Carolyn Devonshire Poet Quintain (English)

Ceding To Pain

Eighty-four pounds at age 27
An illness nearly claimed my life
The doctor said, “You have an option” 
But the choice was one that cut like a knife
No man would want me for a wife

“Pray for a miracle; linger in pain
Or negate any chance of having children”
My husband had died, my hope long since drained
In a sense I already felt barren
To live painlessly, I gave in


*June 23, 2014

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Keith O.J. Hunt July 5, 2014 at 10:19 AM Great win Carolyn ~~~ you've fought the good fight and came way up on top! Very endearing and courageous write... Love Always, Keith

Greg Hoffman July 5, 2014 at 9:35 AM Congrats on your win,your poem really tied the heartstrings in a knot.Well done

Debbie Guzzi July 4, 2014 at 10:42 PM An awful choice, so brave. Congrad's on your win. Light & Love

Jadazzle United July 4, 2014 at 2:26 PM dropping by with my congratulations Carolyn this was a heartbreaking write the first time I read it and it is still incredibly moving to read it a second time. Jan xxx

Mohan Chutani July 4, 2014 at 11:16 AM Congrats for Dr. Ram's contest win. Mohan

Robert Johnson July 4, 2014 at 9:30 AM This situation epitimises this contest. You told it so well. Congrats on 1st.

Dr. Upma A. Sharma July 4, 2014 at 8:40 AM Tremendously emotional write Carolyn ! U really had hard choice to make n u did it dear! Hats off to ur courage! Congrats on first place win ! God bless u always !

Dr.Ram Mehta July 4, 2014 at 8:18 AM A unique write on the Hard Choices and fine Rhyming, Congrats on the win in my contest, Carolyn

Paul Callus June 30, 2014 at 3:54 AM This is very touching Carolyn. It must have been hard to deal with at the time, but choices do have to be made. I am sure you did it for the best. Sorry about the double love let downs, but looks to me that you also found affection in true friends. Take care. // paul Paul Callus July 4, 2014 at 3:16 PM Back for one more read....and congratulations on a top placed win!

Keith Merritt June 28, 2014 at 5:53 PM This could have been written about someone close to my heart, so I am in empathy. As a man, sometimes it's hard to shed tears in public for someone's loss and pain, but shed I did. God bless you, Carolyn !

Connie Marcum Wong June 27, 2014 at 2:04 AM It is the heart that aches when you want so much to have a child and it is denied you. I have great empathy for you as I have two friends who have gone through this and I have shared my children with them. Blessings...

Robert Nehls June 26, 2014 at 4:01 PM I believe you must choose life in that circumstance. Although, I'm sure it was one of the hardest decisions you have ever made. God always has a plan for us. You are a unique and loving person with much to give. This one touched my heart, Carolyn. very well done.... Robert.

Jslambert Mister Roboto June 26, 2014 at 9:57 AM wow. This is something you had told me about before in no great detail, but I knew you had experienced a very rough ordeal. These things often make strong people even tougher and stronger and wiser. Thanks for posting this. I had a serious case of meningitis and thought I might go out with a whimper...There were obviously bigger better plans for both of us. Keep your head up with a sMiLE!

Jack Horne June 25, 2014 at 4:36 PM oh, such a sad write, my friend - hope this is a winner if for a contest xx

Joe Maverick June 25, 2014 at 4:10 PM What a traumatic experience Carolyn, In one sense I did think of not reading this upon seeing its title..' however i did..' I think you are a brave soul,who has & will spread love through your gift of words, and loyal nature take care..'

Ravi Sathasivam June 24, 2014 at 8:16 AM Very heartbreaking and touching write. Sad. Tfs

Vera Duggan June 23, 2014 at 11:59 PM Oh Carolyn how sad your life must have been, I do hope you have found someone to fill your life, but they will never replace what you had before, lovely way of expressing yourself in a poem, Take care my friend.............Vera................ Carolyn Devonshire June 26, 2014 at 5:22 PM Dear Vera, The inability to have children destroyed two long-term relationships. Both men knew from the start, but later had second thoughts as they wanted children of their own. Always wished I would have been able to adopt a child as a single parent, but I was usually working at least two jobs, often more. My friends shared their children with me and that helped a lot.

Justin Bordner June 23, 2014 at 8:20 PM An inscrutable misforune which you clearly endured with dignity, creating good fortune through beautiful fortitude Carolyn. Sometimes we are given the opportunity to reinvent ourselves, our values and our purpose (s) from suffering. You have done well. Trauma poetry is very is truly empowering. J.A.B. Carolyn Devonshire June 23, 2014 at 8:52 PM Justin, even as this was happening my closest friends said I got through it in a "dignified" way. At the time I didn't know what they meant. I approach illness with a lot of thought and prepare to accept the consequences God provides. I felt he wanted me to choose life.

Jan Allison June 23, 2014 at 5:05 PM my heart goes out to you Carolyn for this heartbreaking write. Hugs jan xxx Carolyn Devonshire June 23, 2014 at 8:53 PM Dear Jan, I have dealt with it and am in a good frame of mind now. Thank you for the hugs. I'm returning them to you.

Sara Kendrick June 23, 2014 at 4:19 PM Interesting work sharing some very personal information..Sometimes we have to make some very hard choices which effect us the rest of our lives..Thanks for the visit to my page..I appreciate you stopping there..Sara Carolyn Devonshire June 23, 2014 at 8:55 PM Dear Sara, it has been a long time since this happened and I have made peace with my decision. It was the hardest choice I ever had to make, but the doctor said it was highly unlikely I could ever conceive. I think difficult choices always seem personal, but friends like you help me through mine. Love, Carolyn

Andrea Dietrich June 23, 2014 at 3:46 PM wow, something I never knew about you and so very well expressed poetically here. Sorry for this loss in your young life. For someone like my sister, it would have been very horrible. She lives for that son of hers now!! The title of this is awesome, Carolyn Carolyn Devonshire June 23, 2014 at 9:00 PM Andrea, I do wish I'd have been able to have children, but I "adopted" the children of my dearest friends and they still mean a lot to me.

Mohan Chutani June 23, 2014 at 11:49 AM very brave indeed, Carolyn. Faith and time heals. Best. Mohan Carolyn Devonshire June 23, 2014 at 9:01 PM Yes, Mohan, now that time has passed, it is easier for me to talk about this decision. Faith helped me through it.

Frederic Parker June 23, 2014 at 10:15 AM Carolyn, only those who live this know the depth of its sadness, every child is now your child, a painful poem to read and brave of you to post it Carolyn Devonshire June 23, 2014 at 11:49 AM I would have died without the surgery and had lived in terrible physical pain for years. Once I faced and accepted the reality, it wasn't difficult to share, Frederic. One long-time friend shared her children with me and these amazing kids always said they considered me part of their family. Together, we all took vacations and spent many wonderful days.

Tim Smith June 23, 2014 at 7:52 AM Very heartfelt Carolyn but a very wise decision.... There are many who would marry a woman even if the are barren...A very thought provoking piece...Thanks for sharing... Hugs Tim Carolyn Devonshire June 23, 2014 at 11:41 AM Tim, I had two long-term relationships that ended for this reason, even though both men knew from the start. My friend Elaine who died recently had the same problem and she never remarried after her high school sweetheart left her. I'm grateful to have nine nieces and nephews who have brought joy to my life.