Past Time to Move On

Posted on 2022-04-30 by Bartholomew Barker

For today’s prompt, write a moving on poem.

Past Time to Move On

There were men walking on the moon
when I was a boy with my telescope
in the backyard looking for planets

Watching Star Trek after school
I figured that by the 21st century
we’d have cities glittering
on the lunar surface
we’d be exploring Mars
and I’d have a flying car
garaged on my roof

Instead we’re stuck here on Earth
with just one rickety space station
and billionaires taking 100km joy rides
so they can claim they’re astronauts

We’re like a thirty-year-old loser
living rent-free in his mother’s basement
spending all his time on Reddit and 4chan
spending all his money on guns and car parts
to keep his junker sputtering

And his poor decrepit mother
still cooks for him
still does his laundry
still wonders why he refuses
to move on

And on this final day of April, I’m proud to report that one of my Charles Bukowski poems was published in Last Leaves Issue 4 Spring 2022. It free to download the PDF where you can read my poem “Never meet your heroes” on page 88. I must admit I’m rather proud of that poem and am so happy it found a home.

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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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16 Responses to Past Time to Move On

  1. JeanMarie's avatar JeanMarie says:
    2022-04-30 at 16:31

    Great poem. Congratulations on a successful April PAD and on your publication. 💯❗💜

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  2. Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris's avatar (Gypsie) Ami Offenbacher-Ferris says:
    2022-04-30 at 16:52

    What JeanMarie said!! 😁

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  3. Omolade's avatar Omolade says:
    2022-04-30 at 18:05

    I love the poem. Congratulations sir.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  4. Bill's avatar Bill says:
    2022-04-30 at 19:05

    Well done (twice). The Bukowski was right on. :-)

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  5. Cassa Bassa's avatar Cassa Bassa says:
    2022-04-30 at 21:18

    Wow you described a cohort.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  6. yourplateormine967244485's avatar yourplateormine967244485 says:
    2022-04-30 at 23:17

    Great job! And, congratulations 🎊 on your publication and a beautiful job on your April PAD!! ✨

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

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