Susan Ashley Poet Sonnet

In Belladonna Berries Love Was Paid

With lies you tried to hide your furtive eyes~
but breadcrumbs left impressions you betrayed,
and finding out the truth behind your guise
did shatter loving life that we portrayed.

Through multi-colored shards of memories;
the fierceness of reflections makes me bleed
from humble heart, life-stealing reveries
now crush me like a centipede stampede.

Your fangs were poisonous a thousand bites,
so nonchalant you stabbed me with your sins.
You buried me in shallow grave of smites,
alone, ascetic life for me begins.

My appetite in apathy, man-made;
in belladonna berries love was paid.


Susan Ashley 
January 28, 2018


~ Second Place ~
Contest: English Sonnet Lost Love
Sponsor: John Hamilton

*Required words: Furtive, Nonchalant, Humble, Shallow, Ascetic*

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Kurt Ravidas August 7, 2019 at 5:54 AM Crush me like a centipede if this is not gorgeous sonnet. What a nice morning: 3 perfect poems in a row! Thank you, Susan. Susan Ashley August 10, 2019 at 6:17 PM Oh, my dear friend, sonnet or no sonnet, I would never crush you like a centipede :) Your presence here is as precious as gold, Kurt, and your gracious comments are priceless. Your visit sends my spirit soaring, thank you my wonderful friend. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Gary Smith March 16, 2018 at 6:31 PM I love this sonnet Susan :) Susan Ashley March 17, 2018 at 2:11 PM I relish your wonderful comment and visit Gary! Thank you.. Warmest wishes. ~Susan

Barbara Barry-Nishanian February 18, 2018 at 5:51 PM "Shattered... loving life portrayed" . Wow! So sad happens way too often. Your expressions so deserving of your recognition. Gad met you through this win. bbn Susan Ashley February 19, 2018 at 11:10 AM Thank you Barbara for your awesome comments. I agree, this does happen all too often.. I'm so happy you enjoyed my poem and I truly appreciate your lovely thoughts. I'm so very glad we met through the delight of your visit.. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Eve Roper February 12, 2018 at 6:54 PM Congratulations on your win, Susan, nicely done and enjoyed reading. Hugs Eve ~`* Susan Ashley February 13, 2018 at 2:37 PM Thank you for your wonderful comments and kindhearted congrats Eve. I'm glad you enjoyed my poem and your lovely sentiments are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes. ~Susan

Line Gauthier February 12, 2018 at 2:11 PM What awesome imagery. Well done and congrats on your win, Susan. Susan Ashley February 12, 2018 at 3:13 PM Your lovely comments and kindhearted congrats are treasured, Line. Wonderful sentiments from a wonderful and talented poetess, thank you my friend! Warmest wishes. ~Susan

Mick Talbot February 12, 2018 at 10:20 AM A win for me, centre podium! Mick Susan Ashley February 12, 2018 at 3:10 PM Thank you for your kindhearted comments Mick. Your visits always delight! Warmest wishes. ~Susan

Gershon Wolf February 11, 2018 at 10:03 PM Coming back at you with a Congratulations on a well-deserved trophy! Best always, Gershon Susan Ashley February 12, 2018 at 3:09 PM Please feel free to come back any time Gershon :) Your heartwarming congrats is held in true appreciation. Thank you for the return visit my friend. Warmest wishes. ~Susan

Sandra Haight February 11, 2018 at 3:28 PM Such an amazing Sonnet, Susan, exquisitely written in the perfect form of Pentameter and rhyme! Congratulations on your fine podium win in the contest. Hugs, Sandra Susan Ashley February 11, 2018 at 4:42 PM Coming from you Sandra that is high praise indeed since your poetic talents for sonnets are blissfully amazing. Thank you for your generously heartwarming words and for the kind congrats. Your lovely words are deeply appreciated. Warmest wishes and hugs. ~Susan

John Gondolf February 11, 2018 at 1:57 PM Susan, back to say congrats on your win for this beautifully written sonnet. Nicely done my friend. John Susan Ashley February 11, 2018 at 4:37 PM Thank you John for the delight of your return visit and your heartwarming congrats. Your kind words are cherished my friend. Warmest wishes. ~Susan

John Hamilton February 11, 2018 at 1:33 PM This was just amazing Susan, a 36/40 close to perfect, good enough for shared 2nd place, you are in good company with this write! Susan Ashley February 11, 2018 at 4:35 PM John, thank you for the honor of my placement in your wonderful contest. It was a joy to participate in. I am truly in great company on the winner's list and I appreciate my placement there more than you can imagine. Warmest wishes always. ~Susan

Robert Lindley February 9, 2018 at 2:27 PM My friend, I stand in true awe of this masterful sonnet! You are by any definition a true and extremely talented sonneteer. ""You buried me in shallow grave of smites,"" A fav.................. thank you.. Susan Ashley February 9, 2018 at 7:39 PM Oh Robert, your generous and beautiful response to my sonnet just thrills me. Your words are truly a compliment as I hold your poetic artistry in high regard. Thank you for your wonderful comments and for the lovely fav. Your visits are always such a joy my friend.. ~Susan

Keith O.J. Hunt February 6, 2018 at 11:10 AM Smooth as fine-cut glass... Great poem Susan(!):-) Susan Ashley February 6, 2018 at 7:13 PM Keith, it's a pleasure to see you :) Thank you for your lovely comments. Your wonderful thoughts are deeply appreciated my friend. ~Susan

Mick Talbot February 3, 2018 at 7:16 PM Amazing, Shakespeare eat your heart out! Faved, another contest winner! Best wishes... Mick Susan Ashley February 3, 2018 at 9:04 PM Mick, I am humbled by your generous and uplifting comments. I surely appreciate your beautiful comments and your confidence in my poem. Thank you for your warmhearted words and for the fave.. Warmest wishes ~Susan

Akkina Downing February 2, 2018 at 4:41 PM Oh but you poisoned me with such love my dearest :) hello my Su, been awhile, and hope you're doing as fabulous and your poem is :) simply beautiful as always and I wish you good luck in the contest my awesome friend! Sending you a warm hug, cute smile and sizzle love :) xoxo, Kina Susan Ashley February 3, 2018 at 5:21 PM Greetings my dearest friend Kina! Your lovely face graces my page so nicely :)) I'm thrilled that you enjoyed my poem. I am just fab these days and I hope that you are too my friend! Thank you for you sweet and luscious comments and the wish for luck. Sending back to you big bear hugs, dimpled smiles (which are really cute! :)) and sizzlicious love :)) xoxox ~Su

Probir Gupta February 1, 2018 at 8:33 AM Aah , had I been able to write a sonnet like this one. That is not to be. It is simply extra ordinary ... Excellently done, Susan ... The rhythm in your iambic pentameter is beautiful ... A joy to read ... Susan Ashley February 2, 2018 at 5:52 PM My dear friend Probir, your lovely comments are generous and beautiful. Your presence on my poetry page truly delights me and I want you to know that I adore your luscious poetry my friend. I'm so happy you enjoyed my poem. Warmest wishes..~Susan

CayCay Godwin February 1, 2018 at 5:11 AM Susan - I just saw you on someone's poem and clicked right over. Been praying and praying, but left you alone so u wouldn't feel obligated to write. Tell me something good! Love your sonnet, I didn't attempt iambic pentameter, but believe you pulled it off in this sophisticated sonnet. Beautiful, deep lines, my friend. So good to see you, and I love the poem. All the best (yes, tell me all is 'best') ... CayCay Susan Ashley February 1, 2018 at 9:17 PM Hello my dear friend CayCay, I love it when your sweet face graces my poetry page.. Thank you for your beautiful comments that truly delight me more than you can imagine. I'm so happy you enjoyed this CayCay, that means a lot to me. Your lovely heart and soul are deeply appreciated.. Soupmail! Warmest wishes and hugs ~Susan

Maria Williams January 31, 2018 at 3:59 AM Susan my dear friend, yet another Masterpiece, from your golden pen.Incorporating the words you have blended them in beautifully. Lost Love never looked and sounded so Berrylicious. Not that you need it, I see Winner stamped all over this little gem, however I will say good luck....Maria xxx Susan Ashley January 31, 2018 at 8:06 PM Maria, my dear friend, whenever I see your lovely face on my page I can't help but smile.. Thank you for your shining and uplifting comments that inspire and delight me. As always, your wonderful visit and precious thoughts are deeply appreciated. Warmest wishes and hugs.. ~Susan

Andrea Dietrich January 31, 2018 at 1:33 AM i love how you wove the words so eloquently into this sonnet, Susan. (and what a great line about the centipede stampede) Susan Ashley January 31, 2018 at 7:52 PM Andrea, I'm pleased that you like the 'centipede stampede' line :) Your lovely comment is truly appreciated, thank you for sharing your treasured thoughts with me.. Warmest wishes ~Susan

Gershon Wolf January 30, 2018 at 9:15 PM I sit in awe, marveling at your command of the language: Such striking imagery---"breadcrumbs left impressions; appetite in apathy"---not to mention the turn of the phrase of "love paid in belladonna berries." You are a true "Renaissance Lady of Letters." Thank you for sharing your poesy with us. Kudos! ---Gershon Susan Ashley January 31, 2018 at 7:58 PM Gershon, I am truly humbled by your generous and lovely words of appreciation for my poem. Thank you for sharing your precious thoughts as expressed beautifully in your kindhearted comments, that you enjoyed my poem is deeply gratifying to me.. Warmest wishes my friend.. ~Susan

Richard Lamoureux January 30, 2018 at 7:29 PM Warm wishes back to you. Hugs Rick. Susan Ashley January 30, 2018 at 8:19 PM Thank you Rick for your return visit and the hugs.. and hugs back to you as well.. :))

Nette Onclaud January 30, 2018 at 2:19 PM weaving the words to knit a stunning poem is a gift, susan... well relayed!.. congrats on your win at SO's as well.. huggs Susan Ashley January 30, 2018 at 8:22 PM Thank you for the pleasure of your visit Nette and for your heartwarming comments and very kind congrats. The loveliness of your thoughts are deeply appreciated. Warmest wishes and hugs.. ~Susan

John Gondolf January 30, 2018 at 8:12 AM I really enjoyed reading your sonnet, Susan, you really wove the required words in very well. Best of luck. John Susan Ashley January 30, 2018 at 9:21 AM It it always a pleasure to see you John. Thank you for your lovely comments and the wish for luck. I hold your kind thoughts in true appreciation. Warmest wishes ~Susan

Dale Gregory Cozart January 29, 2018 at 10:54 AM This poem is absolutely gorgeous! You worked in all the words beautifully. Simply luscious. Look like a winner to me. Susan Ashley January 30, 2018 at 9:40 AM Dale, thank you for sharing your lovely thoughts with me. Your wonderful insight and kind comments uplift and inspire me as I continue along this journey. Your poetry friendship is held in true appreciation.. Warmest wishes ~Susan

Paul Callus January 29, 2018 at 10:09 AM Hi Susan...I love your take on this 'lost love' theme; also appreciate the reference to the poisonous effect of the belladonna fruit as compared to love's betrayal. I am not a keen follower of multi-prompt words, but you incorporated them with ease. ~ Warm regards // paul Susan Ashley January 30, 2018 at 9:34 AM Paul, thank you for your lovely thoughts. I'm delighted that you liked the reference of love's betrayal in comparison to the poisonous effects of belladonna berries.. I'm always uplifted and inspired by your keen insights and wonderful comments as I continue to learn.. Warmest wishes my friend.. ~Susan

Richard Lamoureux January 29, 2018 at 8:40 AM You are so good at this form. I really enjoyed this gorgeous piece. Susan Ashley January 30, 2018 at 9:26 AM Richard, I deeply appreciate your lovely visit and your precious thoughts. Thank you for your wonderful comments and it delights me that you enjoyed my poem. My very warmest wishes my friend! ~Susan

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