Carolyn Devonshire Poet Free verse

Flower Child's Lament

a “flower child” danced through life
so many years ago
cares were lost when she took a “toke”
and “passed the pipe” around feeling “way cool”
wishes for “peace” and “luv” she gave freely
but “pigs” were her enemies
even “flower power” couldn’t help her rise above
the brutal force used on students at Kent State
“Four dead in Ohio” became her mantra
when the National Guard surrounded her campus
fallout from Kent State spread nationwide
“Gimme Shelter” from the storm at home
while “Charlie” was pursued by draftees
Vietnam, a place she had never seen,
but the flower child’s spirit suffered 
each time a son or father was “sent home in a box”
she wanted all to “live long and prosper”
in a fantasy world where love bloomed like “Strawberry Fields”
but the “flower child’s” petals fell as she grew older
it was time to “get real” after all 


*Entry for Craig Cornish’s “Talk That Way” contest.
By Carolyn Devonshire about life in the 1970s

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Carol Sunshine Brown February 25, 2012 at 6:07 AM Congratulations on your win in Craig's "Talk That Way" contest Carolyn. Love, Carol

Andrea Dietrich February 24, 2012 at 7:14 PM Congratulations on this great 70's poem, particularly capturing the political climate of the early years of it, CArolyn.

Joyce Johnson February 24, 2012 at 5:54 PM This march back through time is fun. Bt how did we live through those decades? Great write Carolyn. Love, Joyce

Doris Culverhouse January 23, 2012 at 7:59 PM if you have a strong stomach....stop by my poetical attempts....I had one of those little white pills and an energy drink today....be warned! How are you? this is a really cool poem!! you are a fine versomatic hehe!

Bl Devnath January 23, 2012 at 8:41 AM Yes, everything and everyone get real in time,loved and wish you best for the contest, bl

Andrea Dietrich January 22, 2012 at 9:17 PM Love how you used LOTS of expressions from the 60's YOURS had expressions everyone from that era could get, unlike mine. haha. VERY nicely organized to showcase all the lingo!! Luv, Andrea

Joyce Johnson January 22, 2012 at 3:18 PM I think you have this flower child's language down beautifully and I can see a winner here. I haven't been around much because I still do not feel very well and can't stay at my computer very long at a time. I had to spend Saturday night at my daughter's house because my lights were off from the winter storm. Thanks for showing me my typo. I hadn't found it before. Love, Joyce

Diane Christian January 22, 2012 at 2:52 PM aww how lovley, and thanks for your kind comments God bles you and nice to see you here again

Joe Maverick January 22, 2012 at 2:22 PM Poignant write Carolyn, i can see the softness of the petals as you write onto the page..!

Sara Kendrick January 22, 2012 at 12:58 PM Reads like a winner..Good luck in the contest..I remember a few of these from TV only for I never was around anyone that used the slang..Thanks for stopping by, reading, and taking the time to comment..Sara

Jack Horne January 21, 2012 at 2:57 PM My, what an interesting piece, my friend - and I understood all these words (I hardly knew any of the words Andrea used in hers, LOL)

Bob Quigley January 21, 2012 at 2:35 PM I think you captured the age with this write Carolyn. Very nice. Good luck

Robert Pettit January 21, 2012 at 2:24 PM Carolyn, what you have described here (without the Kent State incident) occurred in the sixties. However, there was some carryover into the early seventies with this vividly described material. It was amazing how nearly all of it disappeared with the ending of our involvement in Vietnam. Overall, another good write.