Best Carolyn Poems
We never met, although we planned
to make our dream come true;
the will was strong, the body weak…
and then you bid adieu
when angels came and took your hand
(I called your name in vain).
You left this vale for pastures new
where peace replaced your pain.
Carolyn passed away, but her unconditional friendship and kindness,
together with her gift of words will never be forgotten. She was one
of the first to welcome me to Soup, and we bonded from the start.
We co-wrote several poems, some of which were published in
various anthologies. She will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Awarded POTD 5th August 2021
There lives a grand lady near the sea
In Ormand where she delights to be.
She is a Poetess, words she shares
In lovely poems, her heart she bares.
With humble poem good wishes I send.
I feel honored to call her my friend.
A kindred spirit shined from the start.
Carolyn gives with an open heart.
All her friendships she holds very dear
She's always there to spread her good cheer.
A more loyal friend you will not find
Her soul is so pure, loving and kind.
Her beauty glows within and without
She is a blessing without a doubt.
In colors of love, I see her shine,
I celebrate this sweet friend of mine!
9-22-19
~Second Place~
~Poem of the Week 9/29-10/5/19~
Pick a Friend on Soup Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Bobby May
The battles on the field are harsh and tough
The looting in their wake engorged with greed
Abundant spoils of war are not enough.
Atrocious in their acts that make no sense
The women and the girls are taken slaves
Abusing them with lust and violence.
Unable to resist the touch of shame
The captive females cry in pain and fear
Their lives will never be again the same.
And when the dust of war has blown away
The children of the foe get born to those
Who months before fell prey and ravaged lay.
Unwanted children still need loving care
Mothers find it hard to nurture such babes
Shame is endured by children in despair.
Their lives are defined by horrid attacks
Evil men who satisfied selfish needs
Indignities make them fall through the cracks.
Who loves a child rejected by its kin?
Society offers them no solace
The “enemy’s child”, created by sin;
But all these children still have hearts and souls
Rejection renews the cycle of pain
When there is no one who cares or consoles.
-----------------------------------------------------
Co-write: Paul Callus & Carolyn Devonshire
@ March 2015
Just as everyone before her,
she walked through this life alone,
leaving footprints we can follow
as we struggle on our own.
She, woman of many talents
rationed what she let us see.
Wit and wisdom she exuded
in her unique poetry.
There are others who have judged her
as she played another role.
But perhaps we knew her better,
a true poet bares hr soul.
Welcome , Dear Carolyn, we finally meet,
Please come in , won't you have a seat.
Let's sit on the deck and we'll watch the deer.
There's no need to whisper, they have no fear.
I'm so glad you're spending your vacation with me.
We'll get to know each other over this pot of tea.
I am so looking forward to showing off my home town.
Did you bring comfortable shoes for our running around?
Dear Carolyn, I know such good friends we'll be,
So just tell me 'everything' while I pour the tea.
for the Michael's "First words over coffee" contest
by Francine Roberts, about the wonderful Carolyn Devonshire, whom I would
absolutely love to meet
Please come in dear Carolyn. I am thoroughly delighted.
Since I heard that you were coming I’ve been happily excited.
It was so kind of Michael to arrange that we should meet.
You’re exactly as I pictured you, both beautiful and sweet.
Let’s have coffee in my garden underneath the cloudless sky.
It’s April in my Northwest home. We’re so lucky it is dry.
The tulip tours have started, as has salmon fishing season.
The nearby Skagit holds the big ones, catching one’s not out of reason.
We’ll have our lunch and then start touring Skagit Valley tulip farms.
I want to show you quaint LaConner and explore all of it charms.
By: Joyce Johnson lLWon first place
Welcoming Carolyn Devonshire in Michaels's "First Words Over Coffee" contest.
Coffee not Tea for Andrea,Carolyn and Linda-Marie
Come on ladies pull out a chair and have a seat.
Pour yourself a cup of coffee and sugar makes it sweet.
A friendly conversation and a cup of joe.
To ask about my fellow poets who I hardly know.
We didn't dress fancy or pretty up our hair.
Told one another about things we needed to share.
There are things in life women need to say.
Sometimes in troubles we ask our friends to pray.
So Andrea,Carolyn or Linda-Marie.
If you need a cup of java remember me.
Teresa Skyles
Entered in Micheal J.Falotico"First words over coffee"contest.
1.
Within Elysium Fields, the souls of the dead find their peace but there are those souls who do not think they deserve such peace. Those already within Elysium sometimes try to bring these sad souls into the fold by extolling the beauty of Elysium.
Oh, beloved grace, open sapphire eyes,
standing now on emerald green expanse.
You are glory, within a paradise
where sun brightly shines, beauty you enhance.
Shadows mar my view of Elysium
Regrets I carry from a life wasted
There are no oaks or pretty psidium
Nectar of Norse Gods I’ve never tasted
Emerald green carpet reaches the sea,
where azure waters to horizon reach.
Up high on a hill your villa shall be,
where love and joy no darkness ever breach.
In a hovel I dwell, ruing mistakes
Elysium’s bright lights behind closed gates
No joy in my soul, just torment and aches
For a life filled with sin, nothing placates
Swim through the beauty which awaits your eyes,
into life's new dawn Elysium sings.
Those who enter with love find paradise,
find the peace that Elysium love brings.
Coveting rewards for those who lived well
Is the destiny of my own making
There is no escape from torments that befell
To think joy had been mine for the taking
07/01/2019
(Collaborative Poetry Series.)
Thank you Carolyn for letting me share ink with you on this wonderful write. It has been an honour and a pleasure to work on this collaboration with you. You have made the experience so enjoyable and easy. Have a wonderful Monday. Hugs....Mike. XX
You have written and submitted poems galore.
Your work gathers comments from others by the score.
Carolyn, you have acquired so much popularity.
I can see you are quite adept at poetry.
It’s amazing how you have made so many friends.
Your fabulous writing seemingly never ends.
I enjoy reading your wonderful presentations on this site.
May you continue to be here every day and night.
Weird Carolyn
The other cheerleaders didn’t like football
Basketball was much easier to follow
But I got bored watching them dribble the ball
My response was hard for others to swallow
Growing up I didn’t have too many toys
So I had to find my own entertainment
I became a master of animal noise
When I “croaked” on the bleachers strange looks were sent
My frog impersonations left them aghast
When I did my seagull, the team stopped playing
They stared at me oddly as though I’d passed gas
They couldn’t relate to talents displaying
This was the first thing that led to my nickname
But once in class I was asked to give a speech
The teacher was writing, so bold I became
Her attention I was trying to beseech
Being a contortionist since childhood days
Locked one leg and arm, looked like a flamingo
I perched on one foot for each eloquent phrase
The teacher looked up and called me a weirdo
The class agreed and “weird Carolyn” was born
Frequently called upon to put on a show
Much laughter I bestowed, accolades adorned
Never understood why I didn’t have a beau
*Entry for Francine’s “Tell us something we didn’t know” contest. Okay, the secret's
out and I'm ready for my punishment. At high school reunions I'm still called upon to
perform.
I'm stuck in a puddle of mud,
unable to make a quick decision...
whom should I choose from among
others who have been so noble and kind?
More than a name comes to mind:
Linda, Carrie, Deborah, Catie, Rhoda, Danielle, Charmaine and Karen...
please don't be envious if I choose Carolyn!
You all are beautiful sweethearts, and I wouldn't sell you for a song!
After my day closes in, I check my soup mail...and there they are
those wonderful names flashing on my computer's screen,
and dazzling like precious gems in a crown! Many more should be
mentioned, highly praised and underlined with a marker:
Andrea, Emy, Joyce, Constance, Iolanda, Elaine, Laura and Carol.
One thing I can attest, nobody is greater than the other,
because they all have captured me as I have caught butterflies
with features so distinct and feminine as heroines of modern times!
Carolyn, be dazzled and feel proud, if not hysterically happy;
and if my choosing is fair, why should there be any contention,
or envy among them...I am pretty sure that they have secret admirers,
who in the same manner of awe and respect, constantly worship them!
Cheer up ladies, I have mentioned you all in my praise poem,
but only one gets this special rose...I hope they will send yours today!
I love you all as I love Carolyn for her honesty and graciousness,
then why don't you congratulate her and deepen your admiration?
My praise poem is dedicated to Carolyn Devonshire
living in Florida, USA
I was feelin depressed, sick with the flu
Had all that I feared finally come true?
All my dreams up in smoke, burnt up and charred
When Carolyn sent me a Christmas card
Thought “What's the damn use? The Devil's got hold
So tired of this game; I think I'll just fold
Found the right path but the gate has been barred"
When Carolyn sent me a Christmas card
Read one line and cracked an overdue smile
(I guess I could do at least ONE more mile)
Helping me see that it's SIMPLE, not hard
When Carolyn sent me a Christmas card...
For My friend: Carolyn Devonshire
This is a re-write of a poem written on: 12/6/2009...Carolyn was among the first
to welcome me to the Soup and yes, she even sent me a Christmas card...
Carolyn Devonshire
Sunny day golden locks
Friends till the end or in hock
Cheery jewels and holly socks
Entertain us with your verse
Until they take us away in a hearse
Poetess the mostest and a lovely hostess
Holiday with a snowflake princess
Thank you for my lovely cheering wishes
Surprised me into a better day!!
I almost thought she was the one that made
Neil Diamond sings like a confetti parade
You know that sweet Carolyn thing, why not
She has the warmest soul, this sweet griot
This investigator of mysteries, and writer
Of myth and pale anthropological history
This lady, this encourager, this fresh sister
That brings a solace to each swift anxiety
This humanitarian, this dreamer, this friend
I say nothing when I read her poems again
Lest words reduce her to something defined
For words only say correctly that she is kind
And she drives the land from post to post
Bringing care and playing nurse and host
To every prayer balming pain, to each need
That plays her like winds play a reed
And make her sing her gentleness, sweet
And succulent songs, darling of gentleness
God, how your love in human form bleat
With ravishing light, and milky tenderness.
Carolyn Devonshire U.S.A. Poetess and Contest Sponsor. I Think She Does Both Well.
And here is one of the Great Voices in The History of American Popular Music to Amplify
that Thought...
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Mr. Nat King Cole.
LOVE ( Sung to the tune LOVE by Nat King Cole.)
L is for the LIFE you lead each day.
O is OFTEN for the words you say.
V is VERVE that you bring to the or-din-ary
E is EFFERVESCENCE- summing up your special story. and...
LOVE is something that is truly you.
LOVE is something that is warm and new.
LOVE will test-i-fy
that what you have, I can't deny
that LOVE resides right there in YOU.
L is for the LIGHT that burns in you.
O says OR-DIN-ARY words won't do.
V is for the VOICE that speaks in poetry
E is ELEGANCE in how you craft each word to be. and..
LOVE is something that resides in you.
LOVE is constantly so warm and new.
LOVE will cert-i-fy
that what you have, no one can buy
for LOVE is simply, truly YOU. ( All right, boys, hit it, yeah...)
L is LESSONS that you teach to me.
O is OFTEN what you let me see.
V are VIRTUES that I can't begin listing here.
E is ELAN that I can't resist, so let's be clear. that...
LOVE is just the word to say to you.
LOVE describes the way we think of you.
LOVE will ver-i-fy
that what you have, I can't deny, yes,
LOVE resides right there in YOU.
LOVE resides right there in YOU. ( one more time.)
LOVE resides right there in YOU!