Susan Ashley | + Follow Poet |
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Spirits Of Saturn

The avalanche crashed   an ax from nimbus peaks
these shrouds a pall   a maul splitting my shield
this smur slurs my weakened war paint
my skin  my beat  my breath  my breast
gray matter clouds —a pock-marked-psyche wears the ruse of ceruse

cosmos charity clouds once white like daylight   once light as sea foam  
blown and flown to the expanse of ether   airy spirits afloat
now a iron-heart-anvil    I’m horizontal
..an empty fossil-frame pressed into earth

these clouds  these shrouds  upon me
around me   about me   they cry
my lantern dampened  they know why
cataract-clouds dimmed my gaze
they’ve simmered and condensed
they’ve become incensed
they drape me  a caterwaul shawl

oh mamma sky   your cirrus streams my suckle sweet
nourish my flourish  rock me  frock me  your cumulus crib and fleece
from nest on high  fledge me bluebird spry
freckle me starling’s starlight speckle
myself the Milky Way instead of ash-of-flame remains
constellated skin depicts our myth and marrow sagas 
my mouth alive with words of the winds
iambic tranquilize of zephyrs sweeping wheat  
and lyric wrath of gales aggrieved   stripping leaves from trees
with barnstormer speech
cleanse my lens with see-through-rain till wet with reflection
that upends the blur and burr of clouds crashing down
— keep them  mamma sky  beyond where they belong

so I may return and re-emerge — reimagined

Copyright © Susan Ashley | Year Posted 2024

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Rob Carmack Date: 10/22/2024 1:50:00 PM Beautiful. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 10/24/2024 7:38:00 AM Dear Rob, thank you for your visit and touching comment. I'm so glad you enjoyed this poem. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Valsa George Date: 10/12/2024 1:57:00 AM If the term Poet extraordinaire can be used to refer to anyone, it is to you , dear gifted poet friend. Certainly you are at a level apart.....! No wonder you walk away with the trophy most of the time. Your knowledge of astral space and the cloud formation and how it affects one' s emotions are astounding. Though most of the poem is unintelligible to me, I could sense the confusion you experience and your struggle to reemerge with resilience . This is all that l could somehow understand. Yet from the tone and timbre, l feel, this is something exceptionally above ordinary paradigms..My hearty congratulations on this outstanding and much deserved win, sweet friend. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 10/14/2024 5:41:00 PM Dearest Valsa, my inspiring poetry friend, I cannot help but be humbled by the nuanced beauty of your treasured comments. Indeed, it's an honor to receive your lovely thoughts. Thank you for sharing in the contrasting emotions of this poem with me where the narrator explores the realms of personal struggle, anguish while feeling the need, want and challenge of rising above it; to find a nurturing force inside, outside and around oneself that will feed one's rejuvenation and renewal. Your heartwarming congrats are truly appreciated as is your shining friendship. Warmest wishes my sweet, creative friend.. ~Susan

Unseeking Seeker Date: 9/14/2024 8:35:00 PM Delighted to have come across this exquisite poem portraying contrasting emotions, artistically weaved in expressions of a totally other level! Amazing! I see it is a trophy winner too. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/15/2024 9:25:00 PM Dear US, I’m delighted to have received your gracious visit and beautiful response to my poem. Thank you for sharing your thoughts so eloquently with me, they are uplifting and they are treasured. Warmest wishes my poet friend.. ~Susan

Sally Eslinger Date: 9/14/2024 6:38:00 AM Here deserving a huge Wow! I love the internal rhyming and the alliteration. Congrats as well. Blessings… Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/14/2024 9:54:00 AM Dear Sally, thank you for sharing in the imagery and emotions of this poem with me. I'm so glad to know what you enjoyed about this piece. I relish your gracious visit and kind congrats. Your lovely poetic presence is uplifting! Warmest wishes my soulful poet friend.. ~Susan

Tom Woody Date: 9/6/2024 5:21:00 PM Well this must be Susan Ashley month! If Charlotte admits to not understanding it all I don't feel so bad. But you've got a flair for language - and the dramatic. Another trophy under your winning belt! Login to Reply Tom Woody Date: 9/7/2024 9:16:00 AM :) Susan Ashley Date: 9/7/2024 8:35:00 AM Dear Tom, thank you for your gracious visit and wonderful thoughts. In essence, this poem explores the realm of personal struggle and anguish, and the need, want and challenge of rising above it; to find a nurturing force inside, outside and around oneself that feeds one’s rejuvenation and renewal.. for what is life but a series of dualities like; upheaval and harmony, hope and doubt, chaos and order, heaven and hell.. cosmic forces, spiritual, physical and mental that we experience in our human existence.. but the ability to re-emerge unbroken from hardship is where we may find the blessings of internal peace, comfort and satisfaction. I hope this all makes sense hehe! Warmest wishes my poet friend.. ~Suze

Paige Hind Date: 9/6/2024 12:44:00 PM Congrats on your win! :) Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/6/2024 4:13:00 PM Dear Paige, thank you for the delight of your return visit with your kind congrats. Warmest wishes my friend.. ~Susan

Paula Goldsmith Date: 9/6/2024 11:34:00 AM Back with Congratulations on your win. I enjoyed reading your wonderful "Spirits Of Saturn" write again. Have a wonderful/blessed day with your win as you go writing away............. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/6/2024 4:15:00 PM Dear Paula, thank you for the delight of your return visit with your kind congrats. Enjoy a wonderful weekend my friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 9/6/2024 4:41:00 AM Dear Susan, What a great progression from a state of being overwhelmed and crushed by negative forces to seeking comfort, nourishment, and ultimately rebirth from nature. By the very end , I felt a note of hope of renewal and reimagining , that even after great turmoil, there's potential for recovery and transformation. By The Way Congrats! - Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/7/2024 9:08:00 AM Dear Daniel, my wonderful poet friend, your insightful and beautiful assessment of my poem is truly appreciated. You see through the clouds to the heart of my poem with ease and express your thoughts with finesse. Thank you for sharing in the emotions and imagery of this poem with me. I relish your visit and kind congrats. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Silent One Date: 9/5/2024 12:58:00 PM Congratulations on your first place... Your poem presents a vivid, dynamic journey through emotional and mental turmoil, using powerful imagery of nature—particularly clouds, storms, and the sky—to depict internal struggles and eventual yearning for transformation. It masterfully intertwines themes of chaos, suffocation, and renewal, using striking metaphors and rhythmic language that convey both tension and release. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/7/2024 9:04:00 AM Dear Silent One, indeed, your capture the essence of my poem with insightful beauty and poetic finesse. Thank you for sharing in the emotions and imagery of this poem with me. Your lovely comments and kind congrats are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes my dear friend.. ~Susan

Paul Callus Date: 9/5/2024 12:37:00 PM This is no poem for the faint-hearted, Susan! A reader who wants to understand all you have in mind must be ready to find the courage to read and reread, mostly between the lines. It is a poem peppered with metaphors, alliterations, and striking creative phrases which have your trademark stamped on them. ~ Congratulations on yet another merited trophy, my friend! Warm regards & Hugs // paul Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/7/2024 8:43:00 AM Dear Paul, you are a warrior poet for sure! Ready to forge ahead, behind the sometimes vague lines to seek and find the elusive meanings of phrases hiding behind poetic devices - indeed, not for the faint-hearted! But you always succeed in your mission my dear poet friend :) I can always count on that! Thank you for sharing in the emotions and imagery of this poem with me. Your masterful ability to read between the lines is ever admired and your inspiring comments and kind congrats are ever appreciated. Warmest wishes and hugs.. ~Susan

Sam Kauffman Date: 9/5/2024 10:53:00 AM My Dearest Rhyme Time Friend, your artistry with words is revealed on the canvas of this trophy winning work! Every line is a masterpiece of word choice, images and alliteration that creates poetry of resurrection born from metaphoric chaos. This is truly a stunning "avalanche" of awesome poetry where I lay wrapped in its wonder! Congratulations on your trophy win! Sending you blessings that return to you over and over, sweet poetry sis! Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/7/2024 8:05:00 AM My Dearest Rhyme Time Friend, I am ever inspired by the perception and expression of your poetic heart and imagination. Thank you for feeling and experiencing this "avalanche" of verses with me. Your precious comments are held in the depths of my soul alongside your shining poetry friendship. Your kind congrats are treasured my sweet poetry sis! Warmest wishes and hugs sent on feathery cirrus streams.. ~Susan

Crystol Woods Date: 9/5/2024 7:43:00 AM Yay Susan!! So happy to see you've excelled again with your beautiful poetry! I'm a huge fan and you never disappoint. The way you describe the sky... masterful. Bless you my friend! Xo Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/6/2024 4:24:00 PM Dear Crystal, gifted poetess, so happy to see you! Your joyous spirit brightens my page and my day. I’m truly honored and humbled by your kindness. Your precious thoughts are treasured my sweet friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Karen Croft Date: 9/5/2024 6:16:00 AM Congratulations on a great poem! Everything flows so well. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/6/2024 4:16:00 PM Dear Karen, thank you for your wonderful visit and kind congrats. I relish your lovely thoughts. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Kim Rodrigues Date: 9/5/2024 4:54:00 AM cataract-clouds dimmed my gaze…Congrats on your top win, Susan! Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/6/2024 4:18:00 PM Dear Kim, thank you for your gracious visit and kind congrats. I’m glad to know that phrase stood out for you. I relish your wonderful words. Warmest wishes my friend.. ~Susan

Charlotte Puddifoot Date: 9/5/2024 3:30:00 AM you've produced yet another top winner, susan! where do i begin? it's a deep, layered poem, and i don't profess to fully understand it all, but the mystery is part of the charm..a tour de force of language, a romp through metaphor, alliteration and internal rhyme, with some great unusual word combos ("freckle me a starling's starlight speckle" - love that! how do you come up with these lines?) incredible writing - congrats on your 1st place in my contest! :) Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/6/2024 4:32:00 PM Thank you my dear friend Crystol. Your thoughts are truly appreciated :) Susan Ashley Date: 9/6/2024 4:31:00 PM Dear Charlotte, gifted poet, I am thrilled to receive your critique and congrats for my poem’s placement in your esteemed contest. Your thoughts are held in my highest regard as you know how much I admire and adore your awesome poetry. I’m honored to share the podium with all the talented poets on your list. Thank you for finding my poem worthy of my placement. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan Crystol Woods Date: 9/5/2024 7:45:00 AM I totally agree! What unique language! <3

Susan Lawrence Date: 9/3/2024 7:26:00 PM Cont. Time and space. I am always grateful to be a part of your astral revelatory realm . A gift indeed ! Love and hugs sent on white wings . Always in my thoughts you are dear friend. Love, Susan :) Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/7/2024 7:54:00 AM Thank you for your amazing visit and for your willingness to travel verses and universes with me. We are star sisters for sure! Your precious thoughts and words and spirit, you so graciously share with me, are treasured gifts received with gratitude. Warmest wishes, love and hugs sent on white wings of light and joy.. ~Susan

Susan Lawrence Date: 9/3/2024 7:24:00 PM .. keep them mamma sky beyond where they belong so I may return and re-emerge — reimagined. Dearest Susan Poet, friend, how blessed I am to read this poem of yours at this very moment as the sky outside has been thundering, dipping and furling its wild colors and dimensional motion with with lightning and hail teasing the senses. Your poem has brought me in and out of many lifetimes and your vision and perception always amaze me. Thank you for allowing me to take this journey with you through Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/7/2024 7:46:00 AM Dearest Susan, my poet friend extraordinaire, it's so wonderful to see you and reunite in the realm of poetry, where our hearts and imaginations journey through kingdoms of time and space and past lives that entwine and grow like grapevines forever nourishing our need for artistry and expression, both our own, and seeking the beauty of creativity and revelation in each others creative works, and those creators of art that came before us and those that are among us now. Your golden light radiates upon my page and my day, my inspiring poetry sis..

Hilda Greenhough Date: 9/3/2024 6:15:00 PM There is a lot of change in the sky. It has many faces. Thanks for your story. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/3/2024 7:15:00 PM Dear Hilda, yes the sky shows us many moods and faces. Thank you for your wonderful words and visit. You are appreciated my friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Paige Hind Date: 9/2/2024 11:49:00 AM A lot to wrap my mind around, Susan....just whoah...I could picture you on the ground, talking to the clouds...a very, very exquisite piece...<3 Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/2/2024 12:11:00 PM Dear Paige, wonderful poet friend, thank you for sharing in the emotions and imagery of this poem with me. Your comments are beautiful and they are received with gratitude. I like that you could picture me talking to the clouds :) Warmest wishes sweet friend.. ~Susan

Paula Goldsmith Date: 9/2/2024 11:22:00 AM I enjoyed reading your your "Spirits Of Saturn" write. The sky is huge/beautiful. I love to see the full moon nights. Have a wonderful day writing away.................. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/2/2024 12:07:00 PM Dear Paula, indeed, the sky is huge/beautiful and full of endless possibilities. Thank you for your lovely thoughts. Your kindness is truly appreciated. Warmest wishes my dear friend.. ~Susan