Sappho’s Song (2021)

Posted on 2021-08-31 by Bartholomew Barker

Sappho’s Song

Sing me no songs of the daylight
for the sun is the enemy of lovers.
Sing me instead of shadows and darkness
and the memories of midnight.

Sing me no songs of domestic brews
for the lite beers do not intoxicate.
Sing me instead of red wine and absinthe
and the grace of my intemperate muse.

Sing me no songs of everyday women
for the office ladies do not inspire.
Sing me instead of strippers on stage
and late nights at the club.

Sing me no songs of bleached blonds
for they have nothing ‘neath their curls.
Sing me instead of smoldering red heads
and the grave misfortunes of virtue.

for Justine

Sharing a poem that appeared in my first book, Wednesday Night Regular. The first stanza is shamelessly stolen from the ancient Greek poet, Sappho. I made some minor changes to my three stanzas tonight to bring it into my current style and punch it up a little with what I’ve learned over the past decade.

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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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9 Responses to Sappho’s Song (2021)

  1. mbrazfieldm's avatar mbrazfieldm says:
    2021-08-31 at 20:31

    this rocks friend xo

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. ivor20's avatar ivor20 says:
    2021-08-31 at 21:17

    Your punch and style sang the right tune …

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. Didier Beaugrand's avatar Didier Beaugrand says:
    2021-09-01 at 01:25

    Beautiful and subtly sensual write! I LOVE IT!!! 😀🙏

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. akalandros's avatar Annette Kalandros says:
    2021-09-01 at 12:24

    Love this one. And well,…..redheads can haunt you.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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