Like my muse.

Posted on 2022-04-11 by Bartholomew Barker

Today, I’d like to challenge you to write a poem about a very large thing.

Like my muse.

Standing on the sidewalk at the foot of the Sears Tower
in downtown Chicago, I was a little boy marveling
at looking up nearly fifteen hundred feet of glass.
It was the biggest thing I’d ever seen.

Only ten years later, fresh out of college, I’d be working
in the Loop and eating lunch in the tower regularly,
avoiding the tourists and keeping my head down.

While an impressive piece of human engineering
it’s nowhere near the biggest thing I’ve seen.
Think of the Moon which pales before the Sun.

But I can see bigger even with my naked caveman eyes—
when autumn first bites, a whole galaxy called Andromeda
hides in plain sight. But I have to look slightly away
it’s so far and so dim, but she’s there, pulling me in

 

As a Monday bonus poem, check my latest contribution to Whispers & Echoes. Thanks, Sammi!

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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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14 Responses to Like my muse.

  1. pensivepoetblog's avatar pensivepoetblog says:
    2022-04-11 at 21:17

    In complete submission I might add!! Lol.

    Really enjoying these flashes into the young male psyche, Bart. Also nice use of the prompt. It’s about the biggest thing there is isn’t it?

    On Mon, Apr 11, 2022 at 4:54 PM Bartholomew Barker, Poet wrote:

    > Bartholomew Barker posted: ” Today, I’d like to challenge you to write a > poem about a very large thing. Like my muse. Standing on the sidewalk at > the foot of the Sears Towerin downtown Chicago, I was a little boy > marvelingat looking up nearly fifteen hundred feet of glass.” >

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. yourplateormine967244485's avatar yourplateormine967244485 says:
    2022-04-11 at 21:32

    This is a tall task, but l will give it a try! ☺️

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  3. Pingback: Biggest … Thing – Gypsie's Writings, Musings, Quotes & Poetry

  5. Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris's avatar (Gypsie) Ami Offenbacher-Ferris says:
    2022-04-12 at 01:35

    Trying again – let me know what you think please. 😉

    Biggest … Thing

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. Cassa Bassa's avatar Cassa Bassa says:
    2022-04-12 at 18:17

    A child’s wonder.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. yourplateormine967244485's avatar yourplateormine967244485 says:
    2022-04-12 at 21:13

    Here is my attempt at the challenge:
    BIGGER THAN YOU!
    Your thoughts are welcomed here, vast and wide. Your mind is free to be who you are and who you want to be. You are safe here and your thoughts are too.
    By Pamelap
    Thank you for the challenge!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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