Carolyn Devonshire Poet Couplet

Notes About The Poem

 

Silenced

 

 

 

 

Most have heard about the problems with mail-in voting this year, but voter intimidation goes farther than that.  I received postal mail from an opposing political party telling me that although my vote was cast in early September, it won't be counted.  Additional letters arrived from a group that calls themselves "Voter Participation."  They sent me a list of the elections from the past 10 years and told me when I voted!   I hope everyone who votes has their choices counted.

Silenced

That awful dream returned last night
The one in which, pursued, I fight
to find my voice and try to shout
but not a single word comes out

I’m powerless to flee this foe
and yet his face I surely know
For decades he has followed me
when there seemed no equality

A fairer shot, an equal wage
Injustices had set the stage
to disenfranchise my voice now
by any means laws will allow

I’d like to say as tensions mount
my ballot’s cast, but will it count?
This is my vote; I have a voice
Are you afraid to hear my choice?

Now for my foe, a tab’s come due
Don’t let him strip your rights from you!

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Christuraj Alex May 4, 2021 at 10:54 AM Very Beautiful! Especially the ending couplet...

Jennifer Proxenos November 21, 2020 at 8:19 AM Absolutely, he deserves to have any and every right stripped from him and he must begin the transition now, two months to go, so much could still go wrong! Lovely write Carolyn, Kudo's my friend. Hugs, Jennifer.

Jack Horne November 3, 2020 at 12:14 PM loved reading this one again, hon & tried to leave a comment on your 'Bony Finger' - I couldn't type the captcha letters in, for some reason - such a clever, surprise ending with that one

Andrea Dietrich November 1, 2020 at 9:45 AM I am sure your voice will be heard, carolyn. Michael Moore does not get things wrong!! It's so weird how you are having these problems. I am seeing voting booths set up everywhere around Utah. THey had them right outside the movie theater I attended yesterday. They are making a big deal over voting this year, for obvious reasons! So don't worry, both sides are working hard to be heard! Andrea Dietrich November 13, 2020 at 7:26 PM even with what he says about 9/11? I sure do believe Moore on that one too Carolyn Devonshire November 1, 2020 at 3:47 PM Michael Moore is something of a hero to me, Andrea. Glad your state has enough voting booths.

Harry Horsman October 31, 2020 at 11:00 PM Wow such confusion, Carolyn. The world is crazy, A world which looked upon the USA as an example of the way to be, yet its leaders spend more time, trying to drag the other down, no positives only negatives,, thank heaven for you and your fellow American's poetry, here on soup . Carolyn Devonshire November 1, 2020 at 3:49 PM We've been told the rest of the world feels sorry for Americans living under this president. One newscaster pointed out that if we don't have change, the world will just think we're getting what we deserve. So sad to have it come down to this.

Rico Leffanta October 31, 2020 at 1:34 PM We know the primary source of voter fraud, yet 41% of Americans support him! Continue speaking up as your voice and your vote is needed! Aloha! Rico Carolyn Devonshire November 1, 2020 at 3:50 PM SNL did a great spoof of voter intimidation last night. There was a fella walking through the voting precinct carrying an Uzi!

Tom Cunningham October 30, 2020 at 3:04 AM Who you vote for is your business and yours alone and your personal details should be kept private. Tom Carolyn Devonshire October 30, 2020 at 3:41 PM That's what angered me! Whether I vote or not is my business, just as much as how I vote. The letter sought to intimidate me. Hugs, CD

John Gondolf October 29, 2020 at 3:34 PM Well penned Carolyn. I had an interesting situation, the county sheriff came to my door a couple weeks ago wanting to know if I had voted because they had a ballot that supposedly came from me that looked suspicious. Seems that someone else had already sent in a ballot for me and several hundred others...he was running for mayor of our town. He is now in jail. Voter fraud is alive and well in Texas. John Carolyn Devonshire October 30, 2020 at 8:20 AM I'm glad they were able to find the man who impersonated you, John. It's very disturbing to hear things like this. I've been voting by mail for years, but this is the first time there have been problems.

Jan Allison October 29, 2020 at 1:54 PM Its shocking to see how people are being intimidated and their personal data on voting can be seen - absolutely disgusting state of affairs - may the best man win and by that i dont mean the orange ommpah loompah:-( hugs jan xx Carolyn Devonshire October 30, 2020 at 2:57 PM Keeping fingers crossed!

Vijay Pandit October 29, 2020 at 1:53 PM Very timely and powerful write my friend. You speak for millions who have suffered inequality and injustice. Voter intimidation is so ugly in a country like USA. Hope everybody votes. Change may be around the corner. Awesome write, Carolyn. Carolyn Devonshire October 30, 2020 at 3:42 PM I hope everyone votes too. Seems like there are some who want to keep us from exercising our rights...

Silent One October 29, 2020 at 1:25 PM Politics is a dirty game and so deceptive... I try to keep out of it... I hope America comes to its senses and votes for the right guy... Carolyn Devonshire October 30, 2020 at 3:40 PM I'm cautiously optimistic that will be the case. Hope so! Thanks for reading, Silent One!

Jack Horne October 29, 2020 at 1:16 PM yes, indeed - as Ilene says, very well said. Let's just keep our fingers crossed... Carolyn Devonshire October 30, 2020 at 3:39 PM Truly, many of us are praying for change. Thanks for reading, Jack.

Ilene Bauer October 29, 2020 at 1:10 PM very well said, carolyn! i cannot wait until this election is over - there is so much fear and division in this country i don't know if we'll ever come together again... Carolyn Devonshire October 30, 2020 at 3:28 PM If we stay on our current course, the future looks bleak. Still, we cling to hope that there will be acceptance and peace in the future. Thanks for reading, Ilene. I'll check your page.