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Notes About The Poem

May 8, 2025

~Second Place ~
Premiere Contest: The Prismatic Self
Sponsor: Daniel Henry Rodgers

*Footnote:

Pangst: combined feelings of pain and angst
Versateer: one who blends reality and imagination to create poetry
Tormentia: an internal state of combined torment and fantasia
Pen cred: acceptance and respect for the creative expression of lamentation

---

 

The Prismatic Self

I am a dare-dreamer, a mask wearer
a soul bare-r (but not always my own); a word-weaver. 
I pull at thoughts like strings. Strings of cobwebs
and cirrus, frayed dungarees and threadbare memories 
until I warp and weft strings of thoughts into poems.
Sometimes I get caught in my own knots—
I cut myself loose of those naughty strings.

I hold onto kite strings… oh, and rainbows strings.
They connect my soles to the realm of my soul,
but at times, I lose sight of my kites in the gale.
Was I irresponsible with responsibility for my strings?
I think thoughts need to get lost in clouds and wind;
lost in clouds and wind to find the eye-of-the-storm
where I rescue kites and make a poetry page my stage

and my arena. I twine strings into a heavyweight rope.
Fasten it to four corners of the contest page. I enter,
incognito, with Apollo imagery and Dionysus metaphor;
a masked prize-fighter filled with creative pangst.

I grin for wins in poesy masquerade parades
but when I fail, strings break off of my drama mask.
Revealed but unrecognized, am I just a fractured rainbow?
My inner balcony critic reprimands:
“sunlight through raindrops must be flawless
to create flawless strings of prismatic color”!
Alas, lack of refraction left white words non prismatic.
I restring my tragedy mask; the ego sphere of a versateer. 

I create poetry because I love to pluck things;
pluck things like harp strings and heartstrings.
If I no longer make readers cry, will pen cred be lost?
Don’t think I won’t pluck nightshade petals, fly wings 
and cello strings to make you feel my tormentia!
I’ll quiver the lips of lost-in-loss verse. Coax your soul
to sip the pale ale of sorrow —as scents of strawberries
scald your skin. I’m not unhappy to gratify your senses. 

I loop a maverick string  whirl it and throw—
lasso a funhouse mirror and rein it in.
Imagination dances on stilts in looney glass gaze. 
I use my muse strings to hang mirrors and I ask;
who’s the puppeteer and who’s the marionette—
the poet or the reader?

Please Login to post a comment

Randy Freie Date: 9/5/2025 9:10:00 PM Hello Susan. I'm sorry it's been so long since I've visited. A pox upon me! I went thru a drought for a few months to clear my head and reexamine my work. But, as usual, when I read your poetry, I'm reminded of just how much more I need to learn. Thanks again for sharing your pen. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/7/2025 8:42:00 AM Dear Randy, it's wonderful to see you! No, no pox upon you, lol. Thank you for your gracious visit and kindness. You give me way too much credit, but I'm honored by your words. We all need to clear our heads and reexamine our poetic works once in a while. My muse is giving me the silent treatment these days, so I've been kinda doing the same thing in reassessing/retooling older works. I have always found your amazing poetry to be intriguing and creative. I think we all learn from each other as we read each others poetry, my poet friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Linda Alice Fowler Date: 7/15/2025 9:33:00 AM Whenever I need a taste of interesting imagery, I come to your words Susan. Thank you! :) Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 7/18/2025 7:55:00 AM Dear Linda, I believe yours is one of the most beautiful and soul-touching comments I have ever received. I am gratified by and truly appreciative of your inspiring thoughts. Thank you, my sweet poet friend, for your gracious visit and for your heartwarming kindness. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Kim Rodrigues Date: 6/11/2025 7:36:00 AM Strings of cobwebs and cirrus, frayed dungarees and threadbare memories… Coax your soul to sip the pale ale of sorrow —as scents of strawberries scald your skin…interesting last question! Congrats on a podium win! Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 6/11/2025 10:38:00 AM Dear Kim, I'm so glad to know that you thought my last question was interesting. I've often wondered who's the greater influence in the poet/reader equation. The lines you quoted are my fav lines in this poem too :) Thank you for your gracious visit and kind congrats. Your poetic presence here is truly appreciated. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Ghairo Daniels Date: 6/10/2025 9:14:00 PM Excellent offering of Soul Truth intertwined with egoic expectations, Susan. Clear insight into subject matter. Well deserved Win, Congratulations. X. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 6/11/2025 10:36:00 AM Dear Ghairo, I appreciate your kind congrats and poetic presence. Thank you for your heartwarming words, they are a joy to receive. Your uplifting spirit is truly felt. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Anne Winter Date: 6/10/2025 7:25:00 AM Dear Susan, as one of the co-judges of the contest, I congratulate you on achieving 2nd place! Warmest regards, Anne Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 6/11/2025 10:31:00 AM Dear Anne, thank you for your kind congrats and for your time spent judging this wonderful and challenging contest with Daniel. I cannot begin to imagine what an huge undertaking judging this contest must have been. I salute you, Daniel and the entire team of judges for your efforts and endurance! Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Tom Woody Date: 6/10/2025 5:57:00 AM I think we knew this was a topper. Have a pleasant day Suze Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 6/11/2025 10:25:00 AM Dear Tom, your return visit is a delight! Thank you for your kind words and for your faith in my poetry. I hope you have a pleasant day too my poet friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Suze

Lin Lane Date: 6/9/2025 1:03:00 PM Congratulations on your second-place win, Susan. As one of Daniel's co-judges I recognized the talent of entry #16 and was not surprised when I discovered it was yours. Enjoy your trophy, my poet sister. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 6/9/2025 5:50:00 PM Dear Lin, inspiring poetess, I’m thrilled to receive your kind congrats and I’m humbled and honored by your heartwarming words. It’s a pleasure to share the podium with the talented poets listed. Thank you, Lin, for your time judging this wonderful contest with Daniel, it seemed like it would have been an enormous undertaking. Also, thank you for having faith in my poetry. You are ever appreciated. Warmest wishes, my poet sister.. ~Susan

Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 6/9/2025 12:22:00 PM Dear Susan, Congratulations and I must say second place can’t contain the brilliance you’ve spun. Your strings vibrate with wild grace and gut-truth. You blended pangst and play into something only you could conjure with a masquerade of feeling, tethered to sky and sorrow. Your voice lassoed us. Your kites? Never lost. They danced, high and defiant. Congratulations, Again Dear Susan, Spring Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 6/9/2025 12:39:00 PM Dear Daniel, I'm thrilled by your response to my poem! And I love your use of "pangst" with "play"! :)) As I said to Andrea below, "I bet it was an arduous task for each judge to judge each poem against the criteria required and then compile your scores and opinions together to get the final results." Your contest was an inspiring labor of love for me, I bet judging it was for you too! It was a fantastic learning experience too, so enjoyable. I'm humbled and honored by my poem's placement in your esteemed contest. Thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts and kind congrats. You are ever appreciated. Warmest wishes, my dear poet friend.. ~Susan

I Am Anaya Date: 6/9/2025 12:06:00 PM Back with Congratulations, Sweet Susan, you had this one in the bag, I think is the saying. Yay, poetess. Happy for you~ Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 6/9/2025 12:24:00 PM A double delight!! Dearest Anaya, soulful poetess, your return visit with kind congrats is truly appreciated. Thank you for your touching thoughts and for your friendship. Both your radiant kindness and beautiful poetry are treasured. Warmest wishes, my sweet friend.. ~Susan

I Am Anaya Date: 6/8/2025 9:21:00 AM Another exceptional piece of strength and soul fulfillment one can resonate with your priceless expressions, imagery and what metaphors divine. "I grin for wins in poesy masquerade parades but when I fail, strings break off of my drama mask. Revealed but unrecognized, am I just a fractured rainbow?" I love the edgy feel, so real~ Bravo Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 6/9/2025 12:19:00 PM Dearest Anaya, you are ever inspiring! I relish the gracious spirit of your words. Thank you for sharing your precious thoughts with me. I'm thrilled to know you enjoyed this verse. Your golden light shines upon my poem giving it much valued luster. Warmest wishes, my sweet poet friend.. ~Susan

Crystol Woods Date: 6/4/2025 8:48:00 AM You've woven a colorful tapestry with this beauty Susan! So much is happening, I want to look everywhere at once! Oh look at this! Oh and this! Engaging, honest, and supremely worded... love your words sister of the pen. But I will need to go back to the start and walk through this time, stop and smell the roses too! Xoxo Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 6/8/2025 10:52:00 AM Dear Crystol, sister of the pen, I revel in your beautiful and inspiring thoughts about this poem. How uplifting, wonderful and gratifying your response is... I'm honored to receive such gracious feedback. Thank you, dear soulful poet, your words bring smiles to my heart and soul. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Andrea Dietrich Date: 5/26/2025 12:41:00 PM Oops. Can't read and comment yet. I am one of the judges. But knowing your expertise, I bet all the judges will enjoy this Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 6/9/2025 11:58:00 AM Dear Andrea, thank you for dropping in and for being a judge in this contest. I bet it was an arduous task for each judge to judge each poem against all the criteria required and then compile your scores and opinions together to get the final results. Whew! I salute you all for your efforts and endurance!! Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

Silent One Date: 5/25/2025 10:00:00 AM What an excellent idea and thought process for this contest.. For me your poem is a metapoetic performance, a reflection on what it means to create, to fail, and to be seen or unseen as an artist. It’s rich with metaphors, emotionally layered, and imaginatively constructed. Whether the poet is puppeteer or marionette, the reader is unquestionably drawn into the dance. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 6/8/2025 10:48:00 AM Dear Silent One, my dear poet friend, thank you for sharing in the emotions and imageries of this poem with me. Your positive and expressive response touches me deeply and is truly cherished. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Valsa George Date: 5/24/2025 11:10:00 PM Dear Susan, you are indeed a master of metaphors and a word weaver. I am always in awe of a few like you on our site who talk in metaphors. I can state things in facts, never in metaphors and am envious of those who are capable of that special gift. "Sometimes I get caught in my own knots—" I feel it happens to you very rarely. One thing, I am sure, you capture the reader's attention with your poetic prowess and subjugate their hearts as a queen.Dear Susan, let your fancies fly high like a kite with the string held in tact within your grip. The question hurled at the end gives much room for thought. Excellent poetry dear sweet friend. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 6/8/2025 10:45:00 AM Dearest Valsa, soulful and talented poet, I relish your uplifting response to my poem. Thank you for sharing your precious thoughts with me, I'm especially thrilled that you enjoyed the question posed at the end. My sweet friend, your poetry is always beautiful and I admire your way with imagery and metaphors. You have a special poetic gift that we all here at PS cherish. Always keep your golden ink flowing :) Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Evelyn Judy Buehler Date: 5/24/2025 9:37:00 PM I enjoyed reading This masterpiece, Susan! Thank you for sharing. Have a nice day. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 5/26/2025 8:51:00 AM Dear Evelyn, wonderful poet, I'm so glad to know you enjoyed my poem. I'm humbled by your beautiful response to my verse. Thank you for sharing your precious thoughts with me. I appreciate you. Warmest wishes, dear poet friend.. ~Susan

Victor Buhagiar Date: 5/24/2025 8:16:00 AM Your poetry is not a string of cobwebs but a web of fine pearls and diamonds. I am always at awe reading your poems. What splendid metaphors, an encomium of excellent poetry, such praiseworthy metaphors throughout the poem. Your poetry reaches great height. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 5/26/2025 8:55:00 AM Dear Victor, it's a delight to find your wonderful poetic presence gracing my poem's page. Your precious thoughts are held in my deepest appreciation. I am humbled by your response to my poem, your words dress my verse in more beauty than it deserves, but I embrace your kindness fully. Thank you, my dear poet friend, your thoughts are prized! Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Sand Blown Date: 5/11/2025 7:29:00 AM wowza man....from strings of cobwebs to hearts as mirrors.......len Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 5/26/2025 8:48:00 AM Dear Len, your gracious visit and 'wowza' thoughts are truly appreciated :) Thank you for your kindness, my poet friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Paige Hind Date: 5/10/2025 6:40:00 PM Nice editing, it was already wonderful. A glimpse of you I am sure readers will relate to. <3 Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 5/26/2025 8:47:00 AM Dear Paige, soulful poet, thank you for your return visit and kind reassurance. I'm so happy to know you found my poem to be wonderful. Your precious thoughts mean the world to me. Warmest wishes my sweet poet friend.. ~Susan

Tom Woody Date: 5/10/2025 4:41:00 PM Stanza five says it all. We write for the tear, or the chuckle (occasionally a belly laugh) or the applause or even (gasp!) for a trophy win in a peer sponsored contest. I would suggest that if a poet isn't trying to evoke a response best to stay home. Your last line is intriguing. Who made who? Good one Suze Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 5/26/2025 8:45:00 AM Dear Tom, yes, I completely agree with your thoughts here. Thank you for your gracious visit and wonderful insights. I write and share for all those reasons you stated above. When I write for my self, I keep it to myself. Glad you found my last line intriguing... :) Warmest wishes my poet friend.. ~Suze

Zyrool Gifford Date: 5/9/2025 1:58:00 PM Hello Susan, this is an exceptional beautiful and amazing write. A great read.Best wishes for the contest. Sending Blessings your way, my poet friend. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 5/26/2025 8:39:00 AM Dear Zyrool, I truly appreciate your gracious visit. Thank you for sharing your uplifting thoughts with me. Your beautiful poetry is only outshined by your kindness. Warmest wishes my poet friend.. ~Susan

Besma Riabi Dziri Date: 5/9/2025 3:07:00 AM A poetess of many a dimension humbly and artistically wording her thoughts without forcing them.. elevating with Her her readers to her level of understanding and Beauty! Telling her avid readers, as you have decrypted my world of creation we are ONE! My dear friend Susan, a standing ovation for all that you have poured of WONDER on you page and in our souls! A tremendous delight and insight reading you! God bless you. My warmest wishes. Love and hugs. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 5/26/2025 8:36:00 AM (part two) Dearest Besma, my soulful poetry sister, your poetic voice, whether expressed on your esteemed poetic pages, or gratefully found in this modest poet’s comment box, is profound, beautiful, resonant and always deeply respected and truly cherished. My avid reader, I am deeply moved by the thoughts you have so tenderly placed here and I am ever an avid admirer of the wonders of your heart, soul and poetry. Thank you, sweet Besma, for the gift of your friendship. You bring a special enchantment wherever you weave your words into beauty. Warmest wishes, my inspiring poet friend and sister.. ~Susan

Besma Riabi Dziri Date: 5/9/2025 3:06:00 AM Sometimes we need to get lost in many a web, a maze to touch a truth, to clearly see and awaringly think and come to terms with innerstanding.. then we can find the way, the path that leads to the one we are, the one who has become and grown.. the one who has been rescued by their own struggles.. We need to feel that fall to earn the rise.. My dear Susan, my soul poetic sister, YOU are your very creation of a journey of your own, a life, a poetry, a wonder of your own! You profoundly touch readers worlds by your words who have themselves reached and touched the depths of realities, fantasies, truths, insights.. Your closing pondering lines of volumes! Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 5/26/2025 8:27:00 AM Dearest Besma, it's truly wonderful to see you! My sweet poetry sis, your presence here casts a golden glow upon my humble verse, enriching them beyond what my mere words could ever hope to do. I adore your thoughts so beautifully expressed, especially "one who has been rescued by their own struggles" and "We need to feel that fall to earn the rise". Indeed, you are a poetess of great insight, courage and empathy. I have always felt your poetic presence to be palpable and powerful. (part 1)

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 5/9/2025 1:23:00 AM - "I create poetry because I love to pluck things" ... and you do it with skill, Susan :) - An excellent poem :) - Have a lovely weekend :) - hugs Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 5/24/2025 8:28:00 AM Dear Anne-Lise, thank you for your gracious visit and gratifying response to my poem. I am touched by your kind words. I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

Sand Blown Date: 5/8/2025 12:08:00 PM Wowza man....."....my own knots...clouds ...tragedy...(but!)....not unhappy.... marionette....".....len Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 5/24/2025 8:26:00 AM Dear Len, thank you for your gracious visit and wonderful "Wowza!" Your response to my poem is uplifting, my poet friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Paige Hind Date: 5/8/2025 11:42:00 AM Wow, wow. I love all your unique metaphors. You really do have control of our "strings" and make us reading, happen. Gorgeous, gifted work. Enjoyed - <3 Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 5/20/2025 11:53:00 AM Dear Paige, please accept my apologies for my delayed response to your amazing comments. Life is crazy these days. Your poetic presence and kindness is uplifting and truly appreciated. Thank you, my poet friend, your hearts shines! Warmest wishes.. ~Susan