Susan Ashley Poet Free verse

The Beaten Path

I hold my breath -

like a lover held against my breast;
not wanting to let it go
lest I forget
how to 
breathe ~


I cradle a thirsty thought -

nurturing its fragility like a nursing newborn;
not wanting to let it go
lest I forget
how to
think ~


I catch my free fall into suspended animation - 

and my flatline begins to beat again . . .


Susan Ashley 
May 22, 2018


~ Third Place ~
Contest: Late June 2018 Premiere (Max 20 lines)
Sponsor: Brian Strand

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Timothy Mcguire October 5, 2018 at 3:59 AM What a great poem. I'm glad I found it. Susan Ashley October 6, 2018 at 9:30 AM Thank you, Timothy, for the delight of your visit and your uplifting comments. I'm so pleased that you enjoyed my poem. Warmest wishes my friend.. ~Susan

Susan Gentry June 25, 2018 at 3:43 PM Congratulations on your win! Well done. :) Susan Ashley June 25, 2018 at 9:14 PM Thank you, Susan, for your heartwarming congrats and kind comments. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

L. J. Carber June 24, 2018 at 2:18 PM Wow! This caught me by surprise, not an easy thing to do-- congrats Susan! Susan Ashley June 24, 2018 at 6:59 PM Thank you for sharing your wonderful thoughts with me L. J. Your lovely comments and kindhearted congrats are cherished. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Agnes Krampe June 24, 2018 at 11:50 AM I love the images, especially cradling a thirsty thought. Congrats on your win. Susan Ashley June 24, 2018 at 6:55 PM Thank you Agnes for sharing your wonderful thoughts with me. Your lovely comments and kind congrats are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes my friend.. ~Susan

Gershon Wolf June 24, 2018 at 9:06 AM Welcome to the Magic Kingdom's winner's circle, Susan! In addition to your podium prize, you are relieved from having to spend any time with Mickey, Donald, or Goofy ever again; you never have to hear "It's a Small World After All," ever again---and you can take a relaxing, refreshing vacation in a natural setting outside of a Theme Park! How's that for a prize! Best wishes, Gershon Susan Ashley June 24, 2018 at 6:53 PM Oh hooray!!! A one way ticket to Barbados please!! Oh.. better make that two tickets - hubby wouldn't appreciate being left behind.. :) I relish your wonderfully lighthearted and kindhearted comments that purely and simply light and warm and touch my heart my dear friend. Thank you for your lovely congrats and even lovelier grand prize! Lol! Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan Second to None :))

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart June 23, 2018 at 7:40 PM Delicious poetry <3 Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart June 24, 2018 at 9:00 PM You certainly do! Blue Jay huh, that is SO cool! I fostered a parrot 6mos, whirlwind romance, but not for me, nothing that pierces eardrums or skin. ;) Falconry would be the dream. Or of course a corvid ;P any lol Susan Ashley June 24, 2018 at 2:46 PM OMG! I love it! So cute :)) I share your wonderful love of birds. I've had birds, of all kinds, all my life; indoor pets (parrots, cockatiels, parakeets, canaries, finches even a sparrow and blue jay and both could talk.. lol!), rescues of all kinds, and my back garden aviary attracts everything from hummingbirds to turkeys and even a juvenile American bald eagle once - now that was a special moment for sure to see that majestic bird in my back yard :)) Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart June 24, 2018 at 11:40 AM Thank you! Tee hee, that bathing beauty is "Loverboy" in the dog's water dish. Susan Ashley June 23, 2018 at 8:46 PM I relish your delectable comment dear lovely poetess and I absolutely adore your new pic :) <3

Line Gauthier June 23, 2018 at 2:39 PM Awesome, Susan. Congrats on your podium finish with this awesome poem. Susan Ashley June 23, 2018 at 8:45 PM Your beautiful comments and kindhearted congrats are treasured Line. Thank you! Warmest wishes always my friend.. ~Susan

Daniel Turner June 16, 2018 at 6:19 PM Looks like I am behind on my reading! Very well written Susan. We all have those moments when we have to take a deep breath and get our bearings. You have expressed them beautifully:) Susan Ashley June 17, 2018 at 4:46 PM Yes, so true my wonderful friend, and a pause to reset and get our bearings can also lead to a moment of revelation and a transformation in one's life.. Thank you for your insightful comments Daniel. Your lovely thoughts and presence here is inspiring :)) Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Faraz Ajmal June 14, 2018 at 8:47 AM Ahh, it certainly is a wonderul write, I m sure that everybody has sich moments in their life where they want to hold their breath, should I stop this second, or should I dissolve myself in it, O this second of mine, don t go anywhere, if it s possible stay for the rest of my life like this, right here, but this is life, every single second the moment pass and it only becomes a memory which we sometime remembers and which makes us smile, good luck Susan Ashley June 14, 2018 at 8:55 PM Faraz, I truly relish the depth and beauty of your thoughtful and meaningful comments. Thank you for taking the time to share your insightful contemplation with me, I so enjoyed your wonderful and precious thoughts. You have the heart and soul of a true poet my wonderful friend and your visit here is deeply appreciated.. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Darlene De Beaulieu June 6, 2018 at 9:49 AM Hello Susan, i like all that you wrote . Have a nice day my friend. Susan Ashley June 6, 2018 at 1:28 PM Darlene, your wonderful visit is a delight and lovely comments are cherished. Thank you my friend. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Gershon Wolf May 30, 2018 at 9:36 PM The first two stanzas, my friend, are the stuff dreams are made of. Thank you for transporting me to 'The Magic Kingdom.' With great appreciation, :) Gershon Susan Ashley June 1, 2018 at 1:16 PM Your transport to 'The Magic Kingdom' was a gift from my heart and soul, Gershon. I'm so happy you enjoyed my poem. Your beautiful comments transport me to 'The Kingdom of Bliss'! :)) Thank you my wonderful friend.. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Carolyn Devonshire May 26, 2018 at 4:47 PM A very creative perspective on all those times we experience things that make us hold our breath. May your heart always beat with imagination, Susan! Hugs, Carolyn Susan Ashley May 27, 2018 at 12:31 PM Thank you, Carolyn, for the beauty and kindness of your comments. Warmest wishes and hugs.. ~Susan

Paul Callus May 26, 2018 at 4:14 PM Life is full of 'pauses', Susan. We stop and take stock of what's going on around us, replenish our energy, put our thoughts in perspective, and then continue our journey. Your poem is beautiful, based on successive interlinked steps. A very uplifting ending to cap it all! ~ Warm regards & hugs my friend. // paul Susan Ashley May 27, 2018 at 12:37 PM Your deep, keen and insightful thoughts are treasured, Paul. Thank you for seeing the beauty in my poem and in the cycles - 'pauses' we go through in our life's journey. You enthrall me, as always, my wonderful friend. Warmest wishes and hug ~Susan

Elaine George May 25, 2018 at 11:39 PM Your verses are very deep, profound...and powerful, Susan. Thank you for sharing. Elaine Susan Ashley May 26, 2018 at 11:04 AM Elaine, I am elated by your response to my poem. Your generous and lovely comments are treasured. Thank you for sharing your special thoughts with me. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Yazmin Malik May 25, 2018 at 7:05 AM Magic weaves from the pen your talented hand holds! Superior poetry in its finest form from a very talented lady. I felt every word, if only my jannu would feel my love, he will see this is how I feel about him <3 Susan Ashley May 26, 2018 at 11:02 AM Yazmin, I relish the loveliness of your heart and your beautiful comments. Thank you for sharing your special thoughts with me.. Warmest wishes ~Susan

Frederic Parker May 23, 2018 at 6:04 PM " I think, therefore I am " "Rene' Descartes" my first thought after reading dear poet Susan Ashley May 26, 2018 at 11:00 AM Frederic, your beautiful comments and generous kindness are cherished. Thank you for sharing your lovely thoughts with me.. Warmest wishes. ~Susan

Joseph P. DiMino May 23, 2018 at 1:45 PM Beautiful poetry, Susan; sounds like the birth of a new being, a new poetry in the making. In my mind, the beaten path here expressed is a bud opening to blossom. Susan Ashley May 25, 2018 at 11:29 PM I adore your precious thoughts, Joe.. Your insight is really beautiful and I'd like to think of it in this way too.. I think it might actually be happening.. the birth of a new being! Your kindness and depth of perception is truly appreciated. Warmest wishes, my friend. ~Susan

Silent One May 23, 2018 at 9:26 AM Profound poetry Susan, this seems really personal, I think many will have had such feelings in their lives.. Susan Ashley May 25, 2018 at 11:26 PM Thank you, Silent One, my poem was influenced by feelings of empathy for someone close to me. Your insightful comments are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes, my friend. ~Susan

John Gondolf May 23, 2018 at 7:22 AM I sometimes feel like I'm free falling through, perhaps I need to step back, catch myself, and take a deep breath. Very nicely penned, Susan. Best wishes. John Susan Ashley May 24, 2018 at 10:18 PM Thank you, John, for your wonderful comments. Your insightful thoughts are treasured. Warmest wishes, my friend.. ~Susan

Demetrios Trifiatis May 23, 2018 at 5:55 AM Imaginative and profound dear, Susan! Delighted to read it! Susan Ashley May 23, 2018 at 7:39 PM Thank you, dear Demetrios, your endearing comments delight my soul and touch my heart. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Susan Gentry May 22, 2018 at 5:20 PM Amazing. Love the presentation and the poetry. Susan Ashley May 23, 2018 at 7:44 PM Thank you, Susan, for your amazing comments and for the wonderful delight of your visit. I'm so happy you enjoyed my poem. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Besma Riabi Dziri May 22, 2018 at 3:04 PM Your write pendulous jewels dangling wonderfully adorning your beautiful soul! I missed you dear Susan.. a great delight to read your unique write dear.. Stay bright and blessed always. Susan Ashley May 22, 2018 at 5:08 PM Greetings my dear friend, Besma, I apologize for my absence lately, ‘life’ has taken me away from PS way too much lately. Thank you for missing me, your heart is generously kind and wondrous. I relish your inspiring and beautiful comments that fill my being with elation. My soul jumps for joy at your graceful presence, sweet friend. Warmest wishes and love always.. ~Susan

Robert Lindley May 22, 2018 at 8:28 AM I see that you also do exceptional free verse my friend. Something that I struggle to improve at.. A fav... Sending you a pm. Susan Ashley May 23, 2018 at 7:48 PM Thank you, for being the first to visit and comment, dear Robert. Your beautiful sentiments are truly appreciated, as is the fav! Warmest wishes to you and yours always, my wonderful friend ~Susan