Carolyn Devonshire Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

Under the Cherokee Indian Removal Act of 1838, the tribe was forced to leave the fertile and scenic Smoky Mountains and migrate to a barren area of Oklahoma.  President Andrew Jackson signed the Act, which was opposed by Senator Davy Crockett.

 

 

Cherokee Tears

Cherokee Tears

ceremonial drums' rhythmic heartbeat
impassioned tribal chants
echo in Smoky Mountain mist before dawn

tortured spirit of an ignoble president
Andrew Jackson seems imprisoned here
haunted by wailing ghosts of tribe members
too old to meet Jackson's mandate

rise up, carry all you own
except your memories, your hopes
abandon graves of your ancestors
trek the "Trail of Tears" to a barren land

restless are the rising souls
natives who passed the pipe, welcomed whites
campers still report sightings
spirits walking and wailing from dusk till daybreak

specters bearing blood-spattered treaties
mingle in the Smoky Mountain mist
created by Cherokee tears




*Written November 20, 2018
For Line Gauthier's "Tribute to Native Cultures"

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M. L. Kiser December 17, 2018 at 7:37 PM Excellently penned; Jackson was so cold and cruel to the Native Peoples; he hadno regard for their lives. Congrats on your win; you deserve it.

Robert Lindley December 16, 2018 at 10:49 AM Congratulations on your win and this important and magnificent creation from your golden pen being number one in the one hundred best new poems list! I am with you on this advocating the Native American cause and also getting more information out on the tragedy that the Trail of Tears truly was my dear friend! As I have written about it several times myself.. A fav.. Carolyn Devonshire December 16, 2018 at 10:21 PM There is a group of motorcycle riders who travel the "Trail of Tears" each year in tribute to the Native Americans who died. Thanks for the visit, Robert.

Jan Allison December 15, 2018 at 3:59 PM You have opened my eyes to this issue Carolyn, you have researched this poem in such depth, many congrats on being '1 in the best new poems list and on your win:-) hugs jan xx

Susan Ashley December 15, 2018 at 2:21 PM I’m so happy to return to this exquisite poem with my congratulations for your wonderful and well deserved win, Carolyn. It is such a pleasure to read this beautiful and compelling poetry again. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Vladislav Raven December 15, 2018 at 1:38 PM Hi Carolyn, dropping by with my congratulations on your well-deserved win in the contest with this excellent piece. A piece to bring tears to the eyes. This is a tribute worthy of being read. Your words honour a people who were one with the land. You create a beauty within the sadness. This has to be a fave. Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs....Mike. XX Carolyn Devonshire December 15, 2018 at 1:42 PM That's very kind, Vladislav. Thanks for reading.

Connie Marcum Wong December 15, 2018 at 12:45 PM Yay! At the top of the Best New Poems list where it belongs Carolyn! I hope many read your words that honor them. Congratulations!

Greg Gaul December 15, 2018 at 12:15 PM Carolyn, this is terrific advocacy poetry. A champion of indigenous people and the cause for human treatment for Native Americans. With all the political turmoil of today, this gets little attention. Thanks for your fine verse and attention to this topic. Namaste dear poet. Carolyn Devonshire December 15, 2018 at 1:34 PM Thanks for noticing the advocacy, Greg. While on my college speech and debate team, I started reading Native American poetry and giving speeches on their plight. They are finally making strides politically, being elected to Congress and state legislatures. My late father truly admired them as well.

Connie Marcum Wong December 15, 2018 at 12:15 PM Congratulations on your win Carolyn. You already know how much I loved this poem. Our history books need to be changed to honor their memory. This is very beautifully written and I am faving it if I already haven't! : ) xxoo

Robert L. Hinshaw December 15, 2018 at 12:02 PM Congrats for your well-deserved win for this beauty, Carolyn! Should have rated much higher in my opinion. Thx for your kind comments re my win - Bob Carolyn Devonshire December 15, 2018 at 1:30 PM Thanks, Bob. I feel fortunate to have placed at all. Congrats again on your top win in Line's contest.

John Hamilton December 14, 2018 at 9:20 PM Congrats on another top 2 poem, second time changed today, no worries, both are great Carolyn Devonshire December 14, 2018 at 9:35 PM Hi John. Line's contest hasn't closed yet. Thanks for stopping by.

Robert Lindley December 13, 2018 at 7:02 PM I want to congratulate you on your wonderful and truthful verses written on this savage and merciless action taken by our government against innocent people. Adding this fine poem to my fav list my dear friend!

Vijay Pandit December 11, 2018 at 7:40 AM Another one of your poems climbs the top of best poem chart..congrats, Carolyn. Carolyn Devonshire December 11, 2018 at 9:17 AM Thanks for letting me know, Vijay.

David Byrne November 25, 2018 at 8:22 PM Yes, the word treaty took on a perverse mockery of its supposed meaning. Carolyn Devonshire December 4, 2018 at 10:14 PM The treaties were worthless, David. We should have many regrets as we populate a nation that was built on stolen land.

Silent One November 25, 2018 at 3:39 PM An excellent poem Carolyn, how sad and horrific what they had to endure then and how sad how they suffer today also.. Carolyn Devonshire December 4, 2018 at 10:15 PM They'll never get back what was taken from them. Our heritage in not a proud one in this respect. Thanks for reading.

Gershon Wolf November 24, 2018 at 9:29 PM Beautiful tribute. Stirring verses! Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving, Carolyn! Season's Best, Gershon

Chris Green November 23, 2018 at 12:46 PM Such a sad but beautifully written piece Carolyn. I know of this Trail of Tears and every time I hear about it my heartbreaks at the thought of people being forced out of their homeland like this, it must have been horrific.

John Gondolf November 23, 2018 at 12:19 PM Carolyn, this is such a beautifully written verse. This was such a sad time in our nation’s history. Best of luck in the contest. John

Charles Messina November 23, 2018 at 9:24 AM How beautiful is this, Carolyn. I recently watched a show about the Cherokee Indians...It is so sad that even in today's world they have been pushed aside and treated horribly. I love this... love & hugs...Charlie Carolyn Devonshire November 23, 2018 at 11:02 AM Thanks, Charles. I really enjoyed our "night before Christmas" poem!

Janice Canerdy November 23, 2018 at 8:06 AM Hauntingly beautiful, Carolyn! Janice

Andrea Dietrich November 22, 2018 at 3:30 PM You did this SO well, sweetie. I fully expect to see THIS one on a winner list. I wrote about this same atrocity a long time ago. I think it's listed as narrative or free verse. I have a Cherokee way back in the Miller line! Carolyn Devonshire November 22, 2018 at 10:12 PM Thanks, Andrea. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving feast!

Rico Leffanta November 21, 2018 at 3:14 PM What the English absolutely detested about Native Americans is that they had a better form of government! If the English enjoyed such freedom of religion and individual choice of government, how could they be controlled? But the "Founding Fathers" were able to include some Native American concepts into the Constitution. Good luck, Carolyn! Carolyn Devonshire November 21, 2018 at 3:58 PM If not for the generosity of Native Americans, we would not celebrate Thanksgiving. Thank you for reading, Rico.

Constance La France November 21, 2018 at 11:03 AM Carolyn, wow, wonderful, and yet after all that was done to the tribes, they could never, ever break their spirit, as an Ojibwe girl I love this write so much, it is a winner to me and a FAV ~ Carolyn Devonshire November 21, 2018 at 3:59 PM Thank you, Constance.

Paul Callus November 21, 2018 at 10:48 AM So many injustices have taken place through the ages, and yet so little has been done to remedy them. You do well, Carolyn, to bring up such a topic, making use of such beautiful free verse; may the younger generations get to know the true story. Hugs // paul Carolyn Devonshire November 21, 2018 at 3:59 PM We now have a Native American in Congress, but there is a long way to go. Thanks for reading, Paul.

Tim Smith November 21, 2018 at 9:59 AM So sad what happened to nation of people

Vijay Pandit November 21, 2018 at 7:35 AM You depict so eloquently a sad part of our history. They lost the land but also a sense of pride. So many elegant lines your wrote:tortured spirit of an ignoble president...and ..mingle in the Smoky Mountain mist created by Cherokee tears..very well written.. a sure win, Carolyn. Carolyn Devonshire November 21, 2018 at 4:00 PM I appreciate your kind comments, Vijay.

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