Susan Ashley Poet Sonnet

Notes About The Poem

July 16, 2025

~ Tenth Place ~
Premiere Contest: 2025 Poetry Marathon Mile 23
Sponsor: Mark Toney

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River Woman

Awakened, I returned. A stream in Spring
to flow and grow on nature’s snow-melt milk.
I came to be of earth and sky; a fling. 
My sire, a winter storm. Like liquid silk 

emerging, I was born; a water child.
Between two banks I nestled with my dreams
and bloomed a gangly creek ‘til solstice. Wild
I played, not meek but sleek. I crested seams,

a juvenile with snaky curves and speed. 
Mid June rebellion, ripples bared, I’d run
as sweet as rum and swelled with rain, (a)greed;
the gasoline with which my wish was spun.

By August dusk, a river woman reigned!
Oh, stars—those studs—did rise, as if ordained.

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Mark Toney October 25, 2025 at 11:18 AM Susan, love your self-aware journey from a “gAnGLy creek ‘til solstice,” then “a stream in Spring” and finally “a river woman reigned,” attended to by ‘star-studded’ skies. :-) Not to mention the creative typography. Congratulations on your top 10 win on Mile 23 of my 2025 Poetry Marathon Contest. Keep your running shoes on, because Mile 24 has already started. Only 3 more miles to go before the Qualifiers’ Final Placement contest! Susan Ashley October 31, 2025 at 7:58 AM Dear Mark, I relish your beautiful comments and kind congrats. I'm gratified to know that you enjoyed the creative typography.. that was really a fun aspect in writing this poem. I'm thrilled to be among the gifted poets on your win list. Thank you for my poem's placement in your esteemed contest. I can see the finish line from here :)) Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

Richard Evans August 21, 2025 at 9:14 AM Nice poem Susan. Aesthetic to say the least. I dig the line "Between two banks I nestled with my dreams". Thanks for sharing.................peace! Susan Ashley August 23, 2025 at 7:13 AM Dear Ricky, my inspiring poet friend, it's wonderful to see you! Thank you for sharing in this summer sonnet with me where creative punctuation was encouraged and fun to incorporate. I'm so glad to know that you dug the 'dreams' line, it's gratifying to know what resonated with you. Warmest wishes, my dear poet friend.. ~Susan

Michael Coy August 11, 2025 at 12:54 PM Susan, The very least I could do was to answer your excellent review with a few humble observations. First, I LOVE the games you play with orthography – parentheses, hyphens, seemingly random capitalisation, and so forth. Next, your extended river-nymph metaphor is a sheer joy. I am maybe missing by a mile, but my guess is, you’re a fan of Gerard Manley Hopkins. Water is the universe, the universe is water – exquisite! Susan Ashley August 16, 2025 at 8:20 PM Dear Michael, your gracious visit is receiving with my truest appreciation. I’m so glad you enjoyed my poem especially the loose use of orthography. The ‘creative punctuation’ was an option offered in the contest by the sponsor and I fully embraced the experimentation.. in the end I enjoyed using punctuation in this way and will probably use it in the future. Thank you for you inspiring comments. I’m honored to be sure. Yes I am a fan of Hopkins and his splendid poems The Windhover and Pied Beauty as well as his wonderful use of hyphens and expressive language. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

CayCay Godwin July 25, 2025 at 11:28 PM You've got meter and playful spackling running about, bold letters, dashes, parens, even studs and other w/o end. It's a poem riot. What fun you must have had creating this masterpiece. I have assigned myself challenges most of my life and I may take a long time with them, but I love the conquering, know you do, too (it's what we breathe and need, gets us high.) This put a smile on my face. I had a good time with this poem and none of the rioters hurt me. CayCay Susan Ashley July 30, 2025 at 10:54 AM Dear CayCay, it's wonderful to see you on my poem's page and amongst the many pages of PS again! I'm so glad to know that this poem put a smile on your face. Yes the creative punctuation was a fun contest challenge. I didn't know what to do with it at first, but then I started to experiment with it and I was amazed at how creative use of punctuation could animate the words in a different way. Your thoughtful comments put a smile on my face, my dear poet friend... and happy that none of the rioters hurt you :)) Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Richard Lamoureux July 19, 2025 at 2:47 PM This is really well expressed. I suspect if will do well in the contest. Susan Ashley July 20, 2025 at 9:46 AM Dear Richard, thank you for your uplifting words and for having faith in my poem. Your gracious visit and kindness is most appreciated. Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

Sam Kauffman July 18, 2025 at 11:28 AM My Dearest Rhyme Time Friend, you always take me to new heights with your poetry! Love your experiments with punctuation - definitely a measure of your immense creativity! And, the image of a river as infant, child and then woman is so creative - so fresh - only you could take me on a journey with her through her seasons and stages of life. I love "a juvenile with snaky curves!" Just made me smile. Your river lives! Sending you blessings flowing on living waters, sweet poetry sis! Susan Ashley July 20, 2025 at 9:53 AM My Dearest Rhyme Time Friend, I relish scaling new poetic heights with you!:) I'm so glad you enjoyed my experimental punctuation.. it was a really wonderful contest challenge. Thank you for taking the journey with me as the stream grew from a water-child to a river-woman, reaching her full potential, changing and growing with the passing seasons of spring and summer. Your comments are as beautiful as they are treasured, and your gracious visit made me smile, my sweet poetry sis. Your golden presence brightens my poem's page so wonderfully. Warmest wishes sent on ripples of joy.. ~Susan

Rowena Velasco July 18, 2025 at 4:24 AM Your words flow as beautifully as the river you describe, Susan. The vivid imagery and rhythm capture the wild, evolving spirit of nature—and life—so well. A truly lyrical journey! Susan Ashley July 20, 2025 at 9:29 AM Dear Rowena, I'm thrilled that you felt my poem to be a lyrical journey! Your comments are beautiful and heartwarming and fill me with appreciation for your poetic presence. Thank you for gracing my poem with your light and insight. Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

Bill Baker July 17, 2025 at 5:50 PM Your creativity abounds in this fine Sonnet, Susan. I always enjoy a well-written Sonnet. Thanks for sharing this one with us today, my friend. A poet friend in Texas, Bill Susan Ashley July 19, 2025 at 10:01 AM Dear Bill, my poet friend in Texas, I'm thrilled that you found my sonnet creative and enjoyable.. that's just what I was going for! :) Thank you for your wonderful visit and inspiring words. They are treasured along with your friendship. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Paige Hind July 17, 2025 at 12:30 PM Gosh, wow - I'm speechless. Your metaphors are really so truly original - and I so admire you for that. Amazing. Susan Ashley July 19, 2025 at 8:32 AM Dear Paige, your wonderful response to my poem fills me with joy and gratitude. Thank you for your touching words. I'm both humbled and honored.. and heart-warmed too. I'm so happy to know you enjoyed my poem. Warmest wishes, my sweet poet friend.. ~Susan

Charlotte Puddifoot July 17, 2025 at 7:23 AM extraordinary contemporary sonnet, i absolutely love it! are you a water sign by any chance? Susan Ashley July 19, 2025 at 8:28 AM Dear Charlotte, I relish that you "absolutely love" my poem! Thank you for your uplifting comments, they are treasured. Since I'm a Libra, I'm an Air sign.. but judging by most of my poetry, you could think I am a water sign... though I do write about the wind pretty often too but maybe not as much as water.. hehe! I'm as long-winded as a winding river, that's for sure, lol! Warmest wishes, my inspiring poet friend.. ~Susan