This week let’s write a present poem. “Yesterday is history / Tomorrow is a mystery / Today is a gift / That’s why I call it / The Present.” I’m sure you can do better than that. Leave a present under the tree in the comments below.
About Bartholomew Barker
Bartholomew Barker is an organizer of Living Poetry, a collection of poets in the Triangle region of North Carolina where he has hosted a monthly feedback workshop for more than decade. His first poetry collection, Wednesday Night Regular, written in and about strip clubs, was published in 2013. His second, Milkshakes and Chilidogs, a chapbook of food inspired poetry was served in 2017. He was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2021. Born and raised in Ohio, studied in Chicago, he worked in Connecticut for nearly twenty years before moving to Hillsborough where he lives and writes poetry.
Living Poetry 
Present
arlene s bice
‘Twas a present of mine, for sure
amid brightly-wrapped presents galore
piled high and wide under the fresh-cut tree
Christmas songs in the air sung especially to me
do I peek by moving those gifts around a wee bit
or do I place my hands and curiosity away; just sit
two weeks, a long way til Santa comes along to give
me a present and does he know just where I live?
when the big Eve finally arrives at my door step
I’ll hear the jingle bells of the reindeer who slept
all year long until this wonderful night does arrive
in the morning the household will begin to dive
into that pile of boxes, ribbons and bows
tearing them apart until all are exposed
for now the urge is too strong to omit
maybe I could just rattle the box a bit.
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Posted by purplestoneblog | December 14, 2020, 9:59 AMOh yes…. I remember shaking a few boxes when I was a kid! Nice memory.
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Posted by JeanMarie | December 14, 2020, 2:40 PMNice portrait of Christmas impatience. Well done.
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | December 14, 2020, 6:05 PMthanks. a fun bit.
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Posted by purplestoneblog | December 14, 2020, 6:34 PMBrings back memories. Nice poem.
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Posted by Lisa Tomey | December 15, 2020, 7:58 PMLate to the party, but here’s my poem on the prompt.
https://jeanmarieolivieri.wordpress.com/2020/12/16/happy-holidays/
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Posted by JeanMarie | December 16, 2020, 7:21 PMFashionably late and most welcome. Great poem too!
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | December 16, 2020, 8:25 PMThat was lovely and I liked the insert about the perfect gift. Sending a virtual hug gift.
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Posted by Lisa Tomey | December 20, 2020, 6:51 PMWrapping up a gift
thinking of facial surprise
giddy with anticipation
aah present time
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Posted by Lisa Tomey | December 20, 2020, 6:50 PMVery nice! And good timing. I was just scheduling tomorrow’s prompt.
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | December 20, 2020, 6:51 PMI am a little behind this week.
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Posted by Lisa Tomey | December 20, 2020, 6:52 PM