Carolyn Devonshire Poet Haiku

Connecting Genius and Madness

* Written for Elly's "At Least Three Proverbs and One Quote Contest" (Modified Haiku with rhyme)

Aristotle quote: “There was never a genius without a tincture of madness.”

American Proverbs
Edgar Allen Poe: “I remained too much inside my head; I ended up losing my mind.”
Robin Williams: “You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it”
Marilyn Monroe: “Imperfection is beauty; madness is genius.”


can genius be found
if you fail to look around
     head buried in ground

to stay in my mind
others may think I am blind
     label me maligned

welcome is madness
if you believe it’s genius
     and make others guess

shall I cling to it
this madness, every last bit
    to genius commit

imperfection reigns
for people who play mind games
    desiring acclaims  

I must not lose this
ties to poetic genius
     deep in mind’s abyss  


*Written October 4, 2014
The two words are “genius” and “madness”
First two verses are a play on Poe’s proverbs
Third verse is inspired by the Aristotle quote
Fourth verse is a play on Robin Williams’ proverb 
Fifth verse is inspired by the Marilyn Monroe proverb
Sixth and final verse is inspired by the Poe proverb

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Rajat Kanti Chakrabarty October 24, 2014 at 1:52 AM wow! that's the right one. I must keep it in my favorite list. love Carolyn:-) rajat

Muhammad Safa Thajudeen October 20, 2014 at 7:07 AM A good poetic tie.Excellent.

Muhammad Safa Thajudeen October 7, 2014 at 10:47 AM Welcome is madness.....is that so? Carolyn Devonshire October 7, 2014 at 12:10 PM Only if you concur with Robin Williams and Aristotle that madness is an aspect of genius.