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Notes About The Poem

July 22, 2025

~ Third Place ~
Premiere Contest: Those We Love
Sponsor: Mystic Rose Rose

~ Poem Of The Week ~
July 27, 2025

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Those We love

Oh, those we love don't go away, 
they walk beside us everyday.
Their murmurs soft, a tree leaf whisper
defrosts my heart that did grow crisper

with grief that stained inside and out
when I embraced and lived with doubt
that voices lost to yesteryear
would still be here in atmosphere,

but breezy hands they brush my shoulder
and shake the lilacs, zephyrs bolder
as wind-tossed-scent awakens my recall
of purple June bouquets that did enthrall. 

Ah, souvenirs and picture frames
can flare or tame my mourning flames.
Our days once filled with cheer and dare,
alas, souls fly as sheer as air,

or sit to contemplate as still as moss,
they come to help alleviate my loss.
I see them in rejiggered shapes of clouds
or gold of sunshine warmth spilled over crowds;

I catch a glimpse in happy eyes
and sense they’re there in spirits' guise.
A moment here and then they’re gone,
beyond white angel-air-chiffon.

I’ve come to know and feel inside
that never-ending, they’ll reside
within my heart and everywhere…
to sense them near, fulfills my prayer.

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Eric Cohen Date: 9/17/2025 8:21:00 PM Beautiful blend of skill and emotion makes this resonate. Poetry at its finest. Best to you. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/19/2025 3:42:00 PM Dear Eric, thank you for your gracious visit and for sharing your inspiring thoughts about my poem. You are appreciated. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Ann Peck Date: 8/28/2025 1:45:00 PM Dearest Susan, A nother beautiful poem. It gently speaks to me as I feel spirits all around. Some spirits have moved on, I've been here so long. Your words are a haunting melody, dear Susan. Congratulations on your win and POTW! Wonderful! Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/7/2025 9:56:00 AM Dear Ann, it wonderful to see you! Thank you for sharing in the emotions and imagery of my poem with me and for letting my words "gently speak to you". I am both deeply touched and honored by your soulful thoughts. Your kind congrats are received with my truest appreciation. Warmest wishes, my dear poet friend.. ~Susan

Gordon Mcconnell Date: 8/20/2025 10:08:00 AM Such a beautiful piece Susan penned with such moving tone and effectively done. Have a blessed day,Gordon Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/21/2025 7:59:00 AM Dear Gordon, it’s wonderful to see you! I hope all has been well with you and yours. Thank you for your heartwarming comments. They are received with gratitude and joy. Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

Valsa George Date: 8/19/2025 6:29:00 AM "Polaroid moments in mindful frames can flare or tame these mournful flames." Lovely lines.... ! Memories can either aggravate or ease our pain. We often feel the presence of those whom we love, though they are not with us now or may have departed to another world forever. We hear their voices in the susurrus of leaves , in the faces of those who smile in love. Whenever we are in doubt or in pain, their spirits come to us making us feel that we are not alone but they are also beside us. "I’ve come to know and feel inside that never-ending, they’ll reside within me always, and everywhere." This knowledge makes our trials less severe. Beautifully written dear Susan. Congratulations on your POTW Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/21/2025 7:56:00 AM Dearest Valsa, gifted poet and sweet friend, thank you for your beautiful and thoughtful words. They shine with your radiant spirit. Indeed, feeling like our departed loved ones are still with us eases our grief and “makes our trials less severe”. Beautifully said, my dear friend. That you felt the heart and soul of my poem fills me with gratitude. Your kind congrats fills me with appreciation as well. Warmest wishes, sweet lady.. ~Susan

Charles Messina Date: 8/19/2025 2:48:00 AM Beautifully written my dear friend, Susan. You always put that special touch to your poetry. Love it! Belated Congratulations on POTW! Warmest wishes, Charlie Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/20/2025 1:10:00 PM Dear Charles, my poet friend, it's wonderful to see you! Thank you for your beautiful thoughts and kind congrats. I'm so happy to know you "love it"! That means a lot to me. Your poetry friendship and warm words are ever appreciated. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Hilda Greenhough Date: 8/17/2025 7:22:00 PM I feel the love in your words. This was a comforting poem. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/18/2025 8:00:00 PM Dear Hilda, I’m gratified to know that you found my poem to be comforting- that’s means so much to me. Thank you for your kindness and for your precious thoughts. Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

Michael Coy Date: 8/16/2025 2:32:00 PM Heartfelt nostalgia for people and times which we have loved and lost is a major theme of poets of every epoch, and therefore hard to attempt, because it's not easy to come at it with a fresh, striking approach. You, of course, pull it off with seeming ease. I especially liked "angel-air-chiffon". Well done! Michael Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/17/2025 8:28:00 AM Dear Michael, indeed, the theme of love lost is timeless in its appeal, and our attempts and abilities to express it will never go out of style so long as we use creative expression as we continue to evolve in our own artistic language. Thank you for your uplifting words. They are received with joy and gratitude. I'm glad to know you like "angel-air-chiffon". It's wonderful to know what resonates... Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Andrea Dietrich Date: 8/12/2025 5:51:00 PM I see this got POTD. Way to go, Susan. I noticed you have sure garnered many trophy wins, even on the current front page Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/16/2025 5:56:00 PM Dear Andrea, I relish your recognition and kindness. Your poetic spirit is inspiring and appreciated. Thank you, my poet friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Crystol Woods Date: 8/4/2025 6:13:00 AM Gorgeous language imagery that settles on the ear like a haunted whisper... in the minds eye like a half remembered dream. Truly i feel like I've heard this in some long ago night. Touching! Xoxo Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/8/2025 7:54:00 AM Dearest Crystol, thank you for your return visit and for your precious thoughts. They are treasured! Thank you for sharing in the emotions and imagery of this poem with me. I'm gratified to know that my verse whispered softly to you and touched your heart. Your comments touch my heart, my dear poet friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Andrea Dietrich Date: 8/4/2025 1:47:00 AM Congrats. This is quite lovely Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/8/2025 7:32:00 AM Dear Andrea, thank you for your kins congrats and heartwarming words. Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

David Crandall Date: 8/3/2025 7:23:00 PM Beautifully expressed poem about departed, but not really departed, loved ones. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/8/2025 7:34:00 AM Dear David, thank you for your lovely thoughts and gracious visit. Indeed, our loved ones are "departed, but not really departed". Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

Paghunda Zahid Date: 8/2/2025 9:53:00 AM POTW, wow lady you write so well. Congratulations. I love your poems. Keep writing. Cheers Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/8/2025 7:35:00 AM Dear Paghunda, it's so wonderful to see you! Thank you for your gracious visit and kind congrats. I'm humbled and honored by your lovely thoughts. Warmest wishes, my poetry friend.. ~Susan

Robert Pettit Date: 7/31/2025 2:47:00 PM Glad I came across this one! This work definitely deserved recognition as a poem of the week. You have combined great descriptiveness and rhyming here. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/8/2025 7:37:00 AM Dear Robert, thank you for sharing in the emotions and imagery of this poem with me. Your gracious presence and beautiful thoughts are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Arlo Parker Date: 7/31/2025 2:21:00 PM Everything you write is POTW, SA! Congrats. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/8/2025 7:39:00 AM Dear AP, I'm honored and humbled by your words. Thank you for your gracious visit and heartwarming congrats. Your poetic presence here is truly appreciated. Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~SA

Benjamin Bartley Date: 7/31/2025 8:43:00 AM Congratulations on making the grade of one of 52 poems featured as POTW!!! Amazing poem and very well crafted. Very worthy. Thanks for sharing! Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/8/2025 7:42:00 AM Dear Benjamin, it's wonderful to see you! Thank you for your gracious visit and inspiring comments. I receive your kind congrats with joy and I'm so pleased to know that your enjoyed my poem. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Kim Rodrigues Date: 7/31/2025 6:12:00 AM Congrats on POTW! … Breezy hands, they touch my shoulder, rustling lilac plumes and growing bolder Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 7/31/2025 9:12:00 AM Dear Kim, it's a joy to see you and receive your heartwarming congrats. I'm so glad to know you enjoyed that line.. I'm rather fond of it myself :) Thank you for your gracious visit, my poet friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Brenda Chiri Date: 7/31/2025 3:42:00 AM I’m back my dear sane sissy!;) and now you should have gotten first place my dear sister!:o shall I take care of it for you? Lmmfao! But I am back and can’t wait to catch up!;) Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/8/2025 7:50:00 AM Dearest insane sissy! I'm celebrating your return with the unicorns. Yes, they're still naughty; shooting champagne corks at each other lol! Hurry over, come fill your glass, the bubbly is flowing and so is my happiness to see you, my dear friend. No need to re-shuffle the contest standings.. lol! You're still crazy after all these years.. haha! Warmest wishes and hugs to you, Dragon Fire.. ~Illum

ropah privy Date: 7/29/2025 11:47:00 AM this is so heartwhelming good one!!! Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 7/31/2025 9:04:00 AM Dear Ropah, thank you for your wonderful visit and lovely comment. I'm so pleased to know that your enjoyed my poem. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Unseeking Seeker Date: 7/29/2025 2:56:00 AM Back again with congratulations on POTW, Susan. Beautiful poem, worth revisiting. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 7/31/2025 9:06:00 AM Dear Seeker, it's so thoughtful of you to return with your heartwarming congrats and inspiring words. Your shining presence elevates my poem to a higher level. Thank you, my dear poet friend.. ~Susan

I Am Anaya Date: 7/28/2025 9:40:00 AM You've warmed my heart with perfect rhyme and your humble prayer. Photos make our memorable times come alive, but without them we have our spirit guide and those we love beside in mind and soul. Lovely poetry, Susan. Congratulations on your POTW! Cheers_Anaya Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/8/2025 7:44:00 AM Dearest Anaya, it greatly warms my heart to know that my verse has warmed your poetic heart. Thank you for sharing in the imagery and emotions of this poem with me. Your treasured comments and kind congrats are held in my truest appreciation. Warmest wishes and cheers, my poet friend.. ~Susan

Paula Goldsmith Date: 7/28/2025 8:28:00 AM Congratulations on your POTW win. I enjoyed reading your wonderful "Those We love" write. Have a blessed day/week with your win........... Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 7/31/2025 9:10:00 AM Dear Paula, thank your for your wonderful visit. Your kind congrats and lovely thoughts are surely appreciated. I'm so happy to know that you enjoyed my poem. Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

Sara Etgen-Baker Date: 7/28/2025 3:44:00 AM returning to congratulate you, Susan, on your POTD designation. A beautifully penned poem, well deserving of POTD. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 7/31/2025 9:08:00 AM Dear Sara, it's wonderfully thoughtful of you to return with your heartwarming congrats and inspiring words. Your poetic presence here adds luster to my humble poem. Thank you, my sweet poet friend.. ~Susan

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 7/28/2025 2:00:00 AM - A beautiful poem, Susan :) - Congratulations on your p.o.t.w. ... enjoy :) - hugs Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 7/31/2025 9:02:00 AM Dear Anne-Lise, it's a joy to see you and receive your beautiful comments. Thank you, my poet friend, for your heartwarming congrats. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 7/27/2025 5:17:00 PM Dear Susan, Okay, It’s gentle and gorgeous like a warm breeze through memories. You’ve somehow, yes, I do know how because you are a great poet and you captured how loss lingers, not as absence, but presence in disguise. Feels like a hug from beyond. Congrats on POTW! Summer Blessings, My Dear Susan, Daniel Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/8/2025 7:21:00 AM Dear Daniel, I'm both humbled and honored to receive your uplifting words. Your treasured thoughts lift me to beyond the clouds where I rejoice for the gift of your poetry friendship; such is the power of your written word whether in the comment box or upon your poetry page. Thank you for sharing in the emotions and imagery of this poem with me. Indeed, "loss lingers, not as absence, but presence in disguise." Your poetic soul sees it clearly. Your kind congrats and gracious visit are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes, my esteemed poet friend.. ~Susan

Richard Lamoureux Date: 7/27/2025 4:09:00 PM Damn this is beautiful! Congratulations on POTW. This is very comforting to read. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 7/31/2025 9:00:00 AM Dear Richard, Your response to my poem fills me with joy and appreciation. I'm so glad to know that your found it comforting, that's exactly the feeling I wanted it to have. Thank you for your gracious visit and for your kind congrats. Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

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