Carolyn Devonshire Poet Sonnet

Notes About The Poem

Gray

Mournings

Gray Mournings

Lace hankie tucked inside her jacket sleeve
Hard candy filled the tin beside Mom’s purse
Gray mournings, nature’s gifts for those who grieve
At times when it seems nothing could be worse

So many dresses filled her closet space
And most of them I’d sewn by hand for her
I folded them as memories gave chase
Recalling the fine fabrics Moms prefer

Her perfume bottle nearly stood half full
Its fragrance still brought thoughts of Mom to me
And when I packed her scarf of finest wool
A teardrop fell that only Dad could see

For as I stowed Mom’s things, my Dad looked on
He knew I’d pack again when he was gone




*January 3, 2020

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Darlene De Beaulieu August 5, 2021 at 11:04 AM Carolyn i am going to pretend you are here this makes it easy for me to express myself. i miss you so you know. I did not know you were having health problems. your death was a shock to me. I can not believe you are gone. But you know what you will be remembered by us all. Rest In PEACE. Darlene DeB. Your friend.

Richard Lamoureux August 5, 2021 at 5:12 AM This is sad and beautifully expressed.

Connie Marcum Wong February 14, 2020 at 12:29 AM This poem choked me up again even tho I marked it as a fave and read it a few times. I am so happy to see it in Second Place Carolyn! Congratulations! xxoo

David Drowley February 9, 2020 at 7:02 PM Carolyn, Beautiful, moving, excellent! David

Lonna Blodgett February 8, 2020 at 1:32 PM So lovely and delicate is your grieving! Beautiful. Lonna

John Gondolf February 8, 2020 at 7:49 AM I could feel the sad emotion in this sonnet, Carolyn, nicely done. Congrats on your win. Hugs John

Kim James February 8, 2020 at 1:48 AM Beautiful. Thank you and congratulations x

Andrea Dietrich February 7, 2020 at 4:48 PM aha, I see this is one of yours I had FAVED. No wonder it won second place. Way to go, Carolyn!!

John Watt February 7, 2020 at 2:01 PM Carolyn, this one needed a hankie to get through. The aftermath of a parent dying involves many tasks, some help with the grieving process, some bring up vivid memories (for better or worse), some just keep us busy as we grieve. I liked your play on morning/mourning. Beautiful and touching, well-deserving of your high placement in Emile's sonnet contest. Hugs ~ John

Janis Medders Tobechi February 7, 2020 at 12:03 PM Beautiful. Moved me to tears. Congratulations on your podium placement. Carolyn Devonshire February 7, 2020 at 12:05 PM Thank you, Janis. Your input means a lot to me. Hugs, Carolyn

Gary Smith February 7, 2020 at 11:40 AM Beautifully written poetry Carolyn, congrats. :)

Sandra Adams February 7, 2020 at 11:20 AM wonderful touching poem Carolyn...congrats on your win :) hugs Carolyn Devonshire February 7, 2020 at 11:27 AM Just one of life's saddest moments and many people go through it. Thanks for reading, Sandra!

Emile Pinet February 7, 2020 at 11:18 AM Congratulations Carolyn! Your remarkable poem earned “Second” place in my contest. This contest was tough to judge but your poem caught my attention from the first reading, well done my friend, Emile. Carolyn Devonshire February 7, 2020 at 11:26 AM Thank you, Emile. I enjoyed writing for your contest!

Keith O.J. Hunt January 20, 2020 at 11:32 AM So heartfelt and original, the message transcends the sorrow;-)

John Hamilton January 10, 2020 at 11:25 AM Like everyone else this touched me deeply, I can't imagine losing my Mom, it must be horrible, this sonnet is one of the best I have read lately so into my faves it goes. Thanks for posting this sad beauty! Carolyn Devonshire January 10, 2020 at 3:52 PM Thanks, John. It felt cathartic when I was writing. I think the loss of my mother was even harder than losing Dad 11 years ago. I was lost without her.

Gershon Wolf January 6, 2020 at 1:39 PM Beautiful and touching sonnet-tribute to Mom, Carolyn. That 'teardrop' speaks volumes. Superb. Warm wishes, Gershon Carolyn Devonshire January 6, 2020 at 1:57 PM Thanks for reading, Gershon.

Connie Marcum Wong January 5, 2020 at 10:56 PM This moving sonnet brought tears to my eyes Carolyn. I hope it is a top winner for you. I must put it into my Faves. xxoo

Tom Cunningham January 4, 2020 at 3:02 PM It's sad when you have to do that Carolyn, when my father passed a lot of his things went to charity shops and all the glassware him and my mother had I took to a cancer charity shop, It eased things a bit knowing their possessions were doing something good. Tom Carolyn Devonshire January 5, 2020 at 4:42 PM Our church took their things and distributed to needy parishioners. It did help some to know this. After Dad died, their furniture went to the Salvation Army. No waste. Thanks for reading, Tom.

Silent One January 4, 2020 at 9:40 AM What an excellent sonnet, i think Emile will love this one.. i could feel the sadness and angst in this..

Vijay Pandit January 4, 2020 at 7:48 AM Excellent sonnet Carolyn--sad yet beautiful. Memories unfolding in every line--and the ending tugs the heart. Very best for TOP win.

Lindsay Laurie January 3, 2020 at 10:16 PM My gosh Carolyn … as sad as this sonnet is, it is beautifully written - thank you for posting - Lindsay

Andrea Dietrich January 3, 2020 at 6:58 PM wow, Carolyn you did an outstanding job with your sonnet for Emile. A FAVE for me. Carolyn Devonshire January 4, 2020 at 12:36 PM Thank you, Andrea. I was inspired by an Ed Sheeran song called "Supermarket Flowers." I cry when I hear it. The song brings back all the memories described in my sonnet.

Jan Allison January 3, 2020 at 4:46 PM I have a huge lump in my throat Carolyn, a scenario many people face after the loss of a loved one. I found it heartbreaking when dad died and we had to sell the house and the possessions went to auction or the charity shop - so many memories but only for those who are left. Mum now only has a room in the care home, i retain a few things of theirs at my house but cant hold on to the past. adding this touching gem to my faves:-) hugs jan xx Carolyn Devonshire January 3, 2020 at 4:47 PM Thanks, Jan. Packing away a loved one's life is one of the hardest things any of us will ever have to do. Thanks for your kind words. Hugs, Carolyn

Chris Green January 3, 2020 at 4:37 PM Wow Carolyn, that was incredibly sad and heart touching. You have brought this scene to life and I could feel the ache of sadness. Best wishes in the contest. Carolyn Devonshire January 3, 2020 at 4:41 PM Sadly, this is the duty that fell to me after both of my parents passed. My siblings lived too far away to help. I gave all their things to the church. Thanks for reading, Chris.