Susan Ashley | + Follow Poet |
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Sea Glass

A lonely life  it’s not easy being a fisher’s wife 
but loneliness can be a compassionate companion

unbridled spite of bucking boss-mare-waves followed you ashore
her turmoil roiled the blood in your veins
and no amount of vodka 
could flatline her seething heartbeat inside you

I saw her in your storm-full eyes  eyes the color of stormy seas
you wore your hair in dark waves like hers   a windblown tangle
I saw her in your storm-full eyes   spindrift and steel blue —
rage of the Bering Sea against a canvas-sky the portrait of your eyes

your tongue-shard slashed at me like a broken bottle in hand
word-squalls blew and fist-storms
flew like splintered glass 
piercing me to my marrow till I glistened 
but… I could never glisten like her unblemished face at dawn

years of boss-mare-waves ground you down – razor edges worn smooth
your storm-tossed-heart now floats.. a lost raft on a tamed tsunami 
your flat-sea-eyes the ancient blue of glacier ice
frosted over   dull   yet with a faint glow of stories you can’t tell
as you search a cognitive wasteland for words as harmless as sea glass

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Len Gasun Date: 9/1/2024 4:02:00 AM An exquisite write my dearest poet friend Susan. Your poem reminds me of mom when I was still young. She used to go to the beach close to our home to walk, unwind and at the same time wait for my dad's arrival with his caught and raft. I love this a lot and see it won. Congratulations on your win and this excellent write! Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you always and your writings. Hugs Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/6/2024 12:39:00 PM Dearest Len, my inspiring poet friend, I'm so glad to share in your youthful memories of your mom waiting on the beach for your dad. Thank you for sharing your memory and for sharing in the imagery of this poem with me. Your golden presence brightens my day! Your kindness and heartwarming congrats are both truly appreciated. Warmest wishes and hugs.. ~Susan

Sara Kendrick Date: 8/30/2024 1:25:00 AM I can feel the emotion raging within the brain of the character represented in the lines of your winning work. Way to go. Congratulations on your win. Sara K Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/30/2024 8:44:00 AM Dear Sara, thank you for sharing in the emotions and imagery of this poem with me. I'm so glad you could feel the rage of the sea embodied in my poem's dark character. Your gracious visit and kind congrats are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Andrea Dietrich Date: 8/28/2024 3:37:00 PM I see you won with this descriptive write. Big congrats, Susan. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/30/2024 8:41:00 AM Thank you, dear Andrea, for your gracious visit and kind congrats. Warmest wishes my friend.. ~Susan

Joseph May Date: 8/26/2024 11:37:00 AM The power of the sea makes captives of those who ride her waves, Well penned Susan Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/26/2024 11:54:00 AM Dear Joseph, your comment is so eloquent, poetic and very much appreciated. Thank you for your gracious visit! It's nice to see you. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Sam Kauffman Date: 8/19/2024 12:01:00 PM My Dearest Rhyme Time Friend, congratulations on your win. Your poem speaks loudly of a shattered life like the shattered glass on a beach through "bucking boss-mare waves," your eloquent phrases of eyes frosted over "yet with a faint glow of stories you can't tell." The elegance of your metaphors that flow through each line is matchless. And through all the roiling waves of life you look for words harmless as sea glass. Amazing, as always. Blessings to you on gentle waves poetry sis! Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/25/2024 8:46:00 AM My Dearest Rhyme Time Friend, please accept my apologies for my late reply to your beautiful, insightful comments. Life has been spilling the brim with busy-ness around here lately :) Thank you truly for sharing in the imagery and emotions of this piece with me, my sweet friend. Your comments are a gem to be appreciated for their value and beauty. Your precious thoughts are ever inspiring and always amazing! It seems like our poetic paths haven't crossed much lately, my soulful poetry sis, I have to visit your creative pages soon. Warmest wishes and hugs sent on gentle ocean riffles.. ~Susan

poemtheart poemtheart Date: 8/6/2024 1:55:00 AM Absolutely loved this, well and truly beautiful. Great flow and imagery.. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/25/2024 8:36:00 AM Dear poemtheart, please accept my apologies for my late reply to your beautiful comments. Life has been spilling the brim with busy-ness around here lately :) Thank you truly for your gracious visit. Your thoughts are treasured and inspiring. I will be by to visit your poetry soon. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Charlotte Puddifoot Date: 7/27/2024 1:33:00 PM wow, a deep piece, as deep as the ocean itself..beautifully written, as all your poems are - congrats on another win in craig's contest! Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/25/2024 8:33:00 AM Dear Charlotte, inspiring poet friend, please accept my apologies for my late reply to your treasured comments. Thank you for your gracious visit and kind congrats. They are as appreciated as your amazing poetry! It's an honor to share the podium with you once again. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Andrea Dietrich Date: 7/25/2024 8:02:00 PM Wow I really like this Congrats, Susan Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/25/2024 8:28:00 AM Dear Andrea, please accept my apologies for my late reply to your comment and kind congrats. Thank you truly for your gracious visit. Warmest wishes my inspiring friend.. ~Susan

I Am Anaya Date: 7/25/2024 12:45:00 PM Let's raise our glasses now, poetess.. here's to you! "clink" bottoms up lol! ;) Congrats and warmest wishes & xhugs Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/25/2024 8:25:00 AM My dear poet friend Anaya, please accept my apologies for my late reply to your gracious return visit and kind congrats. I'm late to the party but hopefully there's more bubbly to uncork! :) I raise my glass to you and your poetic talent and let's raise a glass together to poetry friendship! "click" bottoms up lol! Warmest wishes and hugs always.. ~Susan

Ink Empress Date: 7/23/2024 11:11:00 PM Loneliness sometimes can be a compassionate companion too i agree, what a deeply moving write this is dear poetic soul, you have a way with playing around with words and delivering poems that truly are touching and poignant. I felt the depth of what youv conveyed here in such a clever manner. I especially loved “ your storm-tossed-heart floats like a lost raft on a pond your flat-sea-eyes the ancient blue of glacier ice” that his s deep! Heartfelt write. Congratulations on your win. Always a pleasure reading your work Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/25/2024 8:20:00 AM Dear Ink, my wonderful poet friend, please accept my apologies for my late reply to your beautiful, insightful comments. Life has been spilling the brim with busy-ness around here lately :) Thank you truly for your gracious visit and kind congrats. Your thoughts are treasured and inspiring. Warmest wishes soulful poetess.. ~Susan

David Crandall Date: 7/21/2024 8:55:00 PM Lots of dramatic, exciting, powerful language. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 7/22/2024 6:45:00 AM Dear David, thank you for sharing in the emotions and imagery of this poem with me. Your response to my poem is appreciated as is your gracious visit. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Victor Buhagiar Date: 7/21/2024 9:02:00 AM Your imagery excels. A great poem. Best for a win. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 7/21/2024 10:54:00 AM Dear Victor, I am uplifted by your wonderful comments. Thank you for your gracious visit and kindness. Warmest wishes my poet friend.. ~Susan

Mystic Rose Rose Date: 7/21/2024 3:29:00 AM This is so well written and very good. I really enjoyed the read, gl in the contest, I see a winner by far ! Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 7/21/2024 10:53:00 AM Dear Rose, your sunny presence here brightens my day! Thank you for your uplifting assessment of my poem. I'm so glad to know you enjoyed it! Warmest wishes my poet friend.. ~Susan

Tom Woody Date: 7/20/2024 5:12:00 PM Okay, I love your style and take on the theme but I read it a few times and am wondering... is it his love for the sea she's jealous of or another woman? If the sea great use of metaphor. Or you may wish to keep it ambiguous lol. Either way I enjoyed my visit Login to Reply Tom Woody Date: 7/21/2024 11:05:00 AM Sigh. You're so good Susan Ashley Date: 7/21/2024 10:45:00 AM Dear Tom, thank you for your wonderful visit and thoughtful question about the "wife". The "unbridled spite of bucking boss-mare-waves" conveys the relentless and violent nature of the sea, which follows the fisherman ashore and continues to affect his life and the relationship with his wife. The "turmoil" of the sea "roiled the blood in your veins," speaks to the deep emotional/physical disturbance that no amount of "vodka" can quell. This sets a tone of inner struggle and unresolved conflict for them both. So the wife is not jealous of the sea but she is negatively affected by the sea, and she sees that he embodies the harsh sea in his actions, eyes and hair, yet knows he admires the (unblemished) beauty of the calm sea at dawn in a way he never would admire her.. the wife. I hope this all makes sense, my friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Suze

I Am Anaya Date: 7/20/2024 1:08:00 PM She is compelling, her tale of a lonely life, such is the rage that unfolds, with metaphors spellbinding dramatic and chilling "yet with a faint glow of stories you can’t tell as you search a cognitive wasteland for words now as harmless as sea glass" she unloads in the end, she is a magnificent and brilliant storyteller, Susan. Gifted indeed! a pleasure to read. xhugs~Anaya Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 7/21/2024 10:35:00 AM Dearest Anaya, I am overwhelmed by the dramatic beauty of your comments! Thank you for sharing in this poem's upheaval of emotions with me. I am touched, inspired, honored, humbled and uplifted by your amazing thoughts. Your brilliant presence here brightens my day! Let's raise our glasses my poet friend.. here's to you! "clink" bottoms up lol! Warmest wishes and hugs.. ~Susan

Paige Hind Date: 7/20/2024 11:28:00 AM This is so raw, just amazing- is this about your father? I am in awe at the flow of your words....such a gift. <3 Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 7/20/2024 11:35:00 AM Dear Paige, soulful poetess, it's so wonderful to see you! No, this poem is not about my dad. I'm so glad that you found the emotions of this poem to be "raw". Thank you for sharing in the emotions/imagery of this poem with me. Your thoughts are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes my creative friend.. ~Susan