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Essence of Cinnamon Incense

Cinnamon memories catch my soul in snares as I trace in anguish the curve of your lips in a photo stained sepia with my tears; a thousand words... spoken through my fingertips. Susan Ashley October 14, 2020 ~ Second Place ~ Excerpt from: Lost In My Lost Cinnamon Dreams; May 9, 2019 Premiere Contest: Rithimus Divisa 10 Sponsor: Gregory R Barden

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Howard Kerr

Date: 12/26/2022 1:20:00 PM

Dear Susan, Heartfelt thanks for your observations on my Haiku Suite “Winter Sweeps Across” which I appreciate. I especially value the detailed nature of your comments. In turn I wish to compliment you on composing an enduring piece which touches the emotions at every level. Warm regards Howard

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/27/2022 12:23:00 PM

You're welcome, Howard. Your poem captures beautifully expressed nuances of the Winter season. Thank you sharing in the emotions of this poem with me. I treasure your thoughtful comments, my friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 10/29/2020 8:13:00 PM

These wonderful lines stir the heart Susan. I think it is exquisite! I hope you will post the entire poem at the bottom after the winners are announced. I always want to read the entire poem and wish Greg would have the winners do that. Best wishes for a podium win my friend. Blessings xxoo

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/30/2020 2:39:00 PM

Dear Connie, to know that my poem stirs your sentimental heart is such a sweet, rich reward. I relish your generous thoughts. Thank you, dear poetess, for your time spent with me and my poem. Warmest wishes, my lovely friend.. ~Susan

Mystic Rose Rose

Date: 10/26/2020 8:11:00 PM

I love the way you place scent up foremost in your poem, they ay the scent is the most pronounced of all sense, the last to go, thank you for sharing your talented pen Susan.

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/27/2020 6:47:00 PM

Pixie, your response to my poem warms my heart immensely. Thank you for your inspiring comments, they are such a joy to receive! Scents have a way of stirring the heart and soul. Warmest wishes, my wonderful friend.. ~Susan

Paul Callus

Date: 10/26/2020 12:48:00 AM

Short but beautiful, Susan, bringing strong memories and emotions to mind. Loss & longing transmitted through sight and touch and then expressed in words. You never fail to deliver my friend! ~ Warm regards & Hugs // paul

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/27/2020 6:59:00 PM

..and you never fail to deliver a bouquet of smiles with your beautiful comments, Paul :)) I'm happy you enjoyed the cinnamon spice of my poem. Cinnamon, its color, scent, taste has a way of arousing memories and emotions in such a primal way. I relish your wonderful thoughts, my dear friend. Warmest wishes and hugs.. ~Susan

Jack Horne

Date: 10/25/2020 12:06:00 PM

so pleased to see this beautiful, moving write was a winner

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/25/2020 6:30:00 PM

I relish the beautiful spirit of your comments, Jack. Thank you, my dear friend, for sharing your precious thoughts with me. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Sam Kauffman

Date: 10/25/2020 10:54:00 AM

Back with congratulations on your podium win dear friend - powerful rhymes just in time for your winning lines! Loved it when I first read it. What a treat to read it again! Harvest blessings!

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/25/2020 6:28:00 PM

Sam, I'm so glad you enjoyed the rhyme of my lines more than one time! :)) I appreciate your return visit, my dear friend, as well as your wonderful thoughts and kind congrats. Your beautiful spirit is treasured. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Linda Alice Fowler

Date: 10/25/2020 8:26:00 AM

Beautiful Susan. A moving verse. Congratulations on your win! Linda

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/25/2020 6:19:00 PM

Your lovely comments are treasured, Linda. Thank you, dear poetess, for your gracious visit and kind congrats. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Jenna Logan

Date: 10/25/2020 6:01:00 AM

A top winner, just as I knew it would be. It stirs my poetic emotions. Congratulations, Susan.

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/25/2020 6:17:00 PM

Jenna, to know that my pen stirs the poetic emotions of a gifted poetess like you is just wonderful! Thank you for your heartwarming comments and for your kind congrats. It's so lovely to share the podium with you, my dear friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

John Watt

Date: 10/25/2020 12:02:00 AM

Susan, this one was next on my list of yours to read, and just now I saw it received a wonderful 2nd place win in Greg's contest! Nothing could have better described the emptiness of loss better than the sensory-laced phrase 'cinnamon memories'. They say that olfactory memories are the strongest and most connected to our emotions, and what depicts happier memories than the wafting scent of cinnamon? Love the sepia line as well. It's too late tonight but I'll visit the original soon. Congrats!

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/25/2020 6:07:00 PM

Yes, I agree, John. Scents, like music, can reproduce the most vivid, happy or wistful or downright heartbreaking memories. Scents stir the very souls of our beings. I love the word "sepia" and was only too happy to use it in my poem! :) Your insightful presence lights the depths of my appreciation for you, your beautiful comments and kind congrats. Thank you my dear friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

M. L. Kiser

Date: 10/24/2020 9:46:00 PM

So much said in so few lines. Well penned.

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/25/2020 5:57:00 PM

It's always wonderful to hear from you, M. L. Thank you for your encouraging comments, they are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Janice Canerdy

Date: 10/23/2020 6:13:00 PM

Lovely, bittersweet piece, Susan. Janice

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/23/2020 7:27:00 PM

Thank you for your wonderful comments, Janice. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Probir Gupta

Date: 10/19/2020 9:35:00 PM

Delicate emotions in silken words ... simply beautiful ...

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/20/2020 4:48:00 PM

Thank you, Probir, for the smooth caress of you words. Warmest wishes my dear friend .. ~Susan

J. Summers

Date: 10/19/2020 7:22:00 AM

Amazing poem, it stands so well by itself. Your talent for brevity is obvious as the poem says so much with so few words.

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/19/2020 7:57:00 PM

Thank you, J., for your inspiring comments. I'm so glad to know that you think this poems stands well on its own. I appreciate that so much since brevity can be a bit challenging for me. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 10/18/2020 11:37:00 AM

Few words with much said. I love to smell and eat cinnamon. It says, fall is now here. Have a wonderful day writing away.............

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/18/2020 6:25:00 PM

I agree, Paula! I'm so glad to know that we share a love of both cinnamon and Fall! Thank you for your encouraging comments. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Newton Ranaweera

Date: 10/18/2020 6:54:00 AM

A great choice for the contest!! 'speaking finger tips' climax the beauty of this piece!!

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/18/2020 10:18:00 AM

I am so pleased you enjoyed my poem, Newton. The spirit of your lovely thoughts is touching. Thank you for both your wonderful comments and your gracious visit. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Robert Lindley

Date: 10/17/2020 4:25:00 PM

Verses born of poetic prowess and heart. Your creative powers awe me.. Afav.. God bless..

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/17/2020 5:23:00 PM

My dear friend, I am humbled by the beautiful spirit of your comments and your fav is indeed an honor to receive. Thank you, Robert, your gracious presence here is as uplifting as it is appreciated. Warmest wishes to you and yours.. ~Susan

Panagiota Romios

Date: 10/17/2020 1:33:00 PM

Yaaa, Suan....I can now comment. Thanks to Tom for contacting you. One of the most stunning poems I ever read here, So well done, I feel incapable of being good enough to even dare Comnent further ...really. Luv Plus Pangie xx

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/17/2020 4:29:00 PM

Yay!! I'm so glad to see you back, my friend!! Thanks for letting me know that there was a problem with commenting/soup mailing.. Pangie, I am both humbled and honored by your kindhearted and heartwarming comments. They are to always be cherished, as is your friendship, sweet lady. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Heidi Sands

Date: 10/17/2020 10:19:00 AM

Well written Susan. I love that last line. :)

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/17/2020 4:17:00 PM

Your beautiful comments are treasured, Heidi. Thank you, dear poetess. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Michelle Faulkner

Date: 10/16/2020 1:44:00 PM

The seductive prowess of cinnamon wafts through your luscious poem with enchanting ease, Susan - should do well in the contest!

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/16/2020 6:25:00 PM

I am enchanted by your shining presence here, Michelle, and by your beautifully poetic comments. Thank you, your thoughts are cherished, my friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Jennifer Proxenos

Date: 10/16/2020 12:01:00 PM

Susan, another beauty ' in a photo stained sepia with my tears, a thousand wrods, spoken through my fingertips.'Congrats my friend, this is certainly a win, I can sense it in the air we breathe! Hope you are well have not heard from you in a while'

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/16/2020 6:23:00 PM

Hello, my wonderful friend! Your inspiring presence here is a joy to behold, Jennifer. Thank you for your heartfelt and beautiful comments. They are precious to me, as is our dear friendship. I am doing well.. just busy as usual, but, I have visited several of your awesome poems lately! :)) I hope all is well with you, sweet lady. Warmest wishes and hugs.. ~Susan

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 10/15/2020 6:25:00 PM

OH MY GOSH, utterly faNtastic. Bet this is a winner!!

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/16/2020 11:01:00 AM

Your response to my poem warms my heart immensely, Andrea. Thank you for your inspiring comments, they are such a joy to receive! Warmest wishes, my wonderful friend.. ~Susan

Angela Crabtree

Date: 10/15/2020 8:02:00 AM

I love the way you express cinnamon in your words, Susan. Beautiful poem... :) ~Angie

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/15/2020 9:07:00 AM

Thank you for your lovely comments, Angie. I'm so pleased you enjoyed my poem. Both your wonderful words and gracious visit are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Evelyn Judy Buehler

Date: 10/14/2020 8:32:00 PM

Such tender expressions of sadness, grief, love and longing are expressed in this beautifully written poem. Best of wishes for the contest.

Evelyn Judy Buehler
Date: 10/20/2020 7:08:00 PM

You are most welcome, Susan. I appreciate your warm sentiments. My very best wishes, Evelyn

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/15/2020 9:04:00 AM

The kind beauty of your heart shines, not only in your poetry, Evelyn, but also in your comments gracing my poem. Thank you for your compassionate comment which reflects the strength of your humanity. Warmest wishes, my friend.. ~Susan

Gershon Wolf

Date: 10/14/2020 2:09:00 PM

I always knew that 'A finger is worth 1,000 words!' lol... Seriously, this is quite poignant penning. ~ Tracy

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/15/2020 8:47:00 AM

Lol! Quite true!! I can always count on you, my dear friend, for a good laugh! I relish your silliness, Gershon, err.. Tracy.. lol.. as well as your inspiring comments. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Gordon Mcconnell

Date: 10/14/2020 1:28:00 PM

Lovely pen Susan, really cool and skilful!

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/14/2020 1:47:00 PM

Thank you, Gordon, for your heartwarming comments. It's uplifting to know you enjoyed my poem. Your kind spirit is truly appreciated, my friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan