This week let’s write a poem with the words black, govern and solstice in it. This is another of those prompts where I randomly choose three words from a list of the top 1000 words in the English language plus a few of my favorites. Post your poems 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 
Here’s a very short poem that includes the three words : black – govern – solstice
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From the dark to the light
Deep black, ultra bright
The seasons do govern
Each solstice a delight!
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✨✨✨🌎✨✨✨
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Posted by brightstardancing | June 15, 2026, 10:24 AMLovely and impressive being so brief yet also including all three words. Well done!
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | June 15, 2026, 9:11 PMThank you! 🙏😊
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Posted by brightstardancing | June 15, 2026, 9:23 PMHere’s my entry 💜
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Posted by Maggie | June 15, 2026, 2:23 PMNice work, Maggie! Thanks for sharing.
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | June 15, 2026, 9:19 PMThank you Bart.
Happy to join 💜
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Posted by Maggie | June 16, 2026, 1:45 AMYour poem is beautiful! It truly honors the bright spirit of the Summer Solstice ✨
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Posted by brightstardancing | June 15, 2026, 9:22 PMThank you 💜
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Posted by Maggie | June 16, 2026, 1:46 AMI was born under an obsidian moon
With a black heart to govern my sin
Scraping holes in a summer solstice
To escape the perpetual ruin
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Posted by erroneouschoices | June 15, 2026, 5:32 PMNice and Dark! Thanks for sharing, EC.
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | June 15, 2026, 9:20 PMold black trunks
still seek a solstice bright
govern change
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Posted by rugby843 | June 15, 2026, 5:33 PMLovely little haiku! Thanks for sharing.
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | June 15, 2026, 9:22 PMThanks Bart here is my offering 😊 https://poetisatinta.wordpress.com/2026/06/16/living-poetry-2/
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Posted by poetisatinta | June 16, 2026, 1:38 AMCan’t go wrong with a good crow poem. Thanks for sharing, Ange!
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | June 16, 2026, 7:34 PM💜
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Posted by poetisatinta | June 16, 2026, 8:54 PMA bird in the peanut butter
In an attempt to govern my appetite,
trying to make better choices before I take a bite.
The winter solstice had me craving things.
My stomach, loud and proud did sing.
More than half of the peanut butter jar was a dark void.
Could I be any more annoyed?
Holding my breath, I unscrewed the lid.
A black bird leapt out of the jar. He bowed to me; farewell he did bid.
No words could I speak.
Not a sound did creak.
My mind was in shock.
How does one take stock?
There was a bird in the peanut butter.
This concept, I couldn’t mutter.
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Posted by Chico’s Mom | June 16, 2026, 1:31 PMWonderfully surreal!
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Posted by Bartholomew Barker | June 16, 2026, 7:38 PMThanks 💕
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Posted by Chico’s Mom | June 17, 2026, 8:15 AM