Best Devonshire 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
clad in rags, he wanders on Wall Street
he is invisible to hustling stock brokers
he is a man with no money, no property
a hapless struggler of excessive loan burdens
bitter winter winds blow across Broadway
he is invisible to affluent theatre-goers wearing warm winter coats
he is a man who watches them scurry past the cardboard box that is his bed
like a rain-dog, huddling in the shadows of alleys and doorways
he hears deafening explosions of New Year fireworks
he is invisible to the revellers
he is a man who cowers, recalling gunfire of a war he fought
echoing through his mind in restless nights
the incessant thumping of traumatic stress
he is invisible...a victim of post-Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq
who once bore a uniform and served his country with pride
he is invisible suffering alone, paying the price
through severe disabilities and permanent scars
with sadness, he watches voters going to the polls
he is invisible, a veteran with no voice in elections
he is a man who cannot vote without an “address”
a placard on a pavement might catch the eye
unemployed, homeless, unseen
but most of all forgotten
he is a man who seems invisible
but he is still a man
-------------------------------------------------------------
This is co-written by Paul Callus & Carolyn Devonshire
in remembrance of our war veterans.
[Published @ Muse to Move (A.P.F. Publisher UK 2017]
Myself
All that I am
I could dye my hair to please you
Yet I won't
A little mascara might
Make me attractive
Although the value of my gift
Cannot be measured in wrappings
I will not sing For you
But create a harmony and hope for consonance
And I will dance With you
To the melody of our song
Accept
All that I am
I could paint you as my knight in armor
But fantasies vanish with sunrise
We could play together
Yet games must end
And the unity of the game
Will dissolve
Leaving you
And me
All that we are
And acceptance of each
Written by Carolyn Devonshire
Carolyn Devonshire-Who is she?
A great author,a widower who loved her husband so much,and a daughter who loved her father just as much.She is one of my closests friends,can easily be called family...and so lucky I am to have met her.Carolyn was one of the first soupers who always left me a comment of encouragement when i first started writing here.Our friendship grew stronger through time and so our love for poetry.
Why do i love this poem so much?
This poem from Carolyn's first book 'Visions of Devonshire'definitely speaks to my soul.
The value of who we are,isn't about how we appear to be,it isn't about making ourselves perfect,nicer,It isn't about changing our identity..Its about being who we really are.
Carolyn's gift cannot be measured in wrappings'..Its her inner beauty which makes her shine.Her friendship ,love and loyalty to others is what makes her so special.
Its not all about the outer beauty of oneself,but what is on our inside which
really makes us who we are.
The knight in shining armor,the Fantasy,the dream might vanish with sunrise,
the game will end too,leaving all that was in yesterday behind,but finding who we
are once again,and accepting each other for who we were and always will be.
Thankyou Carolyn for this poem,
Your gift lies within you.. It cannot be measured in wrappings..So true!
and the biggest thankyou is sent your way today for just being you..
Dear Gwendolyn..thanks for the brilliant idea.... Big hugs... Charma
Caring woman, poetess, author, friend;
Always there with kindness until the end.
Resident first-rate of the Sunshine State
Ocean knowledge and love – part of your fate.
Lovely poems, contests brightened our days;
Your novel also enlightened our ways.
Now your legacy has captured our gaze.
Deep water boating and fishing your realm,
Each passenger safe with you at the helm.
Visions of Devonshire - poems galore,
On friends, nature, animals, war, and more!
Not one to shrink from helping those in need;
Saw contests on ‘Soup’ as a way to lead.
Heavy at times were the burdens you faced;
Inspiring poets with pieces you graced.
Rare, loving person whose years were too few;
Each day, dear sweet Carolyn – we miss you!
"Death gives us sleep, eternal youth, and immortality." — Jean Paul Richter
It has been stamped in my mind
The day you caught that red grouper
On Memorial Day in Florida.
Dear Carolyn, how can I forget
The kindness you always showed me
Although we lived so far away,
You in USA and I in Malta
Thousands of miles away.
Your last contest entry so sad.
It is a tribute on its own.
How can I ever forget
Your last soup mail,
Informing me that you were
Going to hospice to die there.
I trembled in fear until
I read that a week later
You were cremated
And your ashes spread over the ocean
That ocean you loved so much.
Now after so many years,
You are still my favorite poet.
And occasionally I search
And read your precious poems
All over again.
They are now written in Heaven.
PLaced 1
Aging with Flare
by Carolyn Devonshire
Retirement for some means a rocking chair
But I’m blasting forth on a contrail’s flare
My 40-year career
Swirls behind in Earth’s sphere
And I’m ready to take on any dare
Francine invited me to bungee jump
I’ll skydive with Gwen - might end up a clump
There’ll be no rocking chair
As I hang-glide through air
Thinking of age as a tiny speed bump
I love “Aging with Flare” because it goes against the stereotype of retiring and sitting around and relaxing. It’s about still having fun in life and about the life inside of us, and how life is whatever we make it to be. Adding soup friends to the poem is a fun addition, along with humor - “ might end up a clump.” There’s risk, but the fun is worth it, because then we are truly living. The concluding line reinforces that mentality, along with the rocking chair symbolism. It makes me NOT want to be that person watching life, instead of living it. I want to be like Carolyn and make the most of my life.
Winter's Rose
white frost streaks her hair
smooth ice-sculpture skin of youth
stroked by cracks
wrinkles that have weathered life
skin once firmly packed sags
in the mirror a figure she doesn’t recognize
but she laughs
budding spring beauty
summer rose that danced through seemingly timeless evenings
restless rebellion came with fall
withering, yearning
but winter, sweet winter
fills her heart with warm memories
resignation, acceptance of a life well-lived
a spirit that will never die
winter’s rose smiles, prepares for eternal life
*Entry for Gail's "Inspirational" poems contest
by Carolyn Devonshire
I can't believe the wonderful contest idea I have been missing out on since I took my brief break from Soup this past weekend. I came back to find many posts of Carolyn Devonshire's most amazing work. And so it was my goal tonight before logging off, to look through my list of favorites and see which one I would choose to showcase.
Well, there were at least five of her poems that I just loved: "A Forgotten Box," the senryu set "Candlelight Passion," an adorable personification of flowers called "Flower Prom," the profound poem of imagination called "Unicorn," and last but not least, the one shown above here, "Winter's Rose." I decided on this one because earlier today in talking with Carolyn, she expressed to me that "Winter's Rose" happened to be one of her personal favorites. I was so pleased to discover that it was also one I had chosen to put into MY favorites list about a month ago!
"Winter's Rose" is a poet's look into her own soul. And she uses metaphors of the seasons, something I personally enjoy doing in my own poetry. I love when Carolyn writes this way and I agree with her, this is one of her very best free verse poems ever! I hope Carolyn will continue with her restless spirit well into the deepest of winters. She is an awesome friend and poet! (Carolyn, may your memories be happy ones always. And know that you have many friends here rooting for you. Luv, Andrea )
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!
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.
oh what it must be like
to have a name like Devonshire
a name so Royal
belonging to empires
chisslied in stone
in swanky neighborhoods
streets with large gates
or statues stood
the name of the restaurant
or the name on the deed
so high up in the building
somewhere having tea
a heavily Britished accent
with eyes half way closed
a chin lifted up
wearing butler clothes
they really do wear ascots
like they do on t.v.
but we'll never see them
there to high to see
away in their clubs
or on the golf course
watching the symphony
or getting divorced
you might catch a glimpse
of them if you travel abroad
sunning topless on beaches
or bottle popping at night
their such a restless little crowd
to them the world is small
they wrestle with there empires
and try to take it all
i hope i didn't offend anyone
by using their name
i sat down to write this poem
and this is what came
any similarities
to persons we know
is purely coincidental
it's just part of a show
Will You
=====000=====
Will You?
Will you walk with me?
I’m not looking for marriage
Past loves left me so lonely
This pain – I come with baggage
Will you talk to me?
For you erase my sadness
Your counsel helps so much, you see
Without you, I fall to madness
Will you accept me?
Trust issues I tote along
I have fears of what’s to be
But I vow I’ll not do you wrong
By:Carolyn Devonshire
================000===============
Carloyn Devonshire.One of the brightest stars of this site.A poet with a big heart.
And she bares it in her poetry.Very few poets do so.I remember when I joined this
site she always used to encourage me with her inspiring words.That time I felt my poetry pages were incomplete without her comments.She is one of those who
helped me to grow as a poet.In reply to her questions in the above poem,I would
say-- YES CAROLYN, I WILL!!!
Caring and
Amable too,
Rich Spice in
Our Poetry Soup
Lady of Wisdom
Yummy great poet
Number one,You!
Dedicated and loving,
Encouraging to friends,
Violin playing in verses
Orchestra in her magic pens.
Nice and Kind to all,
Sweet as Candy,even more.
Historian,a great teacher too,
Intelligent,bright person,
Rain of Silver Glitters
Enchanting Eyes in blue.
(To dearest Carolyn Devonshire,A talented poet but mostly a great friend)
Charmaine
Well here‘s another birthday
My how time does fly!
It almost seems impossible
Another years gone by!
Several moons have come and gone
Since the Doc first pulled you out!
You’ve had many joys and sorrows
So you know what life’s about.
But it really makes no difference
How many years have passed
It’s how you use the ones you’ve got
That determines if you’ll last.
Carolyn, have a happy birthday
And have a little fun
And count your many blessings
Like your Poetry for one!
God bless and keep you and have many, many more.
Live your life such a way
that when you pass away
you leave your footprints on the way
inspire others in every way
to lead life in better way.
They should want to emulate your ways!
You should be fondly remembered each day
for small acts, thoughtfully done every day
Carolyn Devonshire left an indelible impression on many minds through her actions. Many die, how many are remembered? She left many sad as she touched their life in a positive way. She is an inspiration to me.
Also Andrea Dietrich for her blogs and comments she left for Carolyn Devonshire. In a world where people don't do for own family, she is doing so much for a friend. My highest regards and appreciation to her.
she inspired me and showed that world still has many good people around
Thanks to both of you!
May her soul rest in peace.