Susan Ashley | + Follow Poet |
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In The Chill By My Windowsill I Sit Alone

Oh! How I despise dawn’s blushing optimism
and dried hydrangea blooms sepia skinned and papery thin.
Humdrum hands beat doldrums drum.

Why won’t the summer solstice light this darkness?
A gnawing hollow where my heart should be.
Where cinder clouds float in negative space
memories collect like nesting sparrows beneath eaves.

I stray, a waif lost with my armful of loss.
Your death did steal my breath and heartbeat like a thief
while October’s wind trembled aspens like harp strings.



(Ten Poem Titles)

The Corruption Of My Lust For Life 
Autumn Side Of September 
Mundane Matters Of Mortals 
Theft Of My Will To Survive 
In Woes And Throes Of Sorrow 
A Vanilla Dove 
Escape Of The Bluesman’s Song 
The Sham Of My Humanity 
Death Is The Bane Of My Existence 
The Shedding Trees Of Autumn

Copyright © Susan Ashley | Year Posted 2024

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Darlene De Beaulieu Date: 2/15/2025 3:36:00 PM Hello Susan, was it difficult to take ten lines from ten poems ,to do another type of poem? Hugs. /Darlene/ Login to Reply Darlene De Beaulieu Date: 2/16/2025 4:24:00 PM Hello Susan my dear friend, Well it was hard for you to this poem. I think you did it very well. I am mourning the loss of my cat right now. i feel her loss. I had no choice to put her down Susan she was sick. Warmest wishes. /Darlene/ Susan Ashley Date: 2/15/2025 7:55:00 PM Hello my dear friend, Darlene, yes it was a lot harder then I thought it would be. A very good challenge. It’s great to see you, my poet friend. Thank you for your lovely visit and kind words. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Terrell Martin Date: 1/27/2025 11:58:00 AM Interesting concept of 10 lines from different poems. Are they your poems or from others? Just curious and highly impressed with the poem regardless of origins. Lots of wonderful imagery. Write on, Terrell Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 1/29/2025 10:37:00 AM Dear Terrell, yes 10 lines had to be taken from 10 different poems, that I composed, to recreate a new poem for a contest sponsored by Silent One. All the poems listed are still posted here on my poetry pages. It was a fun and very challenging contest. Thank you for sharing in the emotion and imagery of my poem. It's always a pleasure to hear from you my poet friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Suzanne Delaney Date: 1/19/2025 8:48:00 AM Dear Susan This poem is a beautiful seamless poem and I would never guess it was composed of lines from different poems. Such a vivid image of aspens in the closing line. Beautiful my friend. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 1/23/2025 7:45:00 AM Dear SuZ, it's always so wonderful when you visit my poetry page! Thank you for your heartwarming and uplifting words. They are a joy to receive and they are held in my deepest appreciation. I'm so glad to know you thought the last line was a vivid finale.. that means a lot to me coming from a gifted poet as yourself. Warmest wishes my poet friend.. ~Susan

Jan Allison Date: 1/11/2025 11:13:00 AM beautifully composed Susan you are an amazing wordsmith, this is a joy to read,Iespecially love the hydrangea line as I have one in my garden given to me as an anniversary gift from my late friend Rose. I think of her every day. hugs Jan xx Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 1/12/2025 8:00:00 AM Dear Jan, it's wonderful to see you! Happy 2025 to you, my poet friend. Thank you for sharing in this poem with me. Your precious thoughts are held in appreciation. I adore hydrangeas and we have several in our garden.. I especially love their decayed fall beauty when the blooms dry and become sepia skinned and papery thin. I'm glad your hydrangea brings you comfort in the memories and thoughts of your dear late friend Rose. May she rest in eternal peace. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Gary Radice Date: 1/2/2025 8:50:00 AM A superb poem Susan, constructed and expertly put together seamlessly from what was a difficult brief. Cheers - Gary Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 1/6/2025 10:53:00 AM Dear Gary, thank you for your gracious visit and inspiring words. I am ever encouraged and heartened by your wonderful poetic presence. Warmest wishes my poet friend.. ~Susan

Victor Buhagiar Date: 12/31/2024 10:45:00 AM Excellent composition. You chose ten lines and produced a wonderful poem. May I wish you a Happy New Year. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 1/1/2025 8:57:00 AM Dear Victor, my poet friend, thank you for your gracious visit and wonderful response to my poem. Your wish for my happiness in the new year is gratefully received. Warmest wishes, to you too, for a wonderful and happy new year.. ~Susan

Michael Tor Date: 12/31/2024 1:04:00 AM Your sentiments in this Free Verse Susan are wonderfully written. Your words create an atmosphere and message we all can relate to and understand. This is an exceptional entry for Silent One's contest, I am sure he will love it...May your have a happier, and healthier, safe and prosperous New Year and may the good Lord Richly bless you. Hugs... Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/31/2024 7:42:00 AM Dear Michael, I revel in your wonderful response to my poem. I hope Silent One agrees with you in his assessment of my verse, but if not, I will have the honor and satisfaction of knowing that you, my esteemed poet friend, thought it worthy.. and that's more than enough for me :) Thank you for sharing in the imagery of this piece with me and for expressing your valued thoughts. Warmest wishes for a new year full of blessings and poetic inspiration.. ~ Susan

Andrea Dietrich Date: 12/27/2024 9:10:00 AM Oh gosh. Yet another gem using ten lines of different poems. Silent One has made this very difficult by adding even more entries!! Yours is a stunner. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/27/2024 7:08:00 PM Dear Andrea, I relish your wonderful response to my poem. This contest challenge was difficult in itself never mind the extra entries. The poems I read for the contest were excellent, especially your poem “A September Day’s Ending Sonata”. So beautiful! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Frederic Parker Date: 12/23/2024 4:34:00 PM Dear poet, dear friend you have woven the lines you plucked with perfection, Merry Christmas...dear friend, dear poet...Frederic Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/24/2024 7:51:00 PM Dear Frederic, dear friend dear poet, your beautiful response to my poem fills me with gratitude, for both your kindness and your friendship. Thank you for the joy you bring. Wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas.. ~Susan

Darlene De Beaulieu Date: 12/23/2024 3:13:00 PM Hello Susan, I sense this to be a winner. Merry Christmas. All the best for the New Year. Hugs. /Darlene/ Login to Reply Darlene De Beaulieu Date: 12/25/2024 4:38:00 AM Hello Susan, Thank you Susan. I am sure it will. Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Hugs. Year. Susan Ashley Date: 12/24/2024 7:44:00 PM Dear Darlene, it’s a joy when you visit my page. May your golden pen be blessed with lots of inspiration in the new year. Hugs and Merry Christmas :) Darlene De Beaulieu Date: 12/24/2024 10:48:00 AM Hello Susan, Nice to see you. You are welcome. Merry Christmas. all the best for the New Year. My good sweet friend. /Darlene/ Susan Ashley Date: 12/24/2024 10:35:00 AM Dear Darlene, thank you for your uplifting vote of confidence. Your gracious visit is truly appreciated. Warmest wishes to you for a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, my sweet friend.. ~Susan

David Crandall Date: 12/23/2024 2:16:00 PM Amazing, it fits together, making perfect sense as a poem, as well as expressing a depressed, grieving emotion, and yet from ten different one. Impressive. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/24/2024 10:33:00 AM Dear David, I revel in your wonderful response to my poem. Thank you for your uplifting words and gracious visit. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Unseeking Seeker Date: 12/22/2024 6:45:00 PM Fabulous! All the best for the contest, Susan. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/22/2024 7:14:00 PM Dear US, you’re fabulous! :) Thank you for your gracious visit and uplifting words. Warmest wishes my poet friend.. ~Susan

Paige Hind Date: 12/22/2024 5:17:00 PM This is a fav for me. It's haunting and beautiful. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/22/2024 7:02:00 PM Dear Paige, thank you for your uplifting words and for the honor of your fav! I’m so pleased to know you enjoyed my poem. Warmest wishes my Piet friend.. ~Susan

Tom Woody Date: 12/22/2024 1:25:00 PM Aww this is so good and of course, quite melancholy. You do well with any theme. I had one up but after reading a few others I pulled it. Wishing you well Suze Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/22/2024 7:12:00 PM Dear Tom, I’m inspired by your heartwarming response to my poem. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I don’t know why.. but I love melancholy poems, songs, books.. though I’m a really upbeat and happy person. Go figure.. I wish I would have had a chance to read your poem for this contest. I bet it was excellent. Maybe repost it..? Please consider it, my poet friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan