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Summer Oasis In the Bronx

Dawn awakens, lets yawn red searing sigh,
summer steams sweltering sweating sunlight.
Street's hot bed of coals smolders in July,
temperatures torch with tropical smite.

Haze humid stir-frying Bronx crispy craze,
housing is tinder, youth straggle sapped streets.
Rainstorm naught, nothing to break basting braise,
community chafing white wicked heat.

Day, baked yellow clay, dust dry makes you swoon...
pool of cool baptizing childrens’ new truth;
Mercy! Water main break floods ‘fore high noon,
thirst quenched, street's fluid, flows fountain of youth!

Liquid color splashes in rainbow spray,
heads happily anointed with prism pour.
Black-white exist - gray day grit washed away,
hearts watercolored in need of restore.

Revelry riots in verdant voices,
sprightliness sings in city oasis!
Eyes excite, smiles shine, refresh rejoices,
joie de vivre, full of life faces!

People all ages on sidewalk's sideline,
wish to beat heat but sadly no swim clothes.
‘Boxing ring’ pool, he imagines round nine,
celebrant boy smiles, strikes Jack Dempsey pose!


Susan Ashley
August 25, 2017

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Arturo Michael Date: 12/27/2017 7:24:00 AM I can relate to this... Spent about 2 years on Sheridan in the Bronx... It's worse than fire...You described it very well... I could feel it in your words... Here a Christmas gift I meant to send you... A poem of course... www.poetrysoup.com/poem/my_cup_of_sunshine_923283 ... In these cold times, you feel a little warmer...All the best Susan...A big hug Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 12/28/2017 4:45:00 PM Thank you dear friend for sharing your lovely thoughts and kind comments with me and a special thank you for your beautifully poetic Christmas gift poem which is indeed heartwarming like a mug of delicious hot chocolate on a cold wintry evening. You are a ray of sunshine my friend. Warmest wishes and hugs to you.. ~Susan

Paul Callus Date: 11/30/2017 9:56:00 AM Incidentally I had heard of this incident related to the accompanying photo, Susan. Here you have painted this hot day so well that one can feel the heat coming out of the page! As usual, rhyme and alliteration are definitely not neglected. An NA?!! ~ Warm regards // paul Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 11/30/2017 10:50:00 PM Paul, please share with me what you know of this incident because I don't know the story behind this pic.. I'm very interested. Your uplifting comment is greatly appreciated and I'm glad you could feel the heat lol! It thrills me to know you enjoyed my poem, I relish your thoughts my friend. Yes, sadly I was rather disappointed that my poem did not make the placement list.. Sigh, c'est la vie. My warmest wishes to you ~Susan

Gary Smith Date: 9/15/2017 5:13:00 AM A lovely read Susan, good luck :) Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/15/2017 4:33:00 PM Thank you Gary for your kind comment and well-wishes :)

Cheryl Hoffman Date: 9/9/2017 8:45:00 PM Very creative clever write that made me smile Susan! I bet this will place high in contest! Good luck in it!~Che :) Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/9/2017 9:24:00 PM Hi Che, your warm and wonderful comment made me smile! Thank you SO much for your kind encouragement and much appreciation for your visit :) Susan

Klio Tsitsikroni Date: 8/31/2017 9:56:00 AM Well done, very nice. I enjoyed this. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/31/2017 7:27:00 PM Hi Klio, I'm so very happy that you enjoyed my poem. Thank you for taking the time to visit, read and leave a wonderful comment. Much appreciated friend :)

Joseph May Date: 8/29/2017 9:27:00 PM Love the last line Susan..Very nicely penned.. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/30/2017 8:33:00 PM Thank you Joseph for taking the time to read and comment so kindly. I so appreciate your visits :)

Andrea Dietrich Date: 8/29/2017 5:01:00 PM wow, you put your heart and soul into THIS one, Susan. VERY well done. I am still thinking on this one!! Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/30/2017 8:32:00 PM Thank you Andrea for you kindness and appreciation for my poem. Your comments and visits always mean the world to me. I'm sure that when you write this poem it will be stunning! :)

Judy Ball Date: 8/28/2017 7:52:00 AM Excellent description here. I could see the scene and the relief flooding the faces of the young frolicking in the cool water of the water main. Great job here. From one to 10 this is indeed an 11. God Bless, JB Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/28/2017 1:20:00 PM Wow Judy! Thank you so much for your generous comment! Your visit and the rating is very much appreciated. I'm so glad that you could picture the scene in your mind, I always strive to convey mental images as crisply as possible so I feel like I accomplished that here. Many thank you's Judy :)

Andrea Dietrich Date: 8/27/2017 9:14:00 PM YOu covered so much of summer activitiy, Susan. Wow!! Here I am thinking, I better just choose for my stanzas couplets!!! Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/27/2017 9:30:00 PM Hi Andrea, I so appreciate your comment and your visit! I know I had a lot to say in this poem lol! I know whatever you write for this contest it will be absolutely exquisite that's for sure :)

Jerry T Curtis Date: 8/27/2017 6:38:00 AM With August boasting 105 degrees I can fully appreciate this poem .... Beautiful imagery-------Well done Sue Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/27/2017 9:26:00 PM Hi Jerry, thank you so much for your kind comment and much appreciation for your visit. I'm glad you enjoyed. Have a great night and a better tomorrow :)

Jack Horne Date: 8/26/2017 2:39:00 PM really lovely write here Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/26/2017 3:01:00 PM Hi Jack, thank you very much for your wonderful comment and your visit is so appreciated:)

Arturo Michael Date: 8/26/2017 2:33:00 PM You have that magic with words...Do you paint or play music? It was a pleasure to read your words...Have a nice weekend Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/26/2017 2:56:00 PM Hi Arturo, what a lovely and generous comment! Yes, I've drawn and painted, although it's been awhile. I was a fine arts major in college (about a thousand years ago lol!) but I prefer to color my world with words for my artistic outlet these days. Many thank you's and appreciation for your kindness and your visit. I hope you have a wonderful weekend as well my friend :)

Dale Gregory Cozart Date: 8/26/2017 11:02:00 AM I like this very much. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/26/2017 2:50:00 PM Thank you Dale! Your comment is very kind and your visit is so appreciated :)

Vijay Pandit Date: 8/26/2017 5:14:00 AM Such a delightful poem-wonderful flow--hot summer day well captured--cheering for you to win the contest, Susan! Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 8/26/2017 9:57:00 AM Awww Vijay, thank you so much for cheering me on! I'm so happy you like my poem. I added one more stanza to it when I noticed the boy in the front row of photo in a classic boxing pose. I hope it adds a personal pizazz to the poem! Much appreciation for your beautiful comment and the cheer! :)