9:57:00 PM

It saddens me to know that you have experienced the feeling of a gun metal grey mind, Bob. Someone very close to me suffers from chronic depression and I tried to put their feelings into words.. I pray that your every day be filled with rainbow pastels, Bob. Thank you for your precious comments and thoughts. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

David Byrne

Date: 11/25/2018 7:58:00 PM

I love the desolation of this. And the grey.....

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/26/2018 9:51:00 PM

I relish your emotional response to my poem, David. Thank you for your lovely comments and for sharing your thoughts with me. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 11/24/2018 7:08:00 PM

Love that last line. A theme cleverly presented!

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/26/2018 9:48:00 PM

Thank you, Andrea, your return visit and uplifting comments are both a delight and are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Chuck Melugin

Date: 11/23/2018 10:34:00 AM

Dear Susan, Cutting Your Losses was my poetic gain! Thanks for the ride on your Black Powder Train! My dear....you engineer poetry!!

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/23/2018 3:36:00 PM

Chuck, receiving your awesome and poetic comments are like receiving a bouquet of smiles.. I'm so pleased you enjoyed my dark poem, my wonderful friend. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Nette Onclaud

Date: 11/22/2018 3:58:00 PM

ohh, a sigh of despair remarkably written in bleak tones... a unique take on the theme, susan...very nice!...huggs

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/23/2018 3:23:00 PM

Thank you, Nette, your wonderful visit and precious comments are truly appreciated, as is your beautiful poetry, dear poetess. Actually, this poem wasn't written for the 'black powder' contest, but is a coincidence in the use of black 'powder train' as an emotionally dark chain of events leading to an explosive or destructive outcome.. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Harry Horsman

Date: 11/21/2018 3:35:00 PM

Profound and deep, yet enlightens this reader. With wonderful crafted poetry.

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/23/2018 3:24:00 PM

I relish your lovely comments and your delightful visit, Harry. Thank you for your kindness, my dear friend. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Judy Ball

Date: 11/21/2018 1:40:00 PM

As we used to say back in the seventies: This is HEAVY MAN! It's like this person is weighed down with depression and thinks it best to cut his losses now and just "check out". Feeling this way we are unable to think clearly and realize there is always a better way to handle things. We have to get tough and realize we have a purpose in life and find that purpose. Never let someone else make you think you are worthless. Never let someone else take away the joy of life for you. God Bless, JB

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/23/2018 3:32:00 PM

Judy, thank you for your meaningful and insightful comments and for your gracious visit. I remember when that seventies saying was in full swing.. Unfortunately, chronic depression is a serious medical issue that does cause intense suffering for those afflicted.. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Paul Callus

Date: 11/21/2018 8:38:00 AM

Metaphorically beautiful, and sad... highlighting the continuous battle which rages in the mind, heart and soul of a deeply depressed person. Such people need understanding, help and compassion. An excellent title, noticeable rhyme, and creative use of 'black powder', ~ warm regards & hugs, my friend. // paul

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/23/2018 3:42:00 PM

My dear friend, Paul, your compassionate insight as well as your poetic critique touches me deeply and warms my heart. Thank you for your meaningful and beautiful comments that reflect your lovely intellect and soul. Warmest wishes and hugs always, my inspiring friend.. ~Susan

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 11/21/2018 4:25:00 AM

Oh my, Susan! You have surely captured the hopelessness one feels when contemplating taking their own life. We have seen many senseless acts of violence reported in the news and it's hard to understand how a person's spirits could sink so low. When we take all the beauty, the "color," out of life, the black-and-white world that remains can make a person feel desperate. A compelling and powerful write, Susan. Excellent on many levels. Hugs, Carolyn

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/29/2018 6:58:00 PM

It is an honor to receive your kindness and your heartwarming words, Carolyn. Thank you!

Carolyn Devonshire
Date: 11/29/2018 10:09:00 AM

Susan, the message in this poem came through so clearly. It says a lot about the type of person you are and you have won my admiration. Wishing you happy holidays! Looking forward to a new poem from you...

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/23/2018 3:46:00 PM

Carolyn, I am honored by your deeply insightful and compassionate comments. You've captured the essence of my poem and I relish your thoughtful response. Thank you for your sensitive and beautiful sentiments that I truly appreciate as much as I appreciate your beautiful poetry, dear poetess.. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Besma Riabi Dziri

Date: 11/20/2018 10:54:00 AM

An inner struggle that will always linger! An inner combat to wash away dark sentiments and moods.. we constantly strive to ensure inner peace and inward harmony.. we spare no effort to arrange our gifts and powers in a harmonious way so that we escape the drowning darkness and embrace the rainbow of life.. A great beauty of art displaying human nature turmoils.. You outshine, dear Susan, with your great and unique poetic talent! A great pleasure to read! My warmest wishes, love and hugs.

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/23/2018 3:54:00 PM

My dearest friend, Besma, I apologize for the delay in relaying my appreciation to you for your insightful comments that shed a beautiful light upon my humble words. I am honored by your gracious visit and shining presence and I eagerly embrace your compassionate and thoughtful nature. You sparkle with loving inspiration and it is with heartfelt joy that I receive your precious words, my lovely friend. Warmest wishes, love and hugs always.. ~Susan

Nette Onclaud

Date: 11/19/2018 5:19:00 PM

poetry 'noire' so pensive and beautifully captured, susan... the stage is yours!...huggs

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/23/2018 2:59:00 PM

Thank you, Nette, for your beautiful comments that I hold in my truest appreciation. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Winged Warrior

Date: 11/19/2018 9:35:00 AM

Such deep and dark insight...my cup of tea or coffee...my sis in the nocturnal abyss...bro bro

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/23/2018 3:03:00 PM

Oh my silly bro bro, I like both.. my coffee in the morning and my tea in the evening.. I'm so pleased that you enjoyed my dark poem of dark insight. Love and caffeine, your sane sissy, Illuminatra, light of the nocturnal abyss.. lol!

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 11/18/2018 8:02:00 PM

Sad but impressive poetry. You have a poet's soul, Susan.

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/23/2018 2:58:00 PM

Thank you, Andrea, for your precious comments that I hold in my dearest appreciation. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Robert Lindley

Date: 11/18/2018 7:39:00 PM

Brilliant verses on depression and sorrows my dear friend. A subject which I am well acquainted with. Your poetic gift amazes me no matter the subject you write about, your verses hold true and important thoughts. A fav my great friend.. a gem too

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/23/2018 2:57:00 PM

Thank you, my dear friend, for sharing your cherished thoughts with me and for your fav. I'm honored that you find value in my poem, Robert, as your poetic opinions are very important to me, but it does sadden me to know that you are well acquainted with my poem's subject matter.. I am personally acquainted with it as well through a very close loved one.. You are truly appreciated, my great friend. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Silent One

Date: 11/18/2018 2:24:00 PM

Very dark and deeply depressing poem... You said so much in so few words...

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/18/2018 2:40:00 PM

Hello my dear friend, I’ve missed your inspiring presence here and I hope all is well. Yes, I tried to put into words the feelings of someone very close to me that deals with chronic depression.. is hope I’ve done their feelings justice. Thank you, Silent One for stopping by and sharing your precious thoughts with me. Warmest wishes to you.. ~Susan

Vladislav Raven

Date: 11/18/2018 10:22:00 AM

Hi Susan, this is deep and strong poetry. You have saught the subject so well in this write Susan. I can relate to this poem. You have creatively painted the grayness of depression. Your images sing in my mind. This piece touches me deeply. Have a wonderful Sunday. Hugs....Mike. XX. A fave.

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/18/2018 8:54:00 PM

My dear friend, thank you for your wonderful and meaningful comments, as well as for your fave. I relish your precious thoughts that touch me as deeply as my poem’s message touched you. Your insight, inspiration and friendship are truly appreciated, Mike. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Arthur Vaso

Date: 11/18/2018 1:53:00 AM

Very powerful poetry, I do hope you see more color in life!

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/20/2018 4:55:00 PM

Thank you Arthur for sharing your feelings with me, writing this poem is my way of processing the suffering I see.. I value your thoughts greatly and I hope there is nothing but vibrant colors in your life now and always, dear Arthur.

Arthur Vaso
Date: 11/19/2018 8:40:00 PM

You expressed this so well and I am sure your friend will really appreciate this, I have been there. :)

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/18/2018 8:43:00 AM

Your esteemed comments are wonderful to receive, Arthur. I’m so glad you valued my darkly emotive poem - someone very close to me suffers intensely from depression and I wanted to try to give voice to their daily struggles. Your precious thoughts are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

M. L. Kiser

Date: 11/18/2018 1:14:00 AM

eerily fascinating; very well penned though.

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/18/2018 8:23:00 AM

Thank you, M.L., for your gracious visit and wonderful comments. I relish your lovely presence here. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 11/17/2018 11:19:00 PM

Susan, your take on the black powder is so well-written; it forced me to tear it apart a bit and try to understand the fascination I have for it. I just know it is great; I do not have the right words to say why, it simply is.

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/18/2018 8:14:00 AM

Caren, your comments are so precious and uplifting and I truly appreciate your time in sharing your beautiful thoughts with me. Thank you my dear friend and warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Frederic Parker

Date: 11/17/2018 7:19:00 PM

scary my friend as I just posted one on the same theme...

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/18/2018 8:09:00 AM

Frederic, I read your compelling and hauntingly beautiful poem.. and our muses were twinning for sure on this theme.. your poem ‘The Chair’ is so sadly intimate and exquisite. Thank you for your gracious visit and kind comment, dear poet. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan