Susan Ashley Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

March 3, 2025

~ Third Place ~
Premiere Contest: 2025 Poetry Marathon Mile 11
Sponsor: Mark Toney

~ Second Place ~
Contest: Just March 2025 Posted
Sponsor: Brian Strand

~ Ninth Place ~
Premiere Contest: As The Last Petal Falls
Sponsor: Sara Jama

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As The Last Petal Falls

I recline with my cherry tree musings…

a fount of blossoms rise
and curve up from the ground 
up into a heaven-and-cloud scene  
to spread in splendor  a festoon of blooms 
like cumulus-puffs plucked from above
placed in tufts to fluff graceful branches 
plush with clusters the pink of an ingenue’s 
blush captured within her maiden buds 
before she even knew how to bloom

born of Nature’s wealth 
she is rich with frilly flourish
steeped in scent of morning dew —mist and moss
heaped with pollen-gold pursed within
petal-pouches 'til unfurled like hooped petticoats
each bloom thriving with a thrill yet only for the span 
of a brief fantasy conjured by the cosmos

she wears the fuchsia mantle of a romance regent
a spring queen amongst peasant green
but her reign not designed to last beyond
the swoon of April's rouged moon

..and  I  the lowly grateful grass beneath her class
am charmed and soothed 
by the aestheticism of her coral confetti rain 
as her flowers relinquish control  
reaching into their shared soul  
realizing it’s time to let go… falling
oh  f a l l i n g  from heights of her feminine fame—
a shower of rosy carnival streamers
—the curtain call of a nirvana-drama-diva

..and I  the lowly grateful grass beneath her shade
am humbled by the melancholy of her fading beauty
but cheered to wear her eye catching mantle 
and bear her vanilla scented love letters to the earth 
       transforming me 
from the peasantry of chlorophyll unfulfilled 
       transforming me 
from the mundane to the ordained
for in this moment   as you gaze upon me
these staid blades of gravestone grass  —even I 
am  e n c h a n t i n g  as the last petal falls

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Michael Coy August 30, 2025 at 11:36 AM Poems which truly capture Nature have to be founded on intense and sincere observation, as this clearly is. Two things: how lovely is "a festoon of blooms", melding meaning with language - the assonance is to die for! and you deliberately personify the Nature-force as a woman, which is entirely appropriate. As we have come to expect, this is literature of a very high calibre. Susan Ashley September 7, 2025 at 10:15 AM Dear Michael, I revel in the perception of your comments. I’m so glad you appreciate the assonance in “festoon of blooms”, it’s one of my fav phrases in the poem and I’m happy that you appreciate my feminine personification of Nature.. she is a beautiful force! I’m honored by the generous beauty of your thoughts and humbled by your kindness. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Mark Toney August 29, 2025 at 1:21 PM Susan, love your incredible extended metaphor of cherry blossom trees and their falling blossoms and how it relates to time and change. We are surrounded by Cherry Blossom trees where we live, so I’ve not only read your poem, I’ve seen it! The sad thing is they make me sneeze. :-) Congratulations on your third place win on Mile 11 of my 2025 Poetry Marathon Contest. Keep your running shoes on, because Mile 12 has already started. Susan Ashley August 30, 2025 at 9:32 AM Dear Mark, thank you for your beautiful comments regarding my cherry blossom poem, but I'm so sorry to hear of your allergic reaction to their pollen.. I hope my poem did not bring on a sneeze :) Being a hay fever sufferer I can relate to your seasonal suffering. Your kind congrats are received with appreciation and I salute you for your dedication to the Marathon contest. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Sara Kendrick March 15, 2025 at 8:18 AM Congratulations on this one being on the winners' list. Way to go. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. Sara K Susan Ashley March 16, 2025 at 8:48 AM Dear Sara, thank your for your gracious visit and kind words of congrats. Your lovely thoughts are appreciated. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Paige Hind March 14, 2025 at 6:47 PM Breathtaking- I liked your comparisons . "for in this moment as you gaze upon me these plain blades of grass even I am enchanting as the gift of the last pink petal falls" beautiful and final end, that doesn't end. Susan Ashley March 16, 2025 at 8:47 AM Dear Paige, wonderful poet, I relish your kind visit and lovely thoughts. Thank you for spending time with my poem and for letting my verse play upon your heart and imagination. I'm filled with gratitude, my dear friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

thriveni c mysore March 13, 2025 at 12:30 AM classic. congratulations on your win dear poet. cheers!!! Susan Ashley March 13, 2025 at 9:14 AM Dear Thriveni, your gracious visit with kind congrats is truly appreciated. Thank you, my poet friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Constance La France March 10, 2025 at 8:19 PM Susan, you have the gift of words and are a beautiful writer, I love this poem and congratulation on your placement in the contest, blessings ~ Susan Ashley March 13, 2025 at 9:13 AM Dear Constance, I am humbled and honored by your generosity and kindness. Your words are cherished and held in my deepest gratitude. You are a beautiful writer too whose verses shine with your appreciative mindful spirit and the tender gift of empathy. Thank you, my poet friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Zyrool Gifford March 9, 2025 at 9:16 AM Hello Susan,, this is truly a beautiful write, as a reader I was wishing it to be longer as I was throughly enjoying the read. Wishing you a peaceful Sunday, my friend. Susan Ashley March 13, 2025 at 9:07 AM Ah Zyrool, I am touched by your kindness and beautiful spirit. I love the daffodils, I've placed them in an imaginary vase to admire as they bring a bouquet of Spring smiles to my being. Thank you, my dear poet friend.. ~Susan Zyrool Gifford March 13, 2025 at 8:08 AM Hello Susan, my sincere apologies for not once but twice typing your name incorrectly on two of my comments to you. Please accept this bunch of imaginary daffodils, my friend.Stay Blessed. Susan Ashley March 13, 2025 at 7:48 AM Dear Zyrool, wonderful poet, your precious thoughts touch my heart deeply. Thank you for sharing in the emotions and imagery of this piece with me. I am completely honored that you were "wishing it to be longer".. your sweet sentiment feeds my poet's soul. So happy you enjoyed my poem! Warmest wishes to you, my sweet friend.. ~Susan

Ink Empress March 7, 2025 at 10:48 PM Dear susan, poetic genius, perfect day to read this beautiful poem, which depicts a feminine spirit in the most eloquent manner: i love the assonance and alliterations flowing throughout this poem as well as how youv written "and I the lowly grateful grass beneath her shade am humbled by the melancholy of her fading beauty" just beautiful!!! How stunning! Your way with describing things is beyond impressive! Pleasure reading you today: happy womens day! Sending you light always Susan Ashley March 13, 2025 at 7:43 AM Dear Ink, soulful poetess, I'm thrilled by your embrace of the feminine spirit of this poem. I wanted capture a sense of joy in experiencing the soft, graceful quality of this symbolic female entity, and portray a sense gratitude for her lovely presence, even as she ages and her petals fall. Thank you for sharing in the emotions and celebration of this piece with me. Your thoughts are cherished. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Valsa George March 5, 2025 at 10:29 PM Hi Susan, your cherry tree in her blossom glory shines magnificent, but for a very brief period. The 'confetti rain'(oh, how I love that expression!) will soon start and she will be devoid of of all her embellishments. The grass with plain blades under her feet will be gifted with pink petal galore. Susan, your poem is so very striking with celestial images and metaphors! You think in ways no ordinary poet can think. Congratulations, sweet Susan on your win though you deserve greater placement Susan Ashley March 13, 2025 at 7:33 AM Dearest Valsa, lovely poetess, I'm enchanted by the beauty of your comments and grateful to receive your precious thoughts. Indeed, I am humbled by your kindness and honored for your considerate congrats. Your heartfelt words touch my heart deeply. Thank you, my dear sweet friend, for believing in my poetry. You are an inspiration to me always. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

David Crandall March 4, 2025 at 5:26 PM Beautiful poem from the point of view of the grass, nice internal rhymes and alliteration, and we see the cherry tree having its day, and then, for a moment, the grass. Susan Ashley March 5, 2025 at 6:00 AM Dear David, your comments are beautiful and a joy to receive. Yes even the ordinary grass was given its moment of glory. Thank you for sharing in the imagery and emotion of this poem with me. Warmest wishes my poet friend.. ~Susan

Hilda Greenhough March 4, 2025 at 7:00 AM I like the personification of the cherry tree. Your poem shimmers with color and change. I like the last line, "I...am enchanting as the pink gift of the last petal falls". Susan Ashley March 4, 2025 at 9:01 AM Dear Hilda, I appreciate your wonderful visit and your lovely comments. So glad to know you liked my poem and especially the last line. Your words are uplifting, my poet friend, thank you. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan