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A Vanilla Dove Premiere Contest Winner

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~ First Place ~
Premiere Contest: Vanilla
Sponsor: Charlotte Puddifoot

September 10, 2023
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Cypress trees like evergreen steeples rise above rows of gravestone woes, their shadows lie side by side like railroad ties across writhing paths banded like snakes; the gravel birth cords sinuous sensing the ground seeking the sun crossroads of life and death and rebirth; where mortals breathe and grieve and orchid-petal-pinions of flower-faced souls sweep the steep edge of cornsilk skies — yet flightless wraiths, their black-seed sins unshed, wear phantom veins – the pulse point’s bane, strained like garden snakes unable to shed old skins — where cypress trees press in prayerful gesture and slabs of granite panes, lily-graced or lichen stained, wear the pith and pain of life-stories, a downy feather falls. Where mourners grasp at porous sunbeams as if to hold a misty angel, as if to lift a wispy veil, as if to sense the drifty dead, ghosts of gold slip the clasp of clawing hands… motes of memories float in scattered sunlight cradled —or— captured; a strew of ashy reveries? a slew of stippled wraiths? Where dust and rays mingle in hazy ways soft-bodied coos airily woo radiant fingers of God to reach through priestly cypress forever green, to touch upon headstones a halo glow, to touch upon wraiths a pearly tunnel and time to go, to drop a sun dapple where I sit amongst the marigolds’ morning weep and futile streams of mourners’ tears and fertile dreams of pulpit prayers. The autumn blood of maple trees drip titian leaves, the crimson veins rusted the lily and the lichen decay-dusted — where evergreen arms calm the squall of wind, its thrash in thrall to circular cypress boughs, rested in the center with the storm stilled nestled and nested in warm maternal love, a plain dove broods a clutch of sorrows. From the lily adorned like a bride and scented like June to the lichen shrunken and grayed like an old maid, mouths twist as exhales escape with misereres; mortals detesting destiny and wraiths, wriggle-spined, who pine for a pity-spark from the sun to tame the shame and lift them like smoke from a flame. Prayers to repair and spare the grievers and non-breathers drift in clear air like milk-haired thistle seeds, collected and cozied ‘pon plumes of a cooing courier, their deliverance ensured from stratum to stratus — where mothering skies plush with nimbus wombs bear baptism rains to bathe plaintive pleas and where wings unfurl like white-flags-of-surrender, a pure dove ascends with ancient hymns. Among headstones huddled in haunted peace and bardo bones of litterfall I linger… and long for candles’ throng of homecoming comfort — where granite-glazed-windows wear a blank stare, where dust-light scrim – a specked specter of pollen and pollution affirm matters of life and death I cry, where marigolds wear the solar glow of the rise and demise of the sun, where a downy feather falls below a heaven of baby’s-breath-stars I sigh, where cinder clouds float in negative space mourning their loss of light – yet – where cornsilk threads unspooled from the moon vibrate with angels’ praise I await a vanilla dove.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2023




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Date: 10/26/2024 10:06:00 AM
Hello Susan, This is an insanely intricately woven piece. I'm so amazed by the way you've painted a beautiful picture with the emotion showed throughout.It's like trying to find a soothing respect from the mourning that's being done. The flow was amazing to experience.+ Excited to read more of your grand work! Kind regards to you.
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Susan Ashley
Date: 10/27/2024 9:12:00 AM
Dear Daniya, I'm elated and honored to receive your precious thoughts. Thank you for sharing in the emotions and imagery of this piece with me. Your lovely response fills me with appreciation. Warmest wishes my poet friend.. ~Susan
Date: 4/30/2024 5:53:00 PM
Hi Susan, reading your poetry is like a double-edged sword. On the one hand, your descriptive talent makes it so easy and enjoyable to be transported into your world of words. On the other, it makes me realize how sophomoric my poems are. Mine would be more at home on a greeting card. Kind of like Gary Cooper as Longfellow Deeds. It's no wonder you took first place on this one. Write on Sis.
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Susan Ashley
Date: 5/2/2024 7:38:00 AM
Dear Randy, it's wonderful to see you. Thank you for your charming and witty comments, they bring a smile, especially "Gary Cooper as Longfellow Deeds" lol! I am humbled and honored by your kind words. Your thoughts are as beautifully expressed in the comments box as your golden poetry is upon the poetic page. Warmest wishes poetry bro.. ~ lil Sis
Date: 11/3/2023 2:02:00 AM
This vanilla dove of yours flies effortlessly in the highest levels of poetic grandeur, Susan. I have followed your journey since day one, and watched you flex your wings with a naturalness that is hard to come by. Always amazed by your technical abilities and rich vocabulary. This gem goes to my favs. ~ Warm regards and hugs my dear friend. // paul
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Susan Ashley
Date: 11/10/2023 7:58:00 AM
Dear Paul, indeed, you have been a shining light from the beginning of my poetic journey. Your esteemed feedback and responses to my comments on your beautiful, multi-faceted poetry encouraged me to strive ever higher in my quest towards "learning the ropes" of poetry and creative self-expression. I owe my ability to compose sonnets to your gentle nudging to continue to tackle meter, even when I thought it impossible for me to get a consistent handle on it. Your valued insight and presence has helped me to grow as a poet in ways I never thought possible. I hold your poetic friendship and golden talent in my truest and deepest appreciation. Thank you for the thrill of your comments and for the honor of your fav, I cherish both. Warmest wishes and hugs my dear friend.. ~Susan
Date: 10/23/2023 8:07:00 AM
You're a very true/talented poet with exceptional talent my dear poet friend Susan. I dearly love this masterpiece of yours and I even read aloud. Goes to my fave. Thank you so much for sharing. Congratulations on your well-deserved trophy win and this outstanding poetry! Hugs. God bless you always and your writings. Hugs
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Susan Ashley
Date: 11/2/2023 10:26:00 AM
Dear Len, my poet friend, please accept my apologies for my late reply to your beautiful comments. Life obligations have kept me very busy lately and internet issues have also intruded to limit my time on the Soup. I am both humbled and honored by your kind words and the distinction of your fave. Your generosity of spirit and your heartwarming congrats are held in my deepest appreciation. I'm thrilled to know you enjoyed my poem! Thank you and warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Date: 10/23/2023 5:10:00 AM
Susan, your poem is a breathtakingly beautiful and evocative exploration of life and death, the sacred and the profane. The imagery is rich and sensual, and the tone is both somber and hopeful. I especially appreciate the way you use the juxtaposition of the cypress trees and the marigolds to represent the duality of life and death.
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Susan Ashley
Date: 11/2/2023 10:20:00 AM
Dear Daniel, please accept my apologies for my late reply to your beautiful comments. Life obligations have kept me very busy lately and internet issues have also intruded to limit my time on the Soup.. a double whammy! :) I am inspired by the depth and breadth of your amazing critique! I hold your expressive thoughts in my truest appreciation. Thank you for your precious time spent with my poem. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Date: 10/20/2023 10:20:00 PM
Susan, like a star that appears in the firmament only in a fortnight, you appear on this site once in a while to stun all of us with your phenominal masterpieces or to flaunt a trophy. I stay in reverence of your poetry ! You have created the ambience of brooding melancholy where death has its sway. Most of the lines breed gloom and pain. "rested in the center with the storm stilled nestled and nested in warm maternal love, a plain dove broods a clutch of sorrows." What beauty and what poignany ! Among the handful wonderful poets on this site, you always have a place. It is such a blessing to read your poems though never capable of emulating your style !
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Susan Ashley
Date: 10/22/2023 6:41:00 PM
Dearest Valsa, your esteemed thoughts are received with my deepest appreciation. I am both humbled and honored by your kindness. The light of your poetic presence glows with beauty upon my poem and my heart, enriching both. Thank you for your inspiring comments, they are truly touching. I wish I had more free time to write poetry and interact here at PS, but life's obligations keep me from being here as much as I'd like to be. I am full of gratitude for your lovely poetic friendship and for your exquisite poetry. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Date: 10/15/2023 6:35:00 AM
Dearest Susan, our poetess laureate extraordinaire. I'm breathless at the great depths of exquisite beauty and poetic genius this lovely poem conveys. You should have your well deserved turn at being the U.S. poet laureate. You are talented beyond measure, good friend. Hugs xx
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Susan Ashley
Date: 10/17/2023 5:35:00 PM
Dearest Regina, I can't express enough the depths of my gratitude for your poet's soul. I applaud your return to PS! I am both humbled and honored by your shining friendship and your generous kindness bestowed upon my poem and my uplifted heart. I'm thrilled to know you thought so highly of my poem. I'm no poet laureate but I truly and deeply appreciate your sweet sentiments, my wonderful friend. Warmest wishes and hugs.. ~Susan
Date: 10/5/2023 3:27:00 PM
Dearest Susan, you captivated me with your Exquisite Masterpiece! You created a magnificent canvas of stunning words! Wow I am blown away completely.. A warm Congratulations on your win, my friend! As always your talent shines, dear Poetess.. Many blessings to you! This Masterpiece is going right into my faves!
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Susan Ashley
Date: 10/8/2023 5:27:00 PM
Dearest Robertina, my inspiring friend, I relish your gracious visit. I am both humbled and honored by your uplifting comments, warm congrats, and the distinction of your fave. Your genuine heart and poet’s souls spills not only beautiful poetry but overflows with heartwarming kindness too. Thank you, sweet poetess and delightful friend. You shine always! :) Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Date: 10/4/2023 10:12:00 AM
So luscious, Susan. You've painted such a sharp picture.
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Susan Ashley
Date: 10/7/2023 9:31:00 AM
Dear Dale, your gracious visit and lovely comments are received with appreciation and joy. Thank you my friend. Your poetic presence is inspiring as is your beautiful poetry. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Date: 9/26/2023 11:46:00 AM
I'm left in awe of the beauty of this majestic write Susan. An obvious winner reminiscent of Charlottes writing so no doubt she felt moved by this magnificent write. There are few who write like you Susan a true gem of poetry soup. Another fave of mine to savour over and over.
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Susan Ashley
Date: 9/30/2023 8:08:00 AM
Dear John, it's wonderful to see you and to receive your glowing words. Your esteemed friendship and heartwarming comments are treasured, as is the honor of your fave. Thank you, my dear friend, I am so happy to know you enjoyed my poem and that you look forward to reading it again. You've made my day! :) Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Date: 9/24/2023 1:54:00 AM
I can see why your poem won first place, dearest Susan. These incredible lines of yours simply blow me away. 'Where marigolds wear the solar glow of the rise and demise of the sun,' has to be my fave lines if I were to make a choice. I don't believe I will ever look at marigolds again without the image that you've conjured. Brilliant sweet Poetess. Love and Hugs
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Susan Ashley
Date: 9/30/2023 8:05:00 AM
Dearest Maria, how thrilled I am for your shining presence to cast its glow upon my poem and my heart. Your beautiful, soulful presence has been sincerely missed and it's wonderful to share poetry with your again. I am humbled and honored by your moving comments, sweet friend, and they are treasured. Thank you lovely poetess! Warmest wishes and hugs.. ~Susan <3
Date: 9/23/2023 9:35:00 AM
Dearest Susan ~ soul sister ~ time traveler and journeyer of heart and soul, How can I not believe that you have experienced many livetimes , many rebirths, many heart aches and many evolutions that allow you to travel through the magical nuances in your words.
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Susan Ashley
Date: 9/30/2023 7:52:00 AM
Dearest Susan, my soul sister, time-travel companion and flower of the universe forever in bloom, we have traveled these realms together many times. The nuances of our words are like gradients of color we see, feel and understand in the portraits drawn of our journeys through time, space, joys and sorrows as our souls continue to reach for higher levels of divinity.
Date: 9/23/2023 9:35:00 AM
(cont.) I take time to experience the intimate relationship you have with nature, birth, death, sorrow, longing and grief during this poem...and ending with hope . Your vanilla dove sings in the most melodious notes I could ever imagine. A fav dear friend. Congratulations on your first place win. Hugs and love sent on the whispers of white wings, Susan :)xx
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Susan Ashley
Date: 9/30/2023 7:58:00 AM
(cont.) I am both humbled and honored by your time spent with my poem and for the beauty of your thoughts. They grace my poem and my heart with your golden glow. Your poetic friendship and spiritual kinship is truly treasured as is the distinction of your fav. Thank you for your kindness and warm congrats sweet friend. Hugs and love sent with the embrace of white wings.. ~Susan <3
Date: 9/20/2023 7:14:00 PM
This epic beauty has kept my interest a flow with imagery bedazzling and engaging. Your formula is inspired, "as if's/ to's/ questioning yourself, as if challenging your muse to a higher plateau of understanding. Thoughts that went into this piece of royalty unique and unparalleled in its buoyancy and depth. Congratulations on your Torphy win!! Wishing you all the best, Anaya
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Susan Ashley
Date: 9/22/2023 5:57:00 PM
Dear Anaya, your precious thoughts are received with gratitude. The light of your poetic presence shines upon my poem and my heart, enriching both. Thank you for your inspiring comments and kind congrats, they are as enchanting as your splendid poetry my friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Date: 9/19/2023 5:50:00 PM
This to me is indeed a true masterpiece of poetic excellence. So many magical verses my good friend. And closing stanza deeply golden. A fav.. God bless you.
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Susan Ashley
Date: 9/22/2023 5:51:00 PM
My dear friend, I relish your inspiring response to my poem. I am both humbled and honored by your comments and fav. It's a thrill to know you enjoyed my poem, Robert, and I am ever grateful for your uplifting poetic friendship. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Date: 9/17/2023 4:48:00 PM
A vanilla love. So opposite my take on it. But so gorgeous. You are really reeling in the trophy wins. Congrats
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Susan Ashley
Date: 9/22/2023 5:48:00 PM
Dear Andrea, I loved your poignant take on vanilla, such creative imagery! Your wonderful visit is appreciated. Thank you for your uplifting presence. Your comments and kind congrats are heartwarming. Warmest wishes my friend.. ~Susan
Date: 9/16/2023 11:09:00 AM
Dear Susan, Truly an epic poem with lines that resonate. "Marigolds wear a solar glow" to "headstones huddled in haunted peace." Each line a gem. Many congratulations on another remarkable poem. Be well. Brian
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Susan Ashley
Date: 9/22/2023 5:44:00 PM
Dear Brian, it's wonderful to receive your inspiring comments and kind congrats. They are received with joy and gratitude. Your golden presence here enriches my poem greatly. Warmest wishes my friend.. ~Susan
Date: 9/16/2023 7:20:00 AM
Susan, your writing is truly exceptional, surpassing all expectations. Congratulations on your well-deserved victory, as it is evident that you have poured your heart and soul into this masterpiece. Your words have been a precious gift to me, painting a vivid picture of a divine sanctuary. The tranquility and serenity that emanate from your poem are truly remarkable, evoking a sense of peace and contentment within me.
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Susan Ashley
Date: 9/22/2023 5:41:00 PM
Dear Lasaad, I relish your inspiring response to my poem. I am both humbled and honored by your generous comments. It's a thrill to know you enjoyed my poem. The beauty of your thoughts touch me deeply and I am ever grateful for your uplifting poetic friendship. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Date: 9/16/2023 7:10:00 AM
Oh dear Susan. You have gifted me with your exquisite words and grand imagery. I lack enough superlatives to express how wonderful this is! Congratulations! :)
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Susan Ashley
Date: 9/22/2023 5:24:00 PM
Dear Linda, I'm thrilled to receive your beautiful comments and heartwarming congrats. Thank you for gracing my poem, and my heart, with your uplifting presence. Warmest wishes my friend.. ~Susan
Date: 9/16/2023 6:32:00 AM
Proper forms can be taught and learned, but true art/creativity is a gift and you've portrayed that here - long poems have to be special to keep my attention, but this is one, I wish had never ended!
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Susan Ashley
Date: 9/22/2023 5:07:00 PM
Dear Craig, your words are inspiring! I'm thrilled to know you never wanted this poem to end. Thank you for sharing your esteemed thoughts with me. It means so much coming from you, an intriguing poet of seasoned talent. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Date: 9/16/2023 6:16:00 AM
Wow! Congrats! Thanks so much for sharing your talent... again exposed by this awesome muse of yours. Thanks, my mentor. God bless you.
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Susan Ashley
Date: 9/22/2023 4:50:00 PM
Dear Beata, I am delighted to receive your heartwarming comments and kind congrats. Thank you for your gracious visit. Inspiration is a wonderful gift shared, we inspire each other as we grow in our poetic creations. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Date: 9/16/2023 5:10:00 AM
Oh my, my! You’ve surpassed yourself with this exquisite write, Susan! Warmest congratulations on your well earned trophy win.
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Susan Ashley
Date: 9/22/2023 4:46:00 PM
Dear US, I am truly touched and humbled by your inspiring comments and heartwarming congrats. Your wonderful visit is appreciated. Thank you my friend for your uplifting presence. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Date: 9/16/2023 5:08:00 AM
Talented poetess, i knew this was a 1st place winner, so good, the way you write is impeccable! So impressive. Congratulations on your win, well deserved
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Susan Ashley
Date: 9/22/2023 8:18:00 AM
Dear Empress, your return visit fills me with gratitude. Such a lovely and thoughtful gesture, sweet poetess. My admiration for you only grows, both in appreciation for your soulful, uplifting spirit and for the exquisite beauty of your poetic artistry. Thank you for your wonderful kindness, my friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Date: 9/16/2023 4:12:00 AM
susan, your poem was one of two vying for the top spot, but i had to go with yours in the end, for its sheer technical ability - just dazzling! the beauty of this piece, a real tour de force, you threw everything in the book at this! spectacular imagery, word pairings, internal rhymes, heart and soul, this poem has it all (i pretended i didn't see that 'pon - i don't like to see archaic contractions of words in a poem lol) congrats on your well earned 1st place in my contest! :)
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Susan Ashley
Date: 9/22/2023 8:12:00 AM
Dear Charlotte, my admiration for your exquisite poetry only grows with every read. I am beyond thrilled to receive your esteemed feedback on my poem. Thank you for your heartwarming words, they inspire me to continue to reach ever higher in my poetic journey. I am truly honored by my poem's placement in your prestigious contest and it's a pleasure to share the podium with the talented poets listed. Your respected sponsorship is always appreciated. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Date: 9/15/2023 11:11:00 PM
Oh, Susan what a truly beautiful piece. Your attention to detail floods with gorgeous images, as I watch as this heart-aching piece unfold. This breathtaking orchestrated tale you have woven is an inspiring. Oh, and I love the ending; “ where cornsilk threads unspooled from the moon vibrate with angels’ praise. I await, a vanilla dove.” Awe-inspiringx
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Susan Ashley
Date: 9/22/2023 8:03:00 AM
Dear Daisy Silk, the beauty of your response to my poem leaves my breathless. I am truly heartened to know you enjoyed my poem. Thank you for sharing in the mournful experience of this poem with me. Your soulful comments are warmly received and held in the depths of my heart. The rich finesse of your poetic artistry is appreciated and admired, my friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
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