Sonnet from a Charmed Life

Posted on 2021-04-13 by Bartholomew Barker

Since I skipped Robert Lee Brewer for Yuri’s Night, I’ve combined yesterday’s prompt and today’s “Two-for-Tuesday” into a single poem.

“For today’s prompt, write a poem using at least three of the following six words: convict, great, play, race, season, and voice. Extra credit for using all six words. Extra extra credit for writing a sestina. It’s not a race, so I won’t convict anyone who can’t use all six words, but it is the definitely the season to play around and share your great voice. Now!”

“For this Two-for-Tuesday prompt:
Write a lucky poem and/or…
Write an unlucky poem.”

Sonnet from a Charmed Life

I’m a lucky guy
born with the right race
gender and sexual orientation
to privilege my way in America

I inherited my father’s voice
naturally selected to preach
from the pulpit every Sunday
or smooth an open mic

I’ve suffered no great tragedies
which may be hampering my poetry
but I’d rather be a happy nobody
than a tortured celebrity

I still play the lottery every week
even though I’ve already won

Want to hear me read poetry? I did three of my poems at a recent Heart Beats Anthology event which is now available online. I go on at 17:45 but you won’t want to miss other great poets.

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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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8 Responses to Sonnet from a Charmed Life

  1. JeanMarie's avatar JeanMarie says:
    2021-04-13 at 20:57

    Yes. You have won! If you need some misery, I’m sure we could drum some up for you but then we wouldn’t get nice poems like this one. :)

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld's avatar Lisa Tomey says:
    2021-04-15 at 09:51

    Well done portrayal and for those who hear your voice on the open mic, it is accurate.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. Annabel's avatar Annabel says:
    2021-06-12 at 02:07

    Wow, this poem has a bit of surprising ending and intriguing twist— a pleasurable read indeed!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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