This week let’s write an extinct poem. Lots of species have gone extinct and more are every day so feel free to write about that tragedy or maybe write about something less tangible going extinct. Post the end result 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 
Shark Stakes
I have a thing for a good shark steak,
although it might be a karmic mistake.
It’s not that hate them, just cause I ate them.
In fact, if I was a shark, I’d date them,
but dating a living fossil is gauche,
so I just enjoy them with buttered brioche.
I’ve heard that ninety percent of all sharks
have disappeared lately and buddy that’s dark.
It happened before in a long ago era,
but sharks held on like waterproof mascara,
and here they still are little worse for the wear,
and perfect with Malbec so why should I care?
Well if you are curious, come swim with me
in freshwater lakes and the great salty seas.
Learn how they clean up the sick and the weakened
for three hundred dollars per person in season,
the deadliest animals down deep in the dark,
swimming right next to delectable sharks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Posted by jonathanbyrdmusic | March 27, 2023, 10:11 AMLove the line ” sharks held on like waterproof mascara” Nicely done! Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike
Posted by Bartholomew Barker | March 27, 2023, 6:58 PMHe called it the Excelsior Tincture
One drop of it wipes away all our troubles
The full bottle eliminates around nine million more
Its substance is pure advertising, pure hope
Like snake oil without the snakes and too much oil
The stuff burns like an undying light
Emitting terrible fumes even when left in the sun too long
We could not get enough, and filled
The remaining storehouses of earth
With its providential intoxication.
We called it Extinct for short,
As we were short on time and more than time.
*
Joy to you all. Joy and dust
LikeLiked by 1 person
Posted by Richard Q | March 27, 2023, 11:19 AMExcellent! We are obviously addicted to the poison. Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Posted by Bartholomew Barker | March 27, 2023, 7:01 PMI’m unsure if my initial response went out, or went to spam…. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Posted by Richard Q | March 28, 2023, 10:25 AMLikeLike
Posted by Bartholomew Barker | March 27, 2023, 8:12 PMI’m a day late and a dollar short. 😊
Extinct
Science fiction buff at heart.
Where do we start?
At the beginning or the end?
Into a tail spin should we send?
The double edge sword; not of metal or of brass.
But it will kick our collective – – -.
A.I. will bring about some mighty impressive tools. Surely, it will not be so cruel.
To bring forth the extinction of human kind.
Body, soul, and mind.
Extinct
Humans
Bones
Dry
Powder
Dust
Kudzu
Reclaim
Earth
LikeLiked by 1 person
Posted by Chico’s Mom | March 28, 2023, 8:52 AMThere’s no time limit on these prompts and it’s never too late for poetry!
Thanks for sharing. Let’s hope the AI treat their creators with kindness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Posted by Bartholomew Barker | March 28, 2023, 5:48 PMThe Dodo was a bird
that we will never see
When a person is a Dodo
the stupidity will never go extinct
LikeLiked by 1 person
Posted by JeanMarie | March 29, 2023, 12:00 AMLovely little poem. Unfortunately, the dodos who are people seem to be thriving.
LikeLike
Posted by Bartholomew Barker | March 29, 2023, 5:31 PM