No More Silence

Posted on 2022-04-21 by Bartholomew Barker

For today’s prompt, write a sound poem.

No More Silence

I could blame this modern age
whether it’s a truck blubbering
or an airplane overhead sputtering
or the heat pumps keeping us cool

But even in the furthest wilderness
I couldn’t sleep in total silence
because there’s a tiny tuning fork burrowing
into my ears that can’t be unheard

I could blame rock ‘n’ roll
all those head-banging concerts
fueled by drugs and sex and sound
but only three left my ears ringing

I just wish I had better stories
from a cacophonous youth

Last December, I wrote a Fraiku about my tinnitus. This is just an expansion of that poem.

In other news, while looking for more poetry online, I discovered that The Orkney News publishes poems. I offered them my final poem of last year’s April Poem-A-Day Challenge and they posted it. If you’re new my work or can’t remember last year, check out Farewell to Stromness.

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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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13 Responses to No More Silence

  1. pensivepoetblog's avatar pensivepoetblog says:
    2022-04-21 at 21:56

    I wish we all did. Maybe that’s why they call us Boomers. Sorry if I’m throwing you in the wrong category. But things were Booming!! I’m glad they are not worse stories. But I have some of the same regret at times. Nice one!

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. ivor20's avatar ivor20 says:
    2022-04-21 at 22:07

    I hear that ringing, echoing noise ,…

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. yourplateormine967244485's avatar yourplateormine967244485 says:
    2022-04-21 at 23:32

    I hear 👂 you! 😁

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. JeanMarie's avatar JeanMarie says:
    2022-04-22 at 00:26

    Nice work for a troublesome irritant. Next time… I’LL WHISPER.

    Great work on Farewell to Stromness too. Seems like the poem was almost written for the publication.

    Liked by 2 people

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  5. Eduard Stoleru's avatar Eduard Stoleru says:
    2022-04-22 at 10:29

    Nice work, Bart! Sorry about your ear, though …

    Liked by 2 people

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