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Loneliness

Inside this Gothic womb, now but only a cold cavernous hollow the votive flames steal away in puffs of smoke as I kneel, atom-like, lost in loneliness. Alabaster angels hungrily swallow empty space till they break - bleeding prayers seeking life’s meaning darkly staining the stained glass windows with nothingness. Susan Ashley February 18, 2019 ~ First Place ~ Contest: April 2019 Premier 11 (Max Eight Lines) Sponsor: Brian Strand ~ Tenth Place ~ Premiere Contest: Reflect That Emotion Premier Sponsor: Nina Parmenter

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Vince Suzadail Jr.

Date: 10/3/2022 11:50:00 AM

Congrats on this one.

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/3/2022 3:15:00 PM

Thank you for your kind visit and heartwarming congrats, Vince. Both are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Regina Mcintosh

Date: 3/4/2021 8:26:00 PM

So talented you are, my friend... A blessing to read your poetry... I love this. God bless you always, Love, Gina

Susan Ashley
Date: 3/6/2021 9:23:00 AM

Dear Gina, it is such a pleasure to have your creative presence grace my poem. Thank you for your uplifting words, I am both humbled and honored by your kind and generous thoughts. Warmest wishes and love to you, my friend.. ~Susan

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 6/2/2019 1:43:00 PM

and wow that makes THREE!

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/8/2019 9:36:00 PM

Thank you for the lovely spirit of your comment, Andrea. You are appreciated, dear poetess. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Kurt Ravidas

Date: 5/15/2019 2:47:00 AM

Gorgeous lonely gothic. Congrats, Susan)

Susan Ashley
Date: 5/15/2019 8:01:00 PM

Thank you for your gracious visit, Kurt. Your lovely comment and kind congrats are a joy to receive. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Sandra Haight

Date: 5/13/2019 11:59:00 AM

Susan, a belated congratulations on your well-deserved Trophy win for this excellent poem! Hugs, Sandra

Susan Ashley
Date: 5/13/2019 10:31:00 PM

Thank you for the kindness of your congrats and for your wonderful comments, Sandra. It's always a great pleasure to hear from you and I'm so pleased that you enjoyed my poem. Warmest wishes always my lovely friend.. ~Susan

Anisha Dutta

Date: 5/2/2019 9:07:00 AM

SUPER EXCELLENT. Big Congrats to win top

Susan Ashley
Date: 5/3/2019 8:26:00 AM

Thank you, Anisha, your lovely comments and heartwarming congrats are a joy to receive.. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Gary Smith

Date: 5/2/2019 5:47:00 AM

Excellent poetry Susan, much enjoyed. Congrats. :)

Susan Ashley
Date: 5/3/2019 8:25:00 AM

Thank you, Gary, your sweet comments and kind congrats are a joy to receive. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Beata Agustin

Date: 5/1/2019 9:10:00 AM

Wow! Congrats! Thanks for sharing your talent. God bless you.

Susan Ashley
Date: 5/1/2019 7:30:00 PM

Thank you for sharing your precious thoughts with me, Beata. Your gracious presence and heartwarming congrats are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Kenneth Brenner

Date: 5/1/2019 5:57:00 AM

Susan!!!..im so honored to share the winners circle with you.just a short time ago you congratulated me..may I do the same.

Susan Ashley
Date: 5/1/2019 7:28:00 PM

I am the one that is honored to share in the podium win with you, Kenneth, and humbled by your gracious comments. Thank you for your kind words and heartwarming congrats. Most appreciated, my friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Lu Loo

Date: 4/14/2019 1:12:00 PM

love the metaphors! Great poem indeed...thanks for sharing :)-luloo

Susan Ashley
Date: 4/15/2019 5:34:00 PM

Thank you for sharing your precious thoughts with me, Lu. Your gracious presence is truly appreciated. Warmest wishes always, my lovely friend.. ~Susan

Chris Hagy

Date: 4/1/2019 9:19:00 PM

So sad and beautiful Susan...love your words "bleeding prayers".

Susan Ashley
Date: 4/5/2019 6:24:00 PM

Thank you, Chris, for your heartfelt comments and gracious visit. Both are truly appreciated. It's such a wonderful pleasure to hear from you. Warmest wishes always, my friend, and please accept my apologies for my late reply.. ~Susan

Mubarika Sami

Date: 3/30/2019 6:17:00 PM

Hi Susan You are incredibly talented. Your poem captures the darkness of loneliness in a truly unique way!

Susan Ashley
Date: 4/5/2019 6:26:00 PM

Thank you, Mubarika, for the honor of your generous comments and your gracious visit. Both are truly appreciated. I'm so pleased to know you enjoyed my poem. Warmest wishes always and please accept my apologies for my late reply.. ~Susan

Ralph Sergi

Date: 3/30/2019 6:07:00 PM

Hi Susan: You really personified loneliness. Well done!

Susan Ashley
Date: 4/5/2019 6:23:00 PM

Thank you, Ralph, for your heartfelt comments and gracious visit. Both are truly appreciated. It's such a wonderful pleasure to hear from you. Warmest wishes always, my friend, and please accept my apologies for my late reply.. ~Susan

Darlene De Beaulieu

Date: 3/20/2019 1:49:00 PM

Hello Susan,yes that is loneliness for sure. Have a nice day my friend.

Susan Ashley
Date: 4/5/2019 6:21:00 PM

Thank you, Darlene, for your heartfelt comments and gracious visit. Both are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes always, my lovely friend, and please accept my apologies for my late reply.. ~Susan

Gershon Wolf

Date: 3/14/2019 1:23:00 PM

Back with congrats on your win, (and a message for you in soup mail). Best wishes, Gershon

Susan Ashley
Date: 4/5/2019 6:20:00 PM

Thank you for your heartwarming congrats, Gershon. It's always a pleasure to hear from you and I'm so pleased that you enjoyed my poem. Please accept my apologies for my late reply. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 3/13/2019 9:52:00 AM

This dark piece is brilliantly written Susan. Congratulations on your win! : ) xxoo

Susan Ashley
Date: 4/5/2019 6:11:00 PM

Thank you for the kindness of your congrats and for your wonderful comments, Connie. It's always a great pleasure to hear from you and I'm so pleased that you enjoyed my poem. Warmest wishes always my lovely friend and please accept my apologies for my late replay.. ~Susan

Vladislav Raven

Date: 3/2/2019 11:38:00 AM

Hi Susan, loneliness is something I seem to have always felt. I know this feeling well. You have captured its essence in this exceptional write. Congratulations on your placement in the contest. It is nice to read a few poems from you again. This is a true poetic gem. A fave. Have a wonderful Saturday. Hugs....Mike. XX

Susan Ashley
Date: 4/5/2019 6:18:00 PM

Thank you for your wonderful and heartfelt comments, Mike, and your kind congrats and fav are truly appreciated as well. It's always a pleasure to hear from you and I'm so pleased that you enjoyed my poem, but it saddens me to know that you are intimately acquainted with this feeling of loneliness. Please accept my apologies for my late reply. Warmest wishes always my wonderful friend.. ~Susan

Wren Rushing

Date: 3/1/2019 11:10:00 AM

You have captured the feeling of loneliness in your wonderfully written poem. Have a blessed weekend Susan my dear friend!

Susan Ashley
Date: 4/5/2019 6:10:00 PM

Thank you for your wonderful comments, Wren. It's always a pleasure to hear from you and I'm so pleased that you enjoyed my poem. Please accept my apologies for my late reply. Warmest wishes and blessings always.. ~Susan

Robert Lindley

Date: 2/28/2019 9:06:00 AM

I previously replied and now it does not show. This my dear friend your usual exceptional high standard of great poetry. A fav a true gem.. .

Robert Lindley
Date: 2/28/2019 9:58:00 PM

I am still peeved about my missing(vanishing) comments. Something bad amiss with that methinks..

Susan Ashley
Date: 2/28/2019 8:23:00 PM

Thank you, my dear friend, for your uplifting comments and your fav. Your valued presence and esteemed feedback fills me with inspiration and delight. It pleases me immensely to know that you enjoyed my poem, Robert. Warmest wishes to you always my wonderful friend.. ~Susan

Gershon Wolf

Date: 2/27/2019 10:33:00 AM

I really like this, Susan. Really, really. It's a FAVE for me. I especially like the blending of the religious imagery with the atomization/alienation motif. Very, very effectively executed! (soupmail). Best wishes always, Gershon

Susan Ashley
Date: 2/28/2019 8:18:00 PM

I'm thrilled to receive this praise from a talented poet, such as yourself, my dear Gershon. Your precious comments and your fav are uplifting and truly appreciated. Warmest wishes always, my wonderful friend.. ~Susan (Soup mail)

Chuck Melugin

Date: 2/27/2019 5:21:00 AM

My Dear Susan, Excellence emits from your heart to your pen because you are poetry!

Susan Ashley
Date: 2/28/2019 8:15:00 PM

My dear Chuck, you never fail to bring me joy with your uplifting presence and inspiration with your heartwarming comments. Thank you for sharing your kindness with me and for the smiles your words bring. Warmest wishes always, my wonderful friend.. ~Susan

Line Gauthier

Date: 2/25/2019 6:30:00 PM

Loveluy, Susan. Congrats on your win.

Susan Ashley
Date: 2/28/2019 8:11:00 PM

Thank you, Line, for your kind congrats and lovely comment. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Andrew Fairchild

Date: 2/24/2019 1:29:00 AM

OH! WOW! I like yours better than mine! So powerful, such a strong sense of place, such excellent use of objects around you. Beautiful! Loneliness is just an empty ache, isn't it.

Susan Ashley
Date: 2/28/2019 8:10:00 PM

Indeed, loneliness can be an empty ache that sometimes just can't be filled.. Thank you, Andrew, for your uplifting comments, it pleases me immensely to know that you enjoyed my poem.. I thought the emotional tension in your poem was really outstanding and powerful as well, my friend. My warmest wishes to you always.. ~Susan

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 2/23/2019 11:49:00 AM

Vivid in its darkness!! Congrats on your intense depiction of this emotion.

Susan Ashley
Date: 2/28/2019 8:04:00 PM

Thank you, Andrea, for your heartfelt comments and very kind congrats. Both are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes always, my friend.. ~Susan

Laura Leiser

Date: 2/23/2019 11:03:00 AM

You captured loneliness in all its dark, gothic complexities, Susan. Your imaginative descriptions are brilliant! Congrats on your win :)

Susan Ashley
Date: 2/28/2019 8:03:00 PM

Thank you for the kindness of your congrats and for your wonderful comments, Laura. It's always a pleasure to hear from you and I'm so pleased that you enjoyed my poem. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan