Short Santa Ana Poems

you blew down from the mountains
a cool desert breeze
a breath of fresh air...

Read More

Santa Ana winds
august temperatures climb
rampaging wildfires

Rampaging wildfires
crackling through brittle pines
nature's cleansing rush

Nature's cleansing rush
acres of barren parched earth
sadness in the wake.

written May 24, 2021...

Read More

Fire and Smoke.  Smoke and fire.
Santa Ana Winds like a funeral pier.

Delivering embers.  Turning homes to ash.
Peoples lives burned off the map.

Where to go?  Where to hide?
Some will stay.  Some will die.

Showing no mercy or favor to man.
Like a grim reaper.  Claiming the land.

Fire and Smoke.  Smoke and Fire.
Bless Heroes that fight with every survivor.


God still the winds.  God save their lives.
Smokey the Bear.  Prevention Revive!...

Read More

As brief as summer you swept
across my heart's desert
like a Santa Ana wind's hot caress.
Now the eastern passes
are still as virgin rocks
unto a land whispering 
of forgotten wildflowers.
In your absence marigolds bloom not
with the disappeared mockingbird.
Only as the last petals
of amaryllis wither do I ache.
You brought me a translucence 
of amber for my burnished bouquet.
Love was an ebullience of golden wheat,
our laughter a resplendence of sunflowers.


5/17/17...

Read More

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...

Read More