A Shakespeare statue in Texas (keepyoureyespeeled.net)‘From Heathrow to Houston’ by Susan Jarvis Bryant The Society June 4, 2022 Beauty, Poetry 30 Comments . From Heathrow to Houston I heard my words would never change a thing From those who had a nose for senseless stuff. They warned me that my odes would never bring Me joy. They cursed my verse as puffs of fluff— Wisps of worthless whispers in hot air That blew of blissful spheres that don’t exist. They brushed off all my lithe, linguistic flair As feckless fancy clouded in Scotch mist… Until I rose on silver wings and flew To one who thought my words beyond compare— To one who felt my passion burn through blue To roar in soaring dreams that poets share… Dreams that braved naysayers and wild skies To dance in rhythmic souls with lovestruck eyes. . . Susan Jarvis Bryant has poetry published on Lighten Up Online, Snakeskin, Light, Sparks of Calliope, and Expansive Poetry Online. She also has poetry published in TRINACRIA, Beth Houston’s Extreme Formal Poems anthology, and in Openings (anthologies of poems by Open University Poets in the UK). Susan is the winner of the 2020 International SCP Poetry Competition, and has been nominated for the 2022 Pushcart Prize. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Trending now: 30 Responses Julian D. Woodruff June 4, 2022 Houston, Where’s the problem? Lovely, Susan. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant June 4, 2022 Thank you very much, Julian. Mike and I are celebrating our eleventh wedding anniversary today – poetry really does change lives 😉 Reply Mike Bryant June 4, 2022 Happy Anniversary Sweetest Heart… I never thought your words were beyond compare… I knew it, and I still do. All my love… Reply A happily married woman June 4, 2022 ❤️ Reply Paul William Erlandson June 4, 2022 Well done, Susan! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant June 4, 2022 Thank you very much, Paul! Reply Russel Winick June 4, 2022 Lots of senseless stuff out there, while only you can soar as you do. Congratulations to you both! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant June 5, 2022 Russel, what a lovely comment… I thank you wholeheartedly for it! Reply Brian Yapko June 4, 2022 Susan, I see giddy joy, immense satisfaction and a heaping, piquant side-dish of “take that you cynical naysayers” in this delightful poem which shines with your usual flair. Your use of alliteration in this one is confined to the cynics who apparently babble on — clearly stuck in their pessimistic, tongue-tied narrative while you soar on into poetic, romantic bliss with words that are unusually straightforward and, ironically, more powerful as a result. The “to one, to one, to roar” sequence is dynamic and dynamite and your final couplet: “Dreams that braved naysayers and wild skies/To dance in rhythmic souls with lovestruck eyes” — though highly restrained in poetic devices — is sheer poetic bliss. I love this poem. Happy Anniversary to two of my favorite poets! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant June 5, 2022 Brian, thank you so very much for this fabulous comment. I’m sniggering at the ‘piquant side-dish’ observation. I have every reason to snigger. This was one of those poems that came straight from the heart onto the page, effortlessly. I think that gives it more of a natural conversational feel, which I think suits the subject matter… it’s me without my mascara and lipstick. Brian, thank you very much for your beautiful blessings on our special day. Reply Joseph S. Salemi June 4, 2022 The hardest step in any human being’s life is to recognize who you are, and what you are meant to do, and to disregard everything and everyone around you that is screaming the opposite. Congratulations, Susan. You’ve gone from Heathrow to Houston. God bless you and Mike, and sincerest best wishes on your anniversary. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant June 5, 2022 Joe, you are so right. It took me over four decades to trust my own judgment above those judging me, and since then I’ve been happier than I’ve ever been. Thank you very much for your wise words and your wonderful anniversary wishes. Reply Damian Robin June 7, 2022 Hi courageous, determined, and multi-talented Susan! Thank you for your poem (ringing with a bit of England — that brings the question of why you went to Texas — Perhaps it was to be with Mike who you’d already met — and perhaps he had a plumber’s magnet to draw your steely being in). Here’s some more perhapses and projections . . . Perhaps (I’d say, because I do not know you that well) you once were marginalia and put away, were told “some poets do make ’it’ but yours won’t sell” and so in conversation they became the ‘they’ that bloat big in their boots to trip you on your way. They’d gloat, “Your stuff could cover up a chocolate box, a picture of plumped airy-fairy filler-in because it is so simple and too orthodox, naive, part-childlike, innocent, . . .” Yet brimming in straightforwardness, and to the point, and genuine. And, as you showed sweet subtlety right off the bat, with fruitful charms of inner rhyme and figs of speech, they’d pat your head because your meaning seemed off-pat and then they’d clamber to a rambling hammered speech about the mores of ‘poesy’ only you could reach. Perhaps my sketch of unseen setbacks in your life conveys a sense of inner strength that saw you through to find your core as poet, soul, supported wife, to trust your judgement over those who would judge you — for me (and maybe many more) your tale rings true. “ It took me over four decades to trust my own judgment above those judging me, “ a quote to savor. Congrats to you both in big cowboy hats!!! Susan Jarvis Bryant June 7, 2022 Damian, your comment and the beautiful poem accompanying it has brought extra sunshine to my day and I am glowing in the golden wonder of your perhapses, all of which could be metaphors for a huge swathe of my life. I adore your poem! Thank you very much indeed! I will say this – love is simple. Love for poetry, love for family, love for friends, love for one’s one and only… if love becomes complicated, perhaps it’s not love. To me, love means understanding, and if you don’t, putting yourself out to try – if you don’t want to try, then it’s not love. You wouldn’t believe where that little bit of philosophy has led me… well you would, because I’ve told you while wearing a Stetson and cowgirl boots. 😉 Paul Freeman June 4, 2022 Congratulations, you two! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant June 5, 2022 Thank you. Reply jd June 4, 2022 Your verses could never be “puffs of fluff” unless you tried for them. Many congratulations to you and Mike on your special day. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant June 5, 2022 Thank you very much for your lovely comment, jd – I’m growing to like “puffs of fluff”, especially when they’re scudding above me while I’m sipping a glass of bubbly on my anniversary. 😉 Reply David Paul Behrens June 4, 2022 Beautiful! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant June 5, 2022 David, thank you very much. Reply Jeff Eardley June 4, 2022 Susan/Mike, your poetry has changed our lives over here. Can we wish you the happiest of anniversaries. You guys are amazing. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant June 5, 2022 Jeff, thank you very much for your continued encouragement and support, and for your beautiful anniversary wishes. You are amazing! Reply Yael June 4, 2022 That’s beautiful Susan! Happy anniversary to you both and thank you for enriching my life with your linguistic flair. I hope we get to share eternity together on silver wings. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant June 5, 2022 Yael, thank you for your wonderful wishes and your beautiful thought… I am hoping eternity together on silver wings is on our horizon. Reply Norma Pain June 5, 2022 I believe your words of truth and beauty will have changed many people across the world. Thank you for this lovely poem and congratulations to you and Mike on your anniversary. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant June 5, 2022 Norma, thank you very much for this lovely comment. Thank you too for being a poetic blaze of sunshine on this site. You always manage to bring a smile to a world that is in desperate need of one. Reply Shaun C. Duncan June 5, 2022 You seem to be able to write these faster than I can read them. That you can do so with such impeccable craft and linguistic flair is awe-inspiring. And I hadn’t even noticed you and Mike share a surname. Happy anniversary to you both. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant June 14, 2022 Sorry I missed this, Shaun. Thank you very much for your lovely comment and your anniversary wishes. As for writing poems quickly, if I’m extremely passionate about a subject, the poems seem to write themselves… there’s an awful lot in the news just lately to stir me into action. I am hoping it won’t always be like this… we could all do with a little peace, and I am certain visitors to the SCP website will soon get tired of my name… now synonymous with doom and gloom. 🙂 Reply Margaret Coats June 6, 2022 Susan, I’m sure Mike thought you were a sonnetful of sugar served on silver wings. Lovely poem to recall the flight! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant June 6, 2022 Thank you very much, Margaret. I hope your silver wings fly you home from the Jubilee festivities safely and smoothy. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Susan Jarvis Bryant June 4, 2022 Thank you very much, Julian. Mike and I are celebrating our eleventh wedding anniversary today – poetry really does change lives 😉 Reply
Mike Bryant June 4, 2022 Happy Anniversary Sweetest Heart… I never thought your words were beyond compare… I knew it, and I still do. All my love… Reply
Russel Winick June 4, 2022 Lots of senseless stuff out there, while only you can soar as you do. Congratulations to you both! Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant June 5, 2022 Russel, what a lovely comment… I thank you wholeheartedly for it! Reply
Brian Yapko June 4, 2022 Susan, I see giddy joy, immense satisfaction and a heaping, piquant side-dish of “take that you cynical naysayers” in this delightful poem which shines with your usual flair. Your use of alliteration in this one is confined to the cynics who apparently babble on — clearly stuck in their pessimistic, tongue-tied narrative while you soar on into poetic, romantic bliss with words that are unusually straightforward and, ironically, more powerful as a result. The “to one, to one, to roar” sequence is dynamic and dynamite and your final couplet: “Dreams that braved naysayers and wild skies/To dance in rhythmic souls with lovestruck eyes” — though highly restrained in poetic devices — is sheer poetic bliss. I love this poem. Happy Anniversary to two of my favorite poets! Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant June 5, 2022 Brian, thank you so very much for this fabulous comment. I’m sniggering at the ‘piquant side-dish’ observation. I have every reason to snigger. This was one of those poems that came straight from the heart onto the page, effortlessly. I think that gives it more of a natural conversational feel, which I think suits the subject matter… it’s me without my mascara and lipstick. Brian, thank you very much for your beautiful blessings on our special day. Reply
Joseph S. Salemi June 4, 2022 The hardest step in any human being’s life is to recognize who you are, and what you are meant to do, and to disregard everything and everyone around you that is screaming the opposite. Congratulations, Susan. You’ve gone from Heathrow to Houston. God bless you and Mike, and sincerest best wishes on your anniversary. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant June 5, 2022 Joe, you are so right. It took me over four decades to trust my own judgment above those judging me, and since then I’ve been happier than I’ve ever been. Thank you very much for your wise words and your wonderful anniversary wishes. Reply
Damian Robin June 7, 2022 Hi courageous, determined, and multi-talented Susan! Thank you for your poem (ringing with a bit of England — that brings the question of why you went to Texas — Perhaps it was to be with Mike who you’d already met — and perhaps he had a plumber’s magnet to draw your steely being in). Here’s some more perhapses and projections . . . Perhaps (I’d say, because I do not know you that well) you once were marginalia and put away, were told “some poets do make ’it’ but yours won’t sell” and so in conversation they became the ‘they’ that bloat big in their boots to trip you on your way. They’d gloat, “Your stuff could cover up a chocolate box, a picture of plumped airy-fairy filler-in because it is so simple and too orthodox, naive, part-childlike, innocent, . . .” Yet brimming in straightforwardness, and to the point, and genuine. And, as you showed sweet subtlety right off the bat, with fruitful charms of inner rhyme and figs of speech, they’d pat your head because your meaning seemed off-pat and then they’d clamber to a rambling hammered speech about the mores of ‘poesy’ only you could reach. Perhaps my sketch of unseen setbacks in your life conveys a sense of inner strength that saw you through to find your core as poet, soul, supported wife, to trust your judgement over those who would judge you — for me (and maybe many more) your tale rings true. “ It took me over four decades to trust my own judgment above those judging me, “ a quote to savor. Congrats to you both in big cowboy hats!!!
Susan Jarvis Bryant June 7, 2022 Damian, your comment and the beautiful poem accompanying it has brought extra sunshine to my day and I am glowing in the golden wonder of your perhapses, all of which could be metaphors for a huge swathe of my life. I adore your poem! Thank you very much indeed! I will say this – love is simple. Love for poetry, love for family, love for friends, love for one’s one and only… if love becomes complicated, perhaps it’s not love. To me, love means understanding, and if you don’t, putting yourself out to try – if you don’t want to try, then it’s not love. You wouldn’t believe where that little bit of philosophy has led me… well you would, because I’ve told you while wearing a Stetson and cowgirl boots. 😉
jd June 4, 2022 Your verses could never be “puffs of fluff” unless you tried for them. Many congratulations to you and Mike on your special day. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant June 5, 2022 Thank you very much for your lovely comment, jd – I’m growing to like “puffs of fluff”, especially when they’re scudding above me while I’m sipping a glass of bubbly on my anniversary. 😉 Reply
Jeff Eardley June 4, 2022 Susan/Mike, your poetry has changed our lives over here. Can we wish you the happiest of anniversaries. You guys are amazing. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant June 5, 2022 Jeff, thank you very much for your continued encouragement and support, and for your beautiful anniversary wishes. You are amazing! Reply
Yael June 4, 2022 That’s beautiful Susan! Happy anniversary to you both and thank you for enriching my life with your linguistic flair. I hope we get to share eternity together on silver wings. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant June 5, 2022 Yael, thank you for your wonderful wishes and your beautiful thought… I am hoping eternity together on silver wings is on our horizon. Reply
Norma Pain June 5, 2022 I believe your words of truth and beauty will have changed many people across the world. Thank you for this lovely poem and congratulations to you and Mike on your anniversary. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant June 5, 2022 Norma, thank you very much for this lovely comment. Thank you too for being a poetic blaze of sunshine on this site. You always manage to bring a smile to a world that is in desperate need of one. Reply
Shaun C. Duncan June 5, 2022 You seem to be able to write these faster than I can read them. That you can do so with such impeccable craft and linguistic flair is awe-inspiring. And I hadn’t even noticed you and Mike share a surname. Happy anniversary to you both. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant June 14, 2022 Sorry I missed this, Shaun. Thank you very much for your lovely comment and your anniversary wishes. As for writing poems quickly, if I’m extremely passionate about a subject, the poems seem to write themselves… there’s an awful lot in the news just lately to stir me into action. I am hoping it won’t always be like this… we could all do with a little peace, and I am certain visitors to the SCP website will soon get tired of my name… now synonymous with doom and gloom. 🙂 Reply
Margaret Coats June 6, 2022 Susan, I’m sure Mike thought you were a sonnetful of sugar served on silver wings. Lovely poem to recall the flight! Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant June 6, 2022 Thank you very much, Margaret. I hope your silver wings fly you home from the Jubilee festivities safely and smoothy. Reply
