For today’s prompt from Robert Lee Brewer’s Write Better Poetry blog, take the phrase “(blank) Me,” 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: “Tell Me,” “Forgive Me,” and/or “You’ve Got to Believe Me.” Of course, feel free to bend the rules and have a title like “Home Sweet Ho(me)” or “Pick a The(me).”
Pens and Me
I try not to bring home souvenirs from my travels.
I don’t need any more crap cluttering the apartment
but I rationalize these over-priced commemorative pens
as a reasonable expense for a poet.
I already have too many. My pen from Berlin
is fifteen years old— the football on top,
yellowing with age. It’s ink might turn to dust
before I use it to write a poem.
I haven’t actually used a pen in over a year
except to sign a couple of paper checks.
I’m sure these plastic trinkets will survive me.
Might as well leave them in my coffin,
so that if I’m ever excavated by alien
archaeologists, they’ll know where I’ve been.
Bartholomew Barker, Poet 
Yeah, I write with a keyboard too. Where is Fun Plaza?
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That’s where I play Skeeball on the Myrtle Beach boardwalk. Technically I “won” that pen since I used tickets earned by skill to purchase it.
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That’s my next vacation destination!
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It’s a Redneck Vegas!
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Love this writing, Bart! Also, I was looking for some good poetry prompts. Bingo! Thanks!
Stacey (Mugglestone Mo)
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Thanks! RBL’s Write Better Poetry has a whole monthload of prompts for you.
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😁
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As I look at my coffee cup pencil holder there are squeezes of pens and pencils. I still use them. Lists, notes, ideas… And I am a sucker for those cool pens like you find at book fairs and such. Nicely done poem.
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Thanks. I did exaggerate a bit now that I think of it. I still do grocery lists with pen on paper.
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Oh yes…your pen collection will totally date you on the alien’s historic timeline:)
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Of course! I’m sure they’re watching the World Cups that we broadcast out into space as they approach.
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Well of course… all sentient beings really get into World Cups … especially with eons of Time on their hands( or the equivalent)
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Thanks to relativity (and assuming the sentients are traveling a significant fraction of the speed of light) the games would take less than 90 minutes.
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Overtime is when things get exciting…
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In space no one can hear you cheer.
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Pens are offered in a wide variety of branding, from local towns to cities, much like coffee mugs and keychains.
I connect with the temptation to pocket a pen with the intention of writing something lovely in an equally branded notebook, yet somehow it is plainer pens I buy in boxes that get the most use . . . eloquently expressed photographically too!
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Thanks. I’ve been considering having some pens made up for my “brand” but it’s still too odd to think of my poetry as a brand.
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While trademark, logo, and brand work for companies and tourist departments, I think something more like ‘personality’, ‘essence’, or ‘style’ is a better word in poetry. :)
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True but let’s stick with “style”. I doubt anyone wants a pen with my essence on it.
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😯🙄😆
A tidy agreement, Bartholomew!
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