Susan Ashley Poet Free verse

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. October 3, 2022 at 11:50 AM Congrats on this one. Susan Ashley October 3, 2022 at 3:15 PM Thank you for your kind visit and heartwarming congrats, Vince. Both are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Regina Mcintosh March 4, 2021 at 8:26 PM So talented you are, my friend... A blessing to read your poetry... I love this. God bless you always, Love, Gina Susan Ashley March 6, 2021 at 9:23 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 June 2, 2019 at 1:43 PM and wow that makes THREE! Susan Ashley June 8, 2019 at 9:36 PM Thank you for the lovely spirit of your comment, Andrea. You are appreciated, dear poetess. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Kurt Ravidas May 15, 2019 at 2:47 AM Gorgeous lonely gothic. Congrats, Susan) Susan Ashley May 15, 2019 at 8:01 PM Thank you for your gracious visit, Kurt. Your lovely comment and kind congrats are a joy to receive. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Sandra Haight May 13, 2019 at 11:59 AM Susan, a belated congratulations on your well-deserved Trophy win for this excellent poem! Hugs, Sandra Susan Ashley May 13, 2019 at 10:31 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 May 2, 2019 at 9:07 AM SUPER EXCELLENT. Big Congrats to win top Susan Ashley May 3, 2019 at 8:26 AM Thank you, Anisha, your lovely comments and heartwarming congrats are a joy to receive.. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Gary Smith May 2, 2019 at 5:47 AM Excellent poetry Susan, much enjoyed. Congrats. :) Susan Ashley May 3, 2019 at 8:25 AM Thank you, Gary, your sweet comments and kind congrats are a joy to receive. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Beata Agustin May 1, 2019 at 9:10 AM Wow! Congrats! Thanks for sharing your talent. God bless you. Susan Ashley May 1, 2019 at 7:30 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 May 1, 2019 at 5:57 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 May 1, 2019 at 7:28 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

Beautiful Scars April 14, 2019 at 1:12 PM love the metaphors! Great poem indeed...thanks for sharing :)-luloo Susan Ashley April 15, 2019 at 5:34 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 April 1, 2019 at 9:19 PM So sad and beautiful Susan...love your words "bleeding prayers". Susan Ashley April 5, 2019 at 6:24 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 March 30, 2019 at 6:17 PM Hi Susan You are incredibly talented. Your poem captures the darkness of loneliness in a truly unique way! Susan Ashley April 5, 2019 at 6:26 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 March 30, 2019 at 6:07 PM Hi Susan: You really personified loneliness. Well done! Susan Ashley April 5, 2019 at 6:23 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 March 20, 2019 at 1:49 PM Hello Susan,yes that is loneliness for sure. Have a nice day my friend. Susan Ashley April 5, 2019 at 6:21 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 March 14, 2019 at 1:23 PM Back with congrats on your win, (and a message for you in soup mail). Best wishes, Gershon Susan Ashley April 5, 2019 at 6:20 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 March 13, 2019 at 9:52 AM This dark piece is brilliantly written Susan. Congratulations on your win! : ) xxoo Susan Ashley April 5, 2019 at 6:11 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 March 2, 2019 at 11:38 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 April 5, 2019 at 6:18 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 March 1, 2019 at 11:10 AM You have captured the feeling of loneliness in your wonderfully written poem. Have a blessed weekend Susan my dear friend! Susan Ashley April 5, 2019 at 6:10 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 February 28, 2019 at 9:06 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 February 28, 2019 at 9:58 PM I am still peeved about my missing(vanishing) comments. Something bad amiss with that methinks.. Susan Ashley February 28, 2019 at 8:23 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 February 27, 2019 at 10:33 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 February 28, 2019 at 8:18 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 February 27, 2019 at 5:21 AM My Dear Susan, Excellence emits from your heart to your pen because you are poetry! Susan Ashley February 28, 2019 at 8:15 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 February 25, 2019 at 6:30 PM Loveluy, Susan. Congrats on your win. Susan Ashley February 28, 2019 at 8:11 PM Thank you, Line, for your kind congrats and lovely comment. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Andrew Fairchild February 24, 2019 at 1:29 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 February 28, 2019 at 8:10 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 February 23, 2019 at 11:49 AM Vivid in its darkness!! Congrats on your intense depiction of this emotion. Susan Ashley February 28, 2019 at 8:04 PM Thank you, Andrea, for your heartfelt comments and very kind congrats. Both are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes always, my friend.. ~Susan

Laura Leiser February 23, 2019 at 11:03 AM You captured loneliness in all its dark, gothic complexities, Susan. Your imaginative descriptions are brilliant! Congrats on your win :) Susan Ashley February 28, 2019 at 8:03 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

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