This week let’s write a poem about falling in love.
Yesterday the Living Poetry Book Club met to discuss Carol Ann Duffy‘s T. S. Eliot Prize winning collection Rapture. There was something to love in just about every poem but we spent a lot of time on the first one which I’ll link to, You. After reading her poem, have a look at how she used short lists of adjectives and nouns in the first stanza then put your own spin on the technique.
And show us how you fall in love 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 
Love is a many splendid thing, Bart (This one is from May 2022)
“Love is Not Declined ”
My internal battle is never ending
Neither won nor lost
My opponent is my ghost
I forgive with the morning dew
And my regrets are few
There is two breaths in every moment
The first one kisses our heart
The second breath caresses our soul
True love is hard to find
And impossible to define
When found, be exceedingly kind
Love can spellbind your mind
But blindly, love is not declined
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Posted by ivor20 | October 13, 2025, 7:37 AMI enjoyed your poem – thanks for sharing!
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Posted by crazy4yarn2 | October 13, 2025, 2:00 PMThank you very much for reading my poem 📖😍
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Posted by ivor20 | October 13, 2025, 2:02 PMThanks for sharing this old love poem, Ivor.
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | October 13, 2025, 7:33 PMYou’re most welcome, Bart
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Posted by ivor20 | October 13, 2025, 7:49 PMBlazing blue
Catching clue
What fire ignites
In my sight
Magnetic magic
Baited breath
Awaiting Acknowledgment
Seeking smile
Receive response
Heart heaving
And then it happens
Gifted glance
Just the beginning…
***
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Posted by rugby843 | October 13, 2025, 8:17 AMI love the rhythm when I say your poem out loud!
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Posted by crazy4yarn2 | October 13, 2025, 2:01 PMLovely! I especially liked the alliteration in “Magnetic magic / Baited breath”.
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | October 13, 2025, 7:35 PMLove is
Love is a mosquito buzzing around your head.
Love is a concept, someone once dared.
Love is lost.
Love itself is a cost.
Love is empty.
Love? Simply?
Love is cruel.
Love will kick you like a stubborn old mule.
Love is an idea, written about in books, poems, songs, movies sold.
Love has been theorized with words, untold.
Love is fleeting.
Love is a chance meeting?
Love will leave you wrung out. Spent!
Love; there logic went!
Love; we want it. Need it!
Love will screw you while you try to achieve it.
Love is a dull ache that won’t go away.
Love – that’s all I can say.
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Posted by Chico’s Mom | October 13, 2025, 11:17 AMYou’re poem made me smile – thanks!
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Posted by crazy4yarn2 | October 13, 2025, 2:04 PMThank you 💕
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Posted by Chico’s Mom | October 13, 2025, 3:17 PMNice use of repetition/listing, Jolene! My favorite is the “Love will screw you…” line.
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | October 13, 2025, 7:37 PMThank you 💕 Thanks for hosting g the prompt.
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Posted by Chico’s Mom | October 13, 2025, 8:14 PMLoving the Lock
The fencepost does the twistin time to rain and snowand summer heat.The gate would dancein lockstep, breakinghinges in its wake.
The lock stands steadfast,unimpressed with gateand fencepost antics.To love the lock,we have to fix the twistand hope the gate stays.
How often I have twisted,seeking freedomfrom the change,instead of loving trialsthat have mademe what I am.
https://writingaddiction2.wordpress.com/2025/10/13/loving-the-lock-2/
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Posted by crazy4yarn2 | October 13, 2025, 1:59 PMThanks sharing this old love poem, Nolcha.
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | October 13, 2025, 7:39 PMNo idea why the formatting changed when I submitted my poem. Ugh.
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Posted by crazy4yarn2 | October 13, 2025, 2:03 PMGood ole WordPress. sigh
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | October 13, 2025, 7:42 PMAnd WordPress is the best blogging tool I’ve found.
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Posted by crazy4yarn2 | October 14, 2025, 9:14 AMhere is mine
https://lisaapaul.home.blog/2025/10/13/a-different-place/
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Posted by lisaapaul | October 13, 2025, 2:55 PMI especially liked the “sweet-tart perfection”. Thanks for sharing, Lisa!
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | October 13, 2025, 7:55 PMThank you! 🍋✨
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Posted by lisaapaul | October 13, 2025, 9:56 PMThanks for the prompt https://poetisatinta.wordpress.com/2025/10/14/falling/
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Posted by poetisatinta | October 14, 2025, 7:25 AMJust as the prompt requested. Well done, Ange!
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | October 14, 2025, 7:12 PMyou left my house
later than you wanted
the sun already warm
i waved as you drove away
your car’s red paint
fading white patches
when the radio and
the tappets faded
wren-song burst through
piles of fallen pink blossoms still swirling
newborn green maple blossoms
the remnants of the yellow blizzard
i sat in my car
the rush of blood in my ears
louder than my heart’s beat
the trees glowing in
the reflected light
from your smile
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Posted by Chris Clarke | October 17, 2025, 12:05 PMLovely, Chris, especially the middle stanza. Thanks for sharing!
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | October 17, 2025, 7:30 PMLate to this party, but i did manage to choke out a poem. i might have to pay for a WordPress subscription just to keep playing with AI generation. So fun!
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Posted by Second Act Blogger | October 19, 2025, 6:56 PMI thought that pic looked very AI-y. (AI-ie?) And it’s never too late to write to a prompt. Thanks for sharing!
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | October 19, 2025, 8:31 PM