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Tempestuous

Seething skies like bloodshot eyes, wailing gales assailing through canyon ~ weeping fits, ember storm cries bristling tears with random abandon. East to west, unwanted guests, downsloping dire breeds with fire fueling fest of fiery crests aborning hells of unholy spire. Santa Ana merciless winds breathing capricious firebrands kindle tinder teething. Susan Ashley December 26, 2017 ~ Tenth Place ~ 10 Lines, 5 Words: Rhyme - Premiere Contest Laura Loo - Sponsor

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Paul Callus

Date: 3/9/2018 2:25:00 PM

Hi Susan....stopping by to re-read this most lovely poem...and say hello:) Warm regards // paul

Susan Ashley
Date: 3/9/2018 3:13:00 PM

Hello dear friend, I'm so happy you made a return visit to my poem and to say hello, Paul :) I apologize for not being as interactive lately but family obligations and my work schedule have kept me busy (and exhausted) the last couple weeks, hopefully things will slow down in the near future. I hope all is well with you dear Paul, I do miss our frequent commenting and replying :) You seem busy as well lately or is that my misperception? Thank you for your beautiful visit, you made my day! ~Susan

Line Gauthier

Date: 1/3/2018 3:54:00 PM

Congrats on your win, Susan. Best wishes.

Susan Ashley
Date: 1/3/2018 4:03:00 PM

Thank you so much Line for your warm congrats.. Best wishes ~Susan

Joseph May

Date: 1/1/2018 7:39:00 AM

Congrats on a fine win Susan...Happy New Year!

Susan Ashley
Date: 1/1/2018 1:47:00 PM

Thank you Joseph for your wonderfully kind words and the warm congrats. Happy New Year my friend! ~Susan

Subimal Sinha-Roy

Date: 12/31/2017 11:16:00 PM

Congratulations, Susan on your win. Happy New Year.

Susan Ashley
Date: 1/1/2018 1:48:00 PM

Thank you Subimal for your warm congrats. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Janice Canerdy

Date: 12/31/2017 10:14:00 PM

Vivid treatment of a very relevant, current topic, Susan. Congrats and happy New Year! Janice

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/31/2017 10:42:00 PM

Thank you Janice for your beautiful comments and warmhearted congrats.. ~Susan

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 12/31/2017 8:44:00 PM

The image is vivid! Congrats on your fine win, Susan!

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/31/2017 10:41:00 PM

Thank you Kim for your heartwarming comments and lovely congrats.. ~Susan

Lu Loo

Date: 12/31/2017 8:32:00 PM

great rhythm and rhyme sweet Susan! Loved your poem, thank you and congrats : )-luloo

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/31/2017 10:40:00 PM

Thank you so much Laura for your beautiful comments and for the lovely honor of my placement on your winner's list. Warmest wishes and happy new year!! ~Susan

Bernard Chan

Date: 12/29/2017 10:01:00 AM

I first learned what the Santa Ana was decades ago from a song, and the name has stuck in my head ever since as a beautiful name for a wind. So glad to see it given such inspired treatment in a poem, and sad about the havoc it has wreaked too. This is an awesome write, that second stanza and those inner rhymes being particularly stellar. First-rate stuff! :)

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/29/2017 10:17:00 PM

Thank you Bernard for sharing your awesome thoughts and comments. I agree the 'Santa Ana winds' does have a beautiful ring to it but it's amazing the wicked havoc it wreaks. Your lovely words are always so uplifting and I appreciate your wonderful critique of my poem. I'm glad you enjoyed my friend.. ~Susan

Akkina Downing

Date: 12/29/2017 9:27:00 AM

God bless Cali, and all her people that lost so much in the wild fire. Amazing write my awesome friend :) one of the best but I'm still wishing you a best luck in the contest. Hugs and smiles and loves always :) Kina

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/29/2017 10:45:00 PM

My awesome and lovely friend Kina, thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts and comments with me and for dusting me with some of your golden luck.. thank you for believing in my poem. My warmest wishes for your hopes, dreams and inspiration to flourish in a happy and healthy new year, lovely lady. Yes, God bless Cali and God bless you.. Hugs, smiles and lotsa love always ~Susan

Maria Williams

Date: 12/28/2017 11:53:00 PM

So I just leaned what Santa Ana is from your comments below.And you brought it all into this brilliant 10 line rhyme of yours. Brilliant my dear friend Susan. I see Winner in this poem of yours, just the same let me wish you luck, and an amazing New Year that will see all your wishes and dreams come true....Maria xxx

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/29/2017 10:24:00 PM

Thank you my beautiful friend Maria, yours is a heart of rose gold. I appreciate your lovely thoughts, generous comments and the luck, I can always use a sprinkling of luck :) Thank you for your belief in my poem and the New Year's wishes. My warmest wishes for your hopes, dreams and inspiration to flourish in a happy and healthy new year dear friend. Hugs and love always.. ~Susan

Harry Horsman

Date: 12/28/2017 5:28:00 PM

The best i've read so far, for the contest, Susan. love it. Happy New Year.

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/28/2017 7:06:00 PM

Harry, your appreciation for my poem is uplifting and encouraging.. thank you for your wonderful comments. Warmest wishes my friend.. ~Susan

John Gondolf

Date: 12/28/2017 2:43:00 PM

Susan, this is such a descriptive write on what our California friends are dealing with. This is so very well written. Best of luck. John

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/28/2017 7:04:00 PM

John, thank you for sharing your lovely thoughts with me. Your wonderful comments are uplifting and appreciated. Warmest wishes my friend.. ~Susan

Agnes Krampe

Date: 12/28/2017 9:15:00 AM

Wow, this is awesome, Susan. I love the vivid description, and the inner rhyme. Are you in the affected area? Good luck in the contest, this reads like a winner.

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/28/2017 7:01:00 PM

Thank you Agnes for your beautiful comments. I'm so happy you enjoyed my poem, I enjoy your poetry very much as well. Fortunately I am not affected by these fires as I live in southeastern Massachusetts on the coast:) Your encouraging words are uplifting. Warmest wishes my friend..~Susan

Judith S

Date: 12/28/2017 7:54:00 AM

This is an absolutely amazing write Susan! Keeping to the parameters of the contest and having the intended affect on the reader is just brilliant! This is a horrible thing that seems to have no end for the poor people in it's path. Good luck in the contest!! Best, Judy

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/28/2017 5:03:00 PM

Thank you Judy for sharing your lovely thoughts with me. I appreciate your beautiful comments and your encouragement. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Supraja Kannan

Date: 12/28/2017 1:12:00 AM

Beautifully written.. Loved the personifications and great rhymes... Informative write(I have read your explanations) Thanks for sharing this lovely poem...

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/28/2017 4:55:00 PM

Thank you Supraja for sharing your precious thoughts with me. I delight in your visit. I appreciate your lovely comments very much. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Anisha Dutta

Date: 12/27/2017 10:43:00 PM

So nicely composed. I appreciate though being an Indian, not aware of the description. Rhyming is so good.Merry Christmas

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/27/2017 11:04:00 PM

Anisha, thank you so much for your lovely visit and your beautiful comments. This poem describes the Santa Ana winds that spread the wildfires in southern California, devastating large areas each year. I appreciate your kindness and enjoyment of my poem and I greatly admire your poetry... Merry Christmas to you and warmest wishes for a happy New Year.. ~Susan

Arturo Michael

Date: 12/27/2017 1:25:00 PM

Ferocious fires devouring even the air as it passes... You described it well... "aborning hells of unholy spire."

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/27/2017 8:51:00 PM

My dear friend Arturo, thank you for your beautiful comments. Your visits always delight me and make my day. I'm glad you like my write about the wildfires in So Cal - such a terrifying situation there when they flare up due to the winds..I hope this evening tonight is lovely for you and your day tomorrow beautiful.. Warmest wishes mon ami.. ~Susan

Dale Gregory Cozart

Date: 12/27/2017 12:02:00 PM

I live in So Cal so I know exactly what you mean. Good luck in the contest!

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/27/2017 8:46:00 PM

Dale, I live in Southeastern Massachusetts, and I am terrified when I see the wildfires in So Cal on the news. The vivid images stay with me as I imagine the chaos and panic people living there must feel..a horrific situation! Thank you for your kind and encouraging words and stay safe my friend.. ~Susan

Paul Callus

Date: 12/27/2017 10:34:00 AM

This must be Santa Ana in California; it's said that the weather there is similar to the Maltese one, but I think that our stormy weather is on a much smaller scale! I enjoyed the imagery, personification and rhyming which endow this poem with impassioned life. ~ Warm regards // paul

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/27/2017 9:40:00 PM

Yes Paul, it is Santa Ana, Ca., where the Santa Ana winds get their name and their reputation for fanning wildfires. Thank you for your wondrously expressed appreciation for my poem and I thank you for your lovely comments and thoughts that I cherish.. Warmest wishes my friend.. ~Susan

Vijay Pandit

Date: 12/27/2017 6:54:00 AM

You depicted this well Susan ...a fiery mix of strong wind and fire never ends well. Kudos for managing it in 5 words lines that rhyme. The entire state went through hell..Santa Ana no exception..wishing you a win.

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/27/2017 8:55:00 PM

Thank you Vijay for your lovely and heartfelt comments and encouraging words. You're a wonderful and supportive poetry friend and I'm glad you enjoyed my write. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Kevin Shaw

Date: 12/27/2017 6:33:00 AM

Well written, Good luck in the contest Susan, regards, Kevin x

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/27/2017 1:24:00 PM

Thank you for your encouraging and kind comments Kevin. Your visits are always so appreciated.. Warmest wishes ~Susan

Silent One

Date: 12/27/2017 6:25:00 AM

angry imagery Susan... The first stanza has great imagery... Who is Santa Ana?

Susan Ashley
Date: 12/27/2017 1:23:00 PM

Thank you Silent One for your awesome comments, which are always so appreciated. Santa Ana winds are winds that blow East to West through the mountains passes and canyons and across So California. They fan the devastating wildfires that rage there.. It's a dreadful natural phenomenon that causes hot winds to gust to gale force at times for extended periods, unpredictably spreading embers and wildfires over large areas. Warmest wishes dear my friend. ~Susan