I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has taken the time to read and listen to these poems from The Opiate Magazine. I am, as ever, so moved by the kindness and support of this amazing community!
This is the third and final poem from the 2019 Winter issue of The Opiate Magazine, along with the recorded version from my YouTube page (to which you can subscribe if you choose).
The Sun Creeps Up and Swallows Joy
Sidewalk dwellers escape the pavement,
searching for blades of coolness in the grass.
They sink into mirages that ripple and shimmer
with the promise of relief,
but reverie is severed by the venom of the season.
There is only the dense heat of its gaze,
parched tongues and energy siphoned
through the tops of blistering scalps.
Children choke on the fumes of heatwaves.
No clouds appear in a punishing sky
to quench the skin of homeless families.
They succumb like prisoners without eyes,
breath dictated by thirst,
voices pulled into the melting throat
of an urban backdrop.
The sun creeps up and swallows joy,
hiding the incandescence of rain beneath its tongue.
Hope dissolves into the teeth of summer.
*originally published in The Opiate Magazine
February 17, 2019 at 8:22 am
I like this poetry, i am following you on youtube. Greetings.
February 17, 2019 at 8:40 am
You are wonderful!!! Thank you so much!!!
March 10, 2019 at 1:13 am
Dear Susan I reblogged this blog.
March 10, 2019 at 8:32 am
I am moved beyond words at your generosity and your support. You are an angel! Thank you so much!!!
February 17, 2019 at 8:30 am
I find myself here in the UK with my vision blurred by tears momentarily yet I believe irrevocably my soul once again changed for the better not only by your words but by the beauty in the resonance of your voice. I promise from the depths of my soul that this truly is how I feel right now. Please never stop writing and sharing your voice. You matter, you inspire and you humble me and I am so grateful. So, so very grateful lovely, lovely lady 💞 xxx
February 17, 2019 at 8:43 am
Trizia, you always fill my heart with gratitude and make me cry the good tears. Thank you so much, for your kindness and for sharing your beautiful soul. You are a truly remarkable woman with an immense and beautiful heart. I am very grateful for you!!! xoxoxoxo
February 17, 2019 at 8:44 am
Amazing as always.
February 17, 2019 at 9:14 am
Thank you so much, River!!!
February 17, 2019 at 4:55 pm
You are welcome.
February 17, 2019 at 9:00 am
hope
cope
the pope
of my hill
quite a thrill
mind lifting
shape shifting
oh boy!
good prose!
February 17, 2019 at 9:15 am
Thank you, John!!!!
February 17, 2019 at 9:35 am
I love these. This is a great piece. Wow. I need a meditation tape of all of your poems, with you reading so I can just relax and go where your poems lead me. Lovely Susan. xo
February 17, 2019 at 1:56 pm
You are the best, Kim!!!! Thank you so much!!!!!
February 17, 2019 at 2:37 pm
🤩💜💜💜
February 17, 2019 at 11:29 am
Amazing writing, Susan. Congratulations!
February 17, 2019 at 1:57 pm
Thank you so much, Steven!!!!
February 17, 2019 at 3:40 pm
You’re welcome. 🙂
February 17, 2019 at 6:14 pm
This is even more spectacular in your voice! So good, Susan.
February 18, 2019 at 8:11 am
Thank you, my friend! I am so grateful for you!
February 17, 2019 at 9:01 pm
Gorgeous in every possible way.
February 18, 2019 at 8:12 am
Thank you, Beautiful!!!!
February 18, 2019 at 8:35 am
😊
February 18, 2019 at 4:06 am
And that last line!
Heart wrenching. And I love your reading!
February 18, 2019 at 8:13 am
Oh, you are lovely! Thank you so much!
February 19, 2019 at 3:39 pm
Aww you are very welcome!
February 18, 2019 at 1:14 pm
I can feel the LA sun, that oppressive closeness when everything is still out of necessity..even children. You weave it well.
February 18, 2019 at 1:16 pm
Thank you so much, Mark!!!! I am thrilled that it came though for you!!!
February 18, 2019 at 1:30 pm
Your poem is beautiful!
February 18, 2019 at 3:25 pm
Thank you so much!!!!
February 18, 2019 at 4:19 pm
I too am following you on Youtube. Love your voice. A perfect setting.
February 19, 2019 at 5:51 am
You are the best, Bryan! Thank you!
February 19, 2019 at 8:44 am
The poem was, wow, beautiful! You are an amazing poet!
February 19, 2019 at 2:01 pm
Thank you so much, Carrie Ann!!!!
February 21, 2019 at 10:50 am
Gorgeous, as always.
February 22, 2019 at 7:52 am
Thank you, Gorgeous Lady!
February 22, 2019 at 8:37 am
Kisses.
February 23, 2019 at 8:12 am
It’s good to hear as well as read the poem! Thank you.
February 23, 2019 at 8:54 am
Thank you, Robert! You inspired me to try this because I love your recordings!
February 23, 2019 at 1:25 pm
You’ve made my day! Thank you.
February 24, 2019 at 10:04 am
So beautiful my friend. XO
February 24, 2019 at 10:15 am
Thank you, my friend! xoxoxoxo
February 25, 2019 at 3:13 pm
Hello Susan,
I wanted to let you know that I’ve read some of your blog posts and poetry, and your poems are beautiful.
You are a wonderful writer with a beautiful connection to words.
If you like, I also have some poetry if you’d like to check it out.
All the best,
The Aspiring Writer
February 26, 2019 at 9:07 am
This was such a lovely comment to wake up to. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and to share this kindness with me. I have been enjoying your Haiku very much: I always admire those who can fit so much into small spaces. I also really love the Lord of the Rings poem. I look forward to continuing to read more.
February 26, 2019 at 9:45 am
Thank you so much!
To be honest, I find haikus are the easiest form of poetry to write.
I haven’t written much poetry so i’m not too familiar with the fancy style names and varying lengths.
I do my own style and don’t look at line lengths.
For me, it’s all about the words and emotions.
I will admit that I detested poetry writing in school because it was difficult.
However, an English class I took last semester changed that, and I’ve been writing poetry ever since.
The Lord of the Rings poem is actually a fanfiction; I’ve written a few of those and decided to post them on this site to make them accessible to all, especially since not everyone has an account on the site.
fear not, for there will be more posts, provided I don’t get consumed by college.
It will be almost a year since I started blogging and I’m not intending on stopping.
I’m still thinking of ways in which to spice things up.
I hope you’ll stick along for the ride.
I appreciate the follow.
February 26, 2019 at 11:38 am
I look forward to what the future holds, for you and your writing!!!!
February 26, 2019 at 1:16 pm
Thank you.
March 10, 2019 at 1:03 am
Reblogged this on Herr Momo and commented:
Let me introduce blog https://floweringink.wordpress.com/
… net picture, thanks naturfoto
Blog about poetry, love and a little things who means a lot.
We all know, nobody is perfect, me too, and my friend Susan too. She have a problem( sorry, I’m not sure) with Retinitis Pigmentosa. We can’t help but we can love her blogs.
Her gentle voice is like a nightingale’s song. Her poetry is a holiday for the soul.
In trust, this is wow part of flowerkings poetry, in my opinion,
Wow with one o
I am so tired.
Tired of the weight in my heart
that makes every breath an agony.
wow with two o, woow
Remember how I looked
into your eyes,
a season of storms
passed from a mother to a child,
how the strength of an ocean
helped you feel
less afraid.
I try to climb up through my lethargy,
snap my pieces back into place,
but the gravity of your absence pushes me
down on the floor, where blindness doesn’t matter
and the silence is intoxicating.
and wow with a lot of o, woooow
How to Say Goodbye
Promise you won’t forget me,
even when my name
has faded from your tongue.
Remember how I looked
into your eyes,
a season of storms
passed from a mother to a child,
how the strength of an ocean
helped you feel
less afraid.
I would have reached through flames,
cast thunder into a sky
filled with the stench of despair,
to save you
from the horrors of violence and greed.
Promise you won’t forget me,
even when my voice
has turned into a whisper of petals,
caught by a spark that changed
the shape of time.
Feel the imprint of my fingertips
wiping the tears from your cheeks,
and remember,
I will always love you.
…if you like,
… if you can,
…if you aren’t busy
…if you have a computer and net
…if you haven’t pain in your finger
Then, no one can stop you to like this page.
Please don’t forget subscribe you tube canal.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuGPTQc7r6si_oKvk0_baIQ
Thanks, thanks a lot.
Greetings for all.
P.S. Dear Susan, Your poetry is beautiful and Your picture too, … as an actress in a religious film.
March 10, 2019 at 8:31 am
I am speechless from this beautiful gift you have given me. You are an absolute gift! Thank you so much for all of the love and kindness and support you have given me. I am more grateful than you know.