Carolyn Devonshire Poet Lyric

Headed For the Gristmill

Yesterday’s sweet corn
     now rests among the shucked,
          where norms’ victims lay.

Side-by-side in rusty silos,
     awaiting the gristmill;
          dull substance feeds the masses.

Look at us, Mr. Kipling.
     What became of “The Man Who Would Be King”?
          Laugh at us.

Anesthetized aspirations 
     embalmed by mediocrity,
          hacks without hopes rest in a garden of low expectations. 

Individuality sacrificed,
     we are the dull fruit
          carried in coffins created by conformity.

What is left to feed the next generation,
     but the seeds of monotony
          without a kernel of creativity?




*May 26, 2018

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Elaine George June 22, 2018 at 9:05 AM BRILLIANT...SIMPLY BRILLIANT, Carolyn. Many congrats on your win. Elaine

Susan Gentry June 22, 2018 at 6:45 AM Congratulations on your win with this most awesome poem!

Joseph May June 19, 2018 at 6:43 AM Congrats on your win Carolyn..

Tom Cunningham June 18, 2018 at 9:24 PM Back with congratulations Carolyn. Tom.

Winged Warrior May 31, 2018 at 8:35 AM Great take on the theme Carolyn...best of luck my friend...love and light...^WW^

Harry Horsman May 30, 2018 at 3:47 PM Carolyn, i need to tell you, how wonderful it is to read and see you back here on soup, again, and thanks for you comments on my poems, just like the old days...Your poem is amazing, the 4th stanza just blew me away..i don't get around much on soup now-a-days, but to read poetry of this standard makes my day..thank you, you are a gem...

Richard Lamoureux May 30, 2018 at 8:59 AM Amazing metophor. Exceptional writing.

Elaine George May 29, 2018 at 7:16 PM BRILLIANT free verse, Carolyn. My pick for first placement. This goes to my favs. Sincerely, Elaine

Andrea Dietrich May 29, 2018 at 6:53 PM fave.

Andrea Dietrich May 29, 2018 at 6:53 PM this is FANTASTIC, Carolyn. I love the way you took it, not literally but figuratively. Wish I had thought of it. Wait till you see mine. I can be sure nobody did one like mine anyway.

Mystic Rose Rose May 29, 2018 at 3:19 PM a very creative write, I like where you took this contest too. I wish you luck, Carolyn,

John Gondolf May 28, 2018 at 8:54 AM A very creative approach to the subject, Carolyn, nicely done. I think everyone has approached it differently. Best of luck. John

Paul Callus May 27, 2018 at 3:22 PM I love your excellent creativity, Carolyn. All you had to work on was a single word, and yet you were able to come out with such suggestive thoughts. Love & hugs // paul Carolyn Devonshire May 29, 2018 at 5:21 PM Sometimes a poem comes to us immediately, Paul. This was my first thought upon reading the contest description. Thank you for your kindness. Love, Carolyn

Alexis Y. May 27, 2018 at 12:48 PM Hi Carolyn, What a interesting take on the contest theme. Good lyrics and content. I wish you the best of luck in the contest:-)

Tom Cunningham May 27, 2018 at 7:40 AM Well written lyric Carolyn, with a thought provoking message, not gruesome like mine lol. Good luck in the contest. Tom.

Joseph May May 26, 2018 at 10:35 PM An apt analogy to the king, who found himself in a gristmill of sorts...Very well penned Carolyn

Arturo Michael May 26, 2018 at 6:38 PM We'd be lucky if we have that kernel...You've described the most probable outcome of our existence...All the best Carolyn Carolyn Devonshire May 29, 2018 at 4:48 PM Young people today seem to conform less than the older generations. Maybe there is hope. Thanks, Arturo!

Silent One May 26, 2018 at 4:11 PM You make a valid point through your poem... This is great poetry.. Carolyn Devonshire May 26, 2018 at 4:37 PM It seems we sacrifice a bit of our own individuality each time we concede to the expectations of others. Thank you for reading.