Susan Ashley Poet Free verse

The Irony of Fate

In a moment of juvenile jealousy 
he envies his red rival

with its intimate and greedy embrace of her angels’ share
of honey and vanilla spice
as wet stretchy hands of fervent fabric
possessively cup 
her brandied beauty 

amidst wistful notions
to revive his parched heart
he craves to be ladled with her ardent spirits
to be cradled in the tulip of her essence -
evaporating every chill from the calyx of her sweetened cordial
warming her in the hearth of his hands
as she melts
like buttery sunbeams
intoxicating the bleached beachy sands..

his dreamy grin falters and his tantric trance fades
as tattered edges of reverie unravel -
a haze beclouds his aged green-eyed gaze 
graying his white periwinkle pipe dream

as he sees that his best days are long past


Susan Ashley 
July 18, 2018

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Jessica C. Wheeler September 16, 2024 at 7:12 AM An instant favorite! Incredible writing. Xo Jess Susan Ashley September 20, 2024 at 7:26 AM Dear Jess, soulful poet, I embrace the sparkling spirit of your response to my poem. I am deeply touched! Thank you for the honor of both your inspiring visit and fav. I'm so happy to know you enjoyed this poem. I enjoyed writing it from a different perspective, perhaps a past life..? Some would say I'm silly. But who knows where poetic inspiration comes from sometimes.. :) Warmest wishes my poet friend.. ~Susan

Greg Gaul March 15, 2021 at 10:18 AM I hear the old man's voice lamenting in verse and rolling emotions of things past. You carry it through as you write, "as he sees that his best days are long past". Love the reversal of long and past. A poignant end to your flowing piece. Lots of poets believe too strongly that "they can only write from what they know". Maya Angelou advised young writers to do just the opposite of that as experimentation, it opens you up. This is one way I value your attention. Poetic hugs and thanks. Susan Ashley March 15, 2021 at 4:58 PM My dear friend, Greg, thank you for spending some time with this poem. This poem is special to me because I imagined a perspective outside and opposite to myself on many levels. I definitely agree with Miss Maya about poetic experimentation.. let your mind have wings and fly to new dimensions! That's why I love your "Mama Say" so much. It takes creative soulful courage to imagine another's perspective. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Nancy Kaufman November 3, 2020 at 1:11 PM Oh what a gift you have Ms. Susan. Could you be an English teacher?? I wasn't on the soup back then but this is clearly a favorite for me. Susan Ashley March 3, 2021 at 11:59 AM Dear Nancy, thank you for your wonderfully uplifting comments. I am so happy to know that you enjoyed my poem and that it is a fav! I am not an English teacher, but I appreciate you asking. It was one of my fav subjects in school and I do love exploring the English language so very much :)) Please accept my apologies for my late reply, this one slipped past me somehow. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Joseph P. DiMino December 20, 2019 at 10:56 PM Hear you, Susan; oh well...at least to say, there are memories. I have been very blessed. Fabulous write. Great imagery and flow. Susan Ashley January 6, 2020 at 8:36 PM My dear friend, Joe, it is always such a pleasure to read your precious thoughts.. I imagined this POV from a male's place that I could never know, which is why I think it seemed more interesting to me than from a female's perspective, which I am all to familiar with.. lol! Thank you for your inspiring presence, dear poet. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Vladislav Raven November 11, 2018 at 11:09 AM Hi Susan, this is such an excellent write from your golden pen. The emotions flow so easily through your piece. Each line to be savoured. How quickly time can pass. We must take in all we can, while we can. Your words paint such vivid images in the mind. This is a canvas I could walk within. You fly in the stars with your poec skill Susan. May your pen ever run gold. Have a wonderful Sunday. Hugs....Mike. XX. A fave. Susan Ashley November 12, 2018 at 9:57 PM My dear and talented friend, thank you for your beautiful and uplifting comments. It's a pleasure to know that you feel my words and I thank you, Mike, for sharing your beautiful thoughts with me. Your visit, the fav and your kindness are held in my deepest appreciation. Warmest wishes always my friend.. ~Susan

Paul Callus August 21, 2018 at 1:12 PM How could I have missed this gem, Susan!! So glad that I persevered in my search. I am intoxicated by the sensual and erotic beauty of your words. The contrast between youth and old age, desires, longing, and the final earthly touchdown are treated with the rich ability of a master/mistress poet. I'm left reflecting your words ... and alas, the quick passing of time. ~ Warm regards & hugs, my friend. // paul Susan Ashley August 24, 2018 at 3:50 PM Ah, perseverance does pay off, my dear friend Paul. I'm so pleased that you found the contrast between youth and aging as well as the emotions of my poem to be intoxicating - as I certainly find your comments to be as well, my inspiring friend. Thank you for sharing your lovely thoughts.. Warmest wishes and hugs always.. ~Susan

Lawrence Sharp August 4, 2018 at 8:18 AM I've read this a couple times, I had to soak it up. Very well crafted and endlessly poetic. Susan Ashley August 5, 2018 at 7:46 PM Thank you, Lawrence. I'm so pleased you enjoyed my poem.. your warm comments are wonderfully uplifting. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Al Juman August 3, 2018 at 9:51 PM Wonderful--Erotic, sad, faith and the path of life----Wonderful Susan Susan Ashley August 5, 2018 at 7:49 PM Indeed, you read the message of my poem well, Al. Thank you for your warm comments that uplift and inspire me to reach ever higher my friend.. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Freddie Robinson Jr. July 28, 2018 at 5:04 AM Truly transcendent poetry, Susan! Your free-flowing word meanderings is poetic scenery viewed from a mountain top. A most gorgeous view indeed to read. Marvelous poetry! Love and more love always. Susan Ashley July 28, 2018 at 10:21 PM Freddie, it is such a wonderful pleasure to hear from you. Thank you for your inspiring and heartwarming comments. Your precious thoughts are held in my truest appreciation. Warmest wishes and hugs my friend. ~Susan

John Lawless July 25, 2018 at 1:55 PM Well, Susan, you certainly have a nice way to call him a "dirty old man". This is a brilliant and educating (thanks for the references) write. Susan Ashley July 25, 2018 at 2:06 PM Ah, poetic license.. what would we poet's do without it, John? It's just my imaginative take on the aging process in body and mind, whereas the mind still says 'Yes!' but the body.. well, sadly, that's a whole different story.. I'm so pleased you enjoyed my poem and I appreciate your precious comments my friend.. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Connie Marcum Wong July 24, 2018 at 3:41 PM Sad reflections expressed wonderfully by your talented pen Susan! : ) Susan Ashley July 25, 2018 at 1:59 PM Dear Connie, thank you for your precious thoughts. Your warm friendship and wonderful comments are both cherished. Warmest wishes my lovely friend.. ~Susan

Becca Teagan July 21, 2018 at 10:59 AM oh my gosh, I love this. You definitely have a way with words,Susan, this is wonderful. Sensuality is laced into this, with a startling realization at the end. Very clever wording, a favorite for me. Susan Ashley July 22, 2018 at 11:43 AM Your beautiful and valued comments are such a pleasure to receive, Becca. Thank you for your kindness, the fave and for sharing your lovely thoughts with me, all are held in my truest appreciation. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Faraz Ajmal July 19, 2018 at 2:55 PM Ahh, this is a really wonderful poem, I really enjoyed reading each and every line of this masterpiece, truly a fav for me, good luck Susan Ashley July 19, 2018 at 10:26 PM Thank you, Faraz, for your beautiful and uplifting comments. It's a pleasure to hear from you and it pleases me that you enjoyed my poem. Your visit, the fav and your kindness are held in my deepest appreciation. Warmest wishes always my friend.. ~Susan

Larry Logan July 19, 2018 at 2:07 PM I'm speechless. The beautiful flow of words, the cadence of rhythm, put me in a spell. Susan Ashley July 19, 2018 at 10:21 PM Thank you, Larry, for your wonderful comments and appreciation. I'm so pleased you enjoyed my poem.. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Robert Lindley July 18, 2018 at 9:10 PM SUPERBLY AND INTELLIGENTLY CRAFTED VERSES ON MORTALITY , AND MANKIND'S FALLEN STATE. We see murky depths of aging anguish* Too oft in sad dream states thereby languish* Forever brooding on what might have been* Consider not mankind's greatest of sins* Death comes, with its dooming darkness to hide* Reminding steep cost of those that first lied* A fav.... Susan Ashley July 19, 2018 at 10:15 PM Dear Robert, thank you for your beautiful and poetic comments and the fav, I am touched by the lovely artistic depth of your response - you inspire me always.. Your wonderful and uplifting friendship is held in my deepest appreciation always.. Warmest wishes my great friend.. ~Susan

Frederic Parker July 18, 2018 at 4:20 PM and that dear poet is a stark lonely moment of quiet unsettled understanding of ones aging mortality...my first thought after reading your wonderful poem Susan Ashley July 19, 2018 at 10:04 PM Frederic, you read this poem well and with wonderful insight. Thank you, dear poet, for being the first to comment so beautifully on my poem. Your visit is always a delight and your kindness is always so appreciated. Warmest wishes my wonderful friend.. ~Susan