In Praise of Patrons

Posted on 2020-04-30 by Bartholomew Barker

For today’s prompt, write a praise poem.

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In Praise of Patrons

It’s important to find a good patron,
one who cares about the Ars Poetica
not just if you give good reading
and are skilled of tongue.

Such is the fate of the poet,
there’s no money in this work,
we require the odiously wealthy
to keep the wine flowing

while we write our obsequities
and they keep us like toys
behind damp castle walls
as we wait for our muse to inspire

that masterpiece for which we’ll be remembered
long after the patron has been forgotten.

 

(Whew! Another April Poem-A-Day Challenge completed. Thanks for reading.)

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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.
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5 Responses to In Praise of Patrons

  1. Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld's avatar Lisa Tomey says:
    2020-04-30 at 19:49

    Well said and what a way to end this month! Thank you for making it better.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. JeanMarie's avatar JeanMarie says:
    2020-04-30 at 20:58

    Good one. Congratulations on another successful PAD! You have earned your just desserts, your rest, a glass of wine, a good sleep.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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