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Seashore

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June 5, 2025

~ Fifth Place ~
Premiere Contest: Etheree Of Your Heart
Sponsor: Ink Empress

Sly low tide sneaks up to smooch the smooth shore that holds old footsteps left behind us and lends itself to sand castles standing guard until high tide plovers dart on fleet feet across sodden sands spindle-legged girls hunt conch shells — starfish found! Blue waters glistening aqua appeal — white horse sea-magic spindrift manes rise from crests awakened from lowest ebb high tide arrives on thunder hooves body-surf Neptune’s steeds to the shore — my wet hair dries to sun-bleached beachy waves…

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Jack Horne

Date: 7/16/2025 3:58:00 AM

You've taken me to the seaside with this amazing write, my friend - so difficult with a short form such as this but your work hits the mark every time

Susan Ashley
Date: 7/18/2025 7:51:00 AM

Dear Jack, my inspiring poet friend, thank you for coming along to the seashore to experience the beautiful and magnificent Atlantic coast with me. My friends and I were the "spindle-legged girls" hunting for shells and body surfing the curling waves, way, way, back in the day. We grew up at the beach and I still treasure my time there. My footsteps were left behind back then, and they are still left behind these days too when my husband and I walk the shore. Though at our age, we don't body surf the large waves anymore though haha! Your kindness is truly appreciated, my poet friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Linda Alice Fowler

Date: 7/15/2025 9:36:00 AM

An enchanting seaside dance Susan. :)

Susan Ashley
Date: 7/18/2025 7:40:00 AM

Dear Linda, I'm so glad your enjoyed the "seaside dance". Your comment is truly beautiful and touches my heart. Thank you for your inspiring visit and for your kindness. Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

Line Gauthier

Date: 7/12/2025 11:04:00 AM

Beautiful shape ~ a charming poem with great presentation

Susan Ashley
Date: 7/12/2025 11:12:00 AM

Thank you, dear Line, for your wonderful visit and encouraging words. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Darlene De Beaulieu

Date: 7/2/2025 11:37:00 AM

Hello Susan, I love the way you paint your words to this poem. I vision myself at the seaside with these words of your poem. Hugs.my friend. /Darlene/

Darlene De Beaulieu
Date: 7/4/2025 11:01:00 AM

Hello Susan, Your poem made me feel like i was there. We had a great time. Warmth wishes, Darlene/

Susan Ashley
Date: 7/4/2025 8:32:00 AM

Dear Darlene, thank you for your treasured thoughts! I'm so happy my verse took you to the seashore with me.. a wonderful trip :) Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

Sam Kauffman

Date: 6/30/2025 1:50:00 PM

My Dearest Rhyme Time Friend, only a soul who loves the sea as a best friend could write with such heartfelt images of tides, starfish, sand castles and sea birds with such an elegant pen. Your eloquent poem puts me at the seashore waiting for a wave to kiss my toes as they wiggle with delight! Congratulations on your win and on being on the Best New Poems list. Sending you blessings on the wings of waves!

Susan Ashley
Date: 7/1/2025 7:27:00 PM

My Dearest Rhyme Time Friend, it’s sooo wonderful to see you! Your poetic heart and spirit has been truly missed. I’ve not been here consistently for much on this year.. life is overflowing the brim these days in all good ways, which unfortunately takes me away from PS. Yes, I loved growing up on the Massachusetts coast (and I still love living here) with its beautiful beaches and I do “love the sea as a best friend”. You’re so perceptive, my sweet poetry sis. Thank you, for your precious thoughts and kind congrats. So filled with gratitude to have your golden glow gracing my poem. Warmest wishes sent to you on Neptune’s steeds.. ~Susan

Mike Gentile

Date: 6/28/2025 6:06:00 AM

Susan, your Etheree, full of wonderful imagery, sparks my memories! It really is enchanting!! Happy Saturday xxoo

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/28/2025 7:45:00 AM

Dear Mike, it's wonderful to see you! Thank you for your beautiful comments. I'm so glad it sparked summertime memories for you. Your thoughts are treasured, my poet friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Beej Simrov

Date: 6/27/2025 8:05:00 PM

Wow the shape for some reason is something I cannot replicate, and I admire your ability to create a shape that matches the sense of your words! Impressive

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/28/2025 8:09:00 AM

Dear Beej, it's wonderful to see you.. I appreciate your poetic spirit and your meaningful comments. The etheree form itself created the shape of the poem with its syllable count from 1 - 10. This double etheree, the required form for the contest, complied perfectly with my subject matter, (with a wee bit of tweaking.. lol!) so I lucked out in that regard. Thank you for your gracious visit and uplifting words. Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

John Hamilton

Date: 6/26/2025 11:55:00 AM

Very nice Susan, another worthy winner I see. Check soupmail.

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/28/2025 8:04:00 AM

Dear John, thank you for your gracious visit and kind words. Your poetic presence here is truly appreciated. Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

Charles Messina

Date: 6/26/2025 4:18:00 AM

You're at again, Susan...putting that wonderful pen to light! Love this descriptive beachy write. Spindle-legged girls hunting conch shells (lol) so good!! Congratulations on your placement in Ink's contest. Hope all is well...warmest wishes, my dear friend. ~Charlie

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/28/2025 8:02:00 AM

Dear Charlie, it's a wonderful day when your poetic presence graces one of my poems :) Those "Spindle-legged girls" were me and my friends, at the beach all day, during our summers growing up. I went home with a sand pail full of shells and sea glass all the time. I always loved beachcombing. Such wonderful memories for sure. Thank you for sharing in the joy of it all. Your beautiful comments and kind congrats are treasured.. just like the prized conch shell :) Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

Hiya Sharma

Date: 6/25/2025 9:18:00 PM

Dear Susan, what a breathtaking etheree this is, with all the glowing shoreline imagery and the evocative caress of feelings in every line! I absolutely adore your artistic wordsmithery here, especially "Sly low tide sneaks up to smooch the smooth shore that holds old footsteps left behind us" Ah, so much depth and poetic richness there! "body-surf Neptune’s steeds to the shore — my wet hair dries to sun-bleached beachy waves…" Beyond stunning! Your golden quill shines as always, congratulations on this well-deserved win ~ you're an inspiration!! Sending best wishes and love :) this is a FAV

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/28/2025 7:57:00 AM

Dear Hiya, it's wonderful to see you and your beautiful poetry gracing the PS pages again. Your poetic presence has been missed. Thank you for your gracious visit. Your uplifting words of congrats are received with my true appreciation and I'm honored and touched by your fav. You're an inspiration, my sweet poet friend! Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Darlene De Beaulieu

Date: 6/22/2025 12:40:00 PM

Hello Susan Ashley, , i just read this poem. I enjoyed it. I am making it my fav. Hugs. /Darlene/

Darlene De Beaulieu
Date: 6/28/2025 10:35:00 AM

Hello Susan, yes i enjoyed your poem. Your welcome for the fav. I also appreciated to my friend. /Darlene/

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/28/2025 7:51:00 AM

Dear Darlene, I'm so happy to know you enjoyed my poem and I'm honored by your fav. Thank you for your visit, your thoughts touch me deeply. You are ever appreciated, my dear poet friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Charlotte Puddifoot

Date: 6/22/2025 8:15:00 AM

back with congrats - no surprise to see this one on the winners' list :)

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/28/2025 7:50:00 AM

Dear Charlotte, my amazing poet friend, thank you for your kind visit and congrats. Your uplifting thoughts are gratifying and received with appreciation. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Sally Eslinger

Date: 6/22/2025 6:56:00 AM

Congratulations! Excellent! Exceptional! And visually illustrative of waves’ motion! Wow! Love this! xox

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/28/2025 7:48:00 AM

Dear Sally, thank you for your gracious visit and kind congrats! Your thoughts are deeply appreciated and I'm gratified to know that you "love this".. that truly means so much to me. Warmest wishes, my poet friend, it's so nice to see you back again.. ~Susan

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 6/21/2025 9:10:00 AM

Yes you submitted a winner too. Big congrats on a well deserved win. You did so well with your brand new etheree.

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/21/2025 5:44:00 PM

Dear Andrea, thank you for your heartwarming words and big congrats! Much appreciated, my poet friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Beata Agustin

Date: 6/21/2025 5:54:00 AM

Congrats. Thanks for sharing this... God bless you.

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/21/2025 8:00:00 AM

Dear Beata, thank you for your heartwarming congrats and gracious visit. Your poetic presence and warm words are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Ink Empress

Date: 6/21/2025 2:35:00 AM

Dear susan, poetic soul, your opening line is so impressive, i love the wordplay and how youv delivered one that is so oceanic and creative! Especially love “smooch the smooth shore” your use of poetic techniques and the descriptve nature of your imagery is stunning and makes your etheree stand out definitely! As an islander i enjoyed reading this one! Thank you for sharing! Congratulations on your placement! Sending you light always.

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/21/2025 7:58:00 AM

Dear Ink, soulful, poetess, thank you for sharing your beautiful response to my poem with me. I'm truly honored by my poems placement in your contest and thrilled to share the podium with the talented poets on your list. Your heartwarming congrats are appreciated. Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

Bill Baker

Date: 6/19/2025 3:59:00 PM

Lovely Etheree poem, Susan. Great entry for the contest. Bes wishes for your effort. Your words flowed smoothly, and I could feel the rhythm of your words. I enjoyed your use of alliteration, and the ending was captivating. A poet friend in Texas, Bill ... New Icon, Cowboy Tex so you have a new follower. :-)

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/20/2025 7:33:00 AM

Dear Bill, my dear poet friend in Texas, welcome back! I'm happy to hear from you. Your wonderful presence has been sorely missed among the pages of PS! I like your new icon, Cowboy Tex! :) Thank you for your uplifting words and gracious visit. Smiles follow wherever you go, my friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

David Crandall

Date: 6/16/2025 7:31:00 PM

great description of the beach and then a cool metaphor of Neptune's horses!

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/20/2025 7:29:00 AM

Dear Davis, I'm so glad to know you enjoyed "Neptune's steeds", I enjoy that line too :) Thank you for your gracious visit and heartwarming words. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Sara Baker

Date: 6/16/2025 3:41:00 PM

Captivating words and exquisitely constructed Etheree! Impressive. I particularly liked "Sly low tide sneaks up to smooch the smooth shore that holds old footsteps left behind us and lends itself to sand castles." Those words and the final line spoke to me. Well penned, yellow rose

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/20/2025 7:28:00 AM

Dear Yellow Rose, thank you for gracing my poem with your lovely poetic presence. I'm so happy to know of the lines that spoke to you, so glad they resonated! Thank you for your beautiful comments, they are treasured. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Len Gasun

Date: 6/13/2025 6:43:00 PM

A mind blowing beauty and seashore's ethere my dear poet friend Susan. I love it so much. Thanks for sharing this precious gem! Good luck in the contest though I know this will score high! God bless you always and your poetry. Hugs

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/15/2025 8:15:00 PM

Dear Len, my wonderful poet friend, thank you for sharing in the imagery of the seashore with me. I cherish your heartwarming thoughts. I'm so glad to know you love this poem. This poem is very special to me too. Being on the Massachusetts shore of the Atlantic is my most favorite place to be, second only to my wonderful home (not far from the shore :))... Warmest wishes, my inspiring friend.. ~Susan

Ghairo Daniels

Date: 6/13/2025 12:57:00 AM

Lovely imagery. I enjoyed : Neptune’s steeds to the shore. Enjoy your summertime. Blessings. X

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/15/2025 8:09:00 PM

Dear Ghairo, thank you for your uplifting words. I so glad to know you like the "Neptune's steeds" imagery, it's one of my favorite lines in the poem too. Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 6/11/2025 4:07:00 PM

Gorgeous writing as always, Susan

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/11/2025 4:14:00 PM

Dear Andrea, your poetic opinions and inspiring words mean the world to me. Thank you so much, my poet friend, I am truly honored. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Ann Peck

Date: 6/10/2025 12:22:00 PM

Dear Susan, You are a masterful poet! I know little about the ocean, but I felt I could hear the waves, smell the water as I read your beautiful lines!

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/11/2025 10:20:00 AM

Dear Ann, my inspiring and creative friend, thank you for taking a trip to the shore with me. I'm so glad my imagery touched your senses. Being on the shore of the Atlantic has always been my favorite place to be; in its stormy moods as well as its placid days and unbound beauty. Your gracious poetic presence here is truly treasured. Warmest wishes, dear poet and friend.. ~Susan

Charlotte Puddifoot

Date: 6/10/2025 3:06:00 AM

this is an excellent double etheree, susan, full of striking imagery, internal rhyme and alliteration; it should do very well in the contest...thx for visiting and commenting on my work :)

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/11/2025 10:13:00 AM

Dear Charlotte, thank you for your uplifting response to my poem. Your poetic presence and precious thoughts are truly appreciated. You're welcome for my comments on your work. It's always a pleasure to immerse myself in your amazing creative poetry. Warmest wishes, my inspiring poet friend.. ~Susan

Valsa George

Date: 6/9/2025 10:40:00 PM

Dear Sweet susan, your seastrand is vibrant with life and charming with an all pervading beauty where waves and sea creatures dance in harmony. Your alliterations enhance the beauty of your etheree. It also evokes memories of the footsteps left behind and the castles built in sand. You describe beautifully the change of the sea from low tide to high tide as the sea is not constant. "high tide arrives on thunder hooves body-surf Neptune’s steeds to the shore wet beige hair dries to sun-bleached beachy waves…" beautiful concluding lines... of sea horses drying their mane of wet beige hair. Beautiful word pictures.

Susan Ashley
Date: 6/11/2025 10:10:00 AM

Dearest Valsa, lovely poetess, thank you for joining me on a trip to the seashore.. one of my most favorite places to ever be. I grew up spending my summers on the shore of the Atlantic and my friends and I were the "spindle-legged girls" hunting for shells and body surfing the curling waves.. the surf even rougher/higher/faster when the there was a tropical storm/hurricane off shore. We loved it! My footsteps were left behind then, and they are left behind these days too when my husband and I walk the shore. At our age, we don't body surf the large waves anymore though haha! Your beautiful thoughts and gracious presence warms my heart, my sweet poet friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan