My First Crush

Posted on 2021-04-05 by Bartholomew Barker

For today’s prompt, take the phrase “The First (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles include: “The First Kiss,” “The First Day of the Month,” and/or “The First Time I Rode a Bike” (which, by the way, ended with me in a fence, because we didn’t cover how to brake).

My First Crush

I craved cooties as a young boy
never thought girls were icky
still don’t after two divorces

I clearly remember my first crush
no names since we’re Facebook friends
and she doesn’t know

At least I hope she doesn’t know
I’d have rather go unnoticed than rejected
especially back in elementary school

I knew I wouldn’t have a chance with her
a future cheerleader while my parents
shopped for me in the “husky” section

I concocted elaborate fantasies
in my immature mind with only a vague
notion of love and even less of sex

I just knew I wanted one
like a dog chasing a car

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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 My First Crush

  1. Pingback: The first grape hyacinth – ….Bilocalalia….

  2. Dennis Gray's avatar Dennis Gray says:
    2021-04-06 at 16:37

    the first starlight escort waltz

    time has rolled around for
    the first starlight escort waltz
    this is done with a lady and a gentleman
    or two ladies skating together
    please, clear the floor
    bellowed over the speaker

    she was skating all alone
    I never saw her here before
    the lights had dimmed
    and the stars were twinkling

    golden hair fell across her shoulders
    velvet dress flung up with her spin
    I was lost in her smile
    who would ask her to the floor

    such a prize sitting this out
    surely someone else had noticed
    there was nothing so graceful
    nothing so pleasant to see

    I guess this was my chance
    Frankie Valli was crooning
    Oh what a night. . .
    and it was as she said “yes” to me

    Dennis Gray 4/6/2021

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld's avatar Lisa Tomey says:
    2021-04-07 at 00:52

    Oh yes…those crushes…I should write about mine.

    Liked by 2 people

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