Excavating Faith

People of faith survived,
Although thousands had perished
The moment to unearth Washington’s history arrived
Great expectations had been nourished
Souls sought remains of a nation cherished

Tales handed down hadn’t explained
How a once-great civilization fell
Why so few remained
Excavating the White House went well
But beneath it was a strange holding cell

The huge metal cell was labeled “Banished”
As seekers opened the vault
Curiosity vanished
Through cobwebs they pushed without halt
Now they knew what had been at fault.

Every document with “in God we trust”
Any reference to our Creator
Lay covered by dust
Of hubris ancestors suffered 
Thinking there was none greater
Absence of God was their annihilator.




N/A in Strand Choice 7 contest, Judged January 27, 2020

Copyright © | Year Posted 2012



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Date: 2/27/2020 5:13:00 PM
a very well deserved win Carolyn you open our eyes to issues that have been well and truly hidden:-( hugs Jan xx
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Date: 2/27/2020 2:35:00 PM
I was unaware of this Carolyn. Thank you for enlightening me. Very well done! Congratulations on your deserving win! xxoo
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Date: 4/1/2012 5:36:00 PM
YES!!! Love it and glad to see others did also. More right on than people know. An insipired write to be sure Carolyn.Congratulations my friend on writing such an outstanding prophetic poem. We still have the chance to avoid this catastrophe if we stop being so apathetic and hubris bound. I knew a guy who wanted to be rid of alcoholism but did not believe in God and to believe in a higher power is a must. "Well then", said his sponsor "the first thing you have to do is believe you are not Him."
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Date: 4/1/2012 2:21:00 PM
A well derserved win for this poem. I really liked the last verse.
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Date: 4/1/2012 12:37:00 PM
I am very happy to send you this congratulations on your win in Francine's "Cobwebs And Dust" contest Carolyn. Love, Carol
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Date: 3/31/2012 10:51:00 PM
Oh Carolyn!! Awsome job!!! Congratulations on your win! I love this statement!!! Well Done! Brava! Huggsss,love deb
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Date: 3/31/2012 9:44:00 PM
big congrats Carolyn on a stellr win for this stunning write luv..
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Date: 3/31/2012 8:47:00 PM
Carolyn, congrats on your win! You've written a sad futuristic view of our country. Frightening really. Great work. Love, Kim
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Date: 3/31/2012 7:41:00 PM
Congrats on a very powerful and unfortunate truth...God is mocked and his people are ridiculed in the media regularly...and they will try again and again to remove In God We Trust from our coins and public places. The Christian part of America is falling away....It grieves my heart.
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Gwendolen Song
Date: 3/31/2012 7:43:00 PM
Another patriotic and emotive write, Carolyn...Do happy to see it was way way up at the top!...I think I went thru at least 15 of your poems this evening...maybe more...I gotta do this again VERY SOON...We are blessed to have u on this site!
Date: 3/31/2012 7:33:00 PM
congrats on your second place win Carolyn, thinking "outside the box" just like I asked
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Date: 3/10/2012 2:55:00 PM
ah yes! great minds! Awesome write Carolyn! ... this is of course what goes wrong with any society of peoples if one wants to study history a bit. Heck even I knew that and I think I was even absent that day! Carolyn, my friend the only thing wrong that I can possibly find with this write is ..... that....... I DID NOT WRITE IT! Dang ! Nice, ingenious, prophetic and pathetic truism with poetry as the vehicle.- love Bob
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Date: 3/8/2012 6:40:00 AM
Wow, Carolyn! I have chills after reading this. It reminds me of Who is really in charge. est wishes in the contest. I, too, agree with Kash. This is a winner. Blessings, Rhonda
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Rhonda Johnson-Saunders
Date: 3/8/2012 6:40:00 AM
*Best wishes!!
Date: 3/7/2012 3:23:00 PM
Beautiful piece, respectful to all the gods
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Date: 3/7/2012 1:18:00 PM
Powerful and wonderful! Love it wholeheartedly!
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Dane Ann Smith-Johnsen
Date: 3/7/2012 1:19:00 PM
PS I agree with Kash! 1st Place!
Date: 3/7/2012 11:48:00 AM
The Black House. One of your far-reaching pieces. You brought that "holding cell" to life - goosed my curiosity. Thoroughly enjoyable, dear Carolyn. Love, daver
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Date: 3/7/2012 11:37:00 AM
Did this really happen if it did it was [in my mind] because this is a country where we are free to believe in the G-d of our own hearts and name..so since they couldn't list the names of G-d they don't want it on documents and anyway why the heck would we sully G-d by puting G-D on money? Light & Love
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Carolyn Devonshire
Date: 3/7/2012 2:43:00 PM
If you notice, I said "people of faith," not Christians. "God" is known to different people by different names. I didn't want to exclude anyone.
Date: 3/7/2012 10:54:00 AM
Very good approach to do this contest Carolyn.Love your poem.Best wishes.
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Date: 3/7/2012 10:52:00 AM
Yeah..1st here!!
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