Bartholomew Barker is one of the organizers of Living Poetry, a collection of poets and poetry lovers in the Triangle region of North Carolina. Born and raised in Ohio, studied in Chicago, he worked in Connecticut for nearly twenty years before moving to Hillsborough where he makes money as a computer programmer to fund his poetry habit.
Microwaves are great
my spine doctor zapped my nerves
with a microwave device
no
I did not get plated and slid into a box
but I did get internally compromised
it was painfully sweet
zippidy doo dah
it’s to 2020 way
if you’re not interested
a zapped plate of nachos and cheese is also good
but you don’t get valium
Living Poetry 
in darkness we live
no matter how bright it seems
we still root for things on the ground
a momentary flash
tendrils illuminating the interstitial spaces
penetrating all things
a chance encouter
a gift of experience
a weight of memory
in darkness i live
the Afterimage always with me
eyes eager for another strike
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Posted by Chris Clarke | July 9, 2020, 11:35 AMExcellent coda in the last stanza. Well done.
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | July 9, 2020, 5:19 PMthought provoking! Well done!
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Posted by Lisa Tomey | July 9, 2020, 5:58 PMConsequence
Raging anger burst your artery
Here we are
Living with the aftermath
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Posted by Cassa Bassa | July 7, 2020, 6:25 PMWow. Nice work.
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | July 7, 2020, 7:49 PMThank you!
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Posted by Cassa Bassa | July 7, 2020, 7:49 PMpowerful!
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Posted by Lisa Tomey | July 9, 2020, 5:59 PMThis reminds me of a song I wrote, many years ago, when I first came to NC. I won’t post the whole thing. Just the opening. 🙂
Sweet Potato Pie
Lightening in the sky
When you’re in love you know it!
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Posted by JeanMarie | July 6, 2020, 12:43 PMCute! And now I want pie! I will trade a microwaved nacho plate for pie!
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Posted by Lisa Tomey | July 6, 2020, 1:16 PMHa! 😆🥧
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Posted by JeanMarie | July 6, 2020, 1:23 PMI remember my first taste of sweet potato pie from Bojangles. The little girl behind the counter gave to me for free since I was painfully yankee.
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | July 6, 2020, 3:13 PMThat’s the pie that inspired the song!
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Posted by JeanMarie | July 6, 2020, 3:28 PMThat one made me smile! Zippity doo dah!
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Posted by JeanMarie | July 6, 2020, 12:40 PMThank you!
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Posted by Lisa Tomey | July 6, 2020, 3:19 PMMicrowaves are great
my spine doctor zapped my nerves
with a microwave device
no
I did not get plated and slid into a box
but I did get internally compromised
it was painfully sweet
zippidy doo dah
it’s to 2020 way
if you’re not interested
a zapped plate of nachos and cheese is also good
but you don’t get valium
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Posted by Lisa Tomey | July 6, 2020, 12:34 PMO, brave new world that has such gadgets in it. Well done!
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | July 6, 2020, 3:12 PMThank you!
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Posted by Lisa Tomey | July 6, 2020, 3:19 PM‘Zippidy doo dah’…😄
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Posted by Cassa Bassa | July 9, 2020, 6:01 PM😉
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Posted by Lisa Tomey | July 10, 2020, 7:45 AM