Perfection

Out of the ordinary
outside of redemption
the players play their pieces
in the game of perfection
bodies are chiseled
eyes are opened

but no longer the sight of innocence
something deeper lurks

in a hollowed tunnel
visions of white
painful opinions
cut deeper than knives

a poem once true runs cold and
false now
as perfection has entered extinction
when love was the same but
less involved,
now.

by Ashley Dodge©

Imaginary Friend

Take me down to the river where I watched you
skip rocks in our childhood
and swing from the trees
never understanding what this adult life would bring

bills and paychecks and other things
that will eventually lead me away from you
my special river friend

you're all grown up now, long flowing hair
sparkling like the sun but you're only a
glimmer in my eye now
a shadow by my side

oh how childhood ruined us
our imaginations change into definitions
and theories of why we're living
when it was so uncomplicated
those hot days down by the river when you
would show up and we would
skip rocks all day.

by Ashley Dodge©

Writing.Love.Magic Blog

So in relation to this blog, I felt inspired to create a new space to share not just my poetry but to create a space where I could share with you my new start on living a happy and healthy life!

While I will still often update this blog, Writing.Love.Magic is another wonderful space where I can linger on all sorts of different thoughts-- the latest recipes I adore, the day-to-day thoughts that cannot be written as poetry.

Here's a link to Writing.Love.Magic.
Also, I write a column for a wonderful magazine dedicated to women sharing their thoughts about nearly everything-- science, photography, lifestyle. WildFlower Magazine, created by one of my good friends, is another wonderful place to visit if you're looking for a community of beautiful, strong and talented women and friends sharing their thoughts about the world.

As the lifestyle columnist for Wildflower Magazine, I encourage you all to stop by and say hello, or take a moment to read some of the amazing stories we have been sharing.

Happy Tuesday!

Sleep Deprived

Midnight crept in
but three a.m. ran
Before I knew it the sun was rising
and I fell out of Wonderland
Fell out? you ask
as if you think it's down below
But see, in Dreamland
Wonderland
is high, high above

I document these thoughts
in journals, pages bought
from the local giant bookstore
and read them aloud
to friends
who think I am crazy and need to stop
taking the melatonin

but I tell them, no, my mind never stops
and the melatonin shuts it off
even if the side effects are
bad dreams.

And because, in the daytime,
I see white rabbits out of the
corners of my eyes
and fairies ducking underneath the doorway
when I walk in with a handful of groceries

small glimmers of light and movement on white walls
and strange shadows dancing in the light
of my vanity

these are why I need a break
by the time night falls.


By Ashley Dodge©

Crush

Run with me in the rain
fresh and new inspired by grey
falling snow, slush and ice,
falling down-- we create snow angels,
leftovers meant to melt away
unable to stay for the night.

But tonight I have you
and rain will soak us through
but hold my hand,
walk me home.

Fitting

Last night I dreamed of Ireland
even though I've never seen it
and of the ocean mists
so different than the West Coast
but I walked the streets of San Francisco
and still felt lost.

I dressed in summer to fit the
season
sundresses, blonde hair, sunscreen
but I hate the sun and the heat
makes me sick
I walked the shore of a Southern
California beach
and wish it would rain

but in the frost of deep winter
when all the trees have died and I
feel alive from the grey
heavy clouds hanging low on the
horizon
walking along the river's edge, watching children building snowmen
in a valley of trees, under a blanket of white

I put my headphones on-- shake the snow
out of my hair, sit down on a bench
and wait for the moment to come when
I'll hear your voice,
whispers on falling snow.

By Ashley Dodge©

Finding Harmony

She stood on the icy sidewalk in the middle of December
waiting for the cab to arrive, watching the city lights
glitter
She was blonde, she was brave, coming all this way
to be famous
but she had it wrong, she'd taken the wrong way searching for
Harmony who had
run away quietly
into the night.

Cobblestone sidewalks in air conditioned Paris,
outside the burning streets of Las Vegas
she's
sitting at the inside faux cafe, eating
a chocolate crepe sipping
espresso
trying to be brave
wondering where she'd gone wrong
where Harmony had decided to stay

Red hair, burning like the sun
walking among the bronzed people of LA
she wasn't an angel
she wasn't even blonde
when had she lost her way
how could it have gone so completely wrong

Hiding away in the snow
freezing and watching the lights from downtown glow
she walks away, turns out the lights
draws the curtain and says goodnight
to the rhyme
she'll become a riddle,
she'll find Harmony
find her tonight.

By Ashley Dodge©

Finished

I just finished my first novella about ten minutes ago. It's the strangest feeling-- I honestly never thought I would actually finish it. I've written so many unfinished stories and considered the fact that I may never finish them. And tonight, well, I feel so elated. Happy. Tired. And finally, the urge to finish the story that had been nagging me for awhile-- has ended.
I'm so happy right now that I probably won't get much sleep. But it was worth the staying up late! And now, it's editing time!