Breaking News

Posted on 2022/04/14 by Bartholomew Barker

For today’s prompt, write a scary poem.

Breaking News

My stomach feels like a puddle of still water
disturbed by the cinematic ripples of dinosaur steps

I am that little Ohio boy again in early Spring
when a tornado watch marches across the television

Or whenever the Emergency Broadcast System
blares out even though this is only a test

Or the Special Report interrupting afternoon cartoons
with distant wars threatening mushroom clouds

I still feel the fear being a child of the Cold War
and the Flatlands when death comes from above

and my heart thumps like a flat tire
whenever there’s Breaking News

(This poem was included in the Hidden in Childhood anthology in January 2023.)

About Bartholomew Barker

Bartholomew Barker is one of the organizers of Living Poetry, a collection of poets and poetry lovers in the Triangle region of North Carolina. 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 makes money as a computer programmer to fund his poetry habit.
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8 Responses to Breaking News

  1. (Gypsie) Ami Offenbacher-Ferris says:
    2022/04/14 at 20:23

    Exactly so! Our hurricane/flood/bomb whatever sirens went off this morning around ten o’clock and I immediately thought, “This is it!” It was apparently, a test, but it would have been nice to know in advance. Whew! All those childhood fears and bad memories (which most call PTSD these days) rushed right into my chest and stopped my heart! Your words hit home tonight Bartholomew – not sure whether to thank you or not though. LOL

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  2. yourplateormine967244485 says:
    2022/04/14 at 20:26

    I could feel my anxiety too as I read your poem, subtle, but intense as well. Well done!

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. pensivepoetblog says:
    2022/04/15 at 01:30

    Fantastic description of the feeling in the stomach. Powerful images all through. I forgot the Emergency Broadcasting System. What a flash! Good to be reminded of how we got here. Love, love, love, “The Flatlands where death comes from above” and “heart thumps like a flat tire.” Another fantastic description. 4 and 6/10 stars.

    On Thu, Apr 14, 2022 at 5:00 PM Bartholomew Barker, Poet wrote:

    > Bartholomew Barker posted: ” For today’s prompt, write a scary poem. > Breaking News My stomach feels like a puddle of still waterdisturbed by the > cinematic ripples of dinosaur steps I am that little Ohio boy again in > early Springwhen a tornado watch marches across the te” >

    Liked by 1 person

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