Things Fall Apart by Bartholomew Barker

Posted on 2022-05-11 by Bartholomew Barker

I’m proud to announce that North of Oxford has published one of my poems. Check it out!

North of Oxford's avatarNorth of Oxford

oak
Things Fall Apart
.
I’d rather watch the vanities of man
sag and collapse under the weight
of years than to spend my weekends
trimming hedges, touching up paint
or soothing hinges with an oil can.
.
Let these walls tumble down in a lovely heap
and the floor rot out beneath. If a storm
brings an oak through the roof, I won’t abandon
the place, I’ll revel among the leaves.
.
I’m ready to observe its final decay,
keep the images in my pocket
like an apocalyptic prophet
or derelict poet who failed
the American dream.
.
bart
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…

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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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27 Responses to Things Fall Apart by Bartholomew Barker

  1. Cassa Bassa's avatar Cassa Bassa says:
    2022-05-11 at 18:01

    Congratulations Bartholomew! It’s a great poem well deserved publishing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. lorijcollins, I Kissed a Dog and I Liked It's avatar lorijcollins, I Kissed a Dog and I Liked It says:
    2022-05-11 at 18:10

    That’s awesome (both the poem and the publication of it)! Congratulations!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. pensivepoetblog's avatar pensivepoetblog says:
    2022-05-11 at 18:57

    I like that poem a lot, Bart. I’ve seen it before. Congrats on publication. Always nice to see the name in lights.

    Mary

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Bill's avatar Bill says:
    2022-05-11 at 19:05

    Congrats.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. trE's avatar trE says:
    2022-05-11 at 19:11

    All right, now! Congratulations! I love the poem.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. yourplateormine967244485's avatar yourplateormine967244485 says:
    2022-05-11 at 22:13

    Congratulations 🎉 your poem is well deserved and it brought a smile 😊 to me this evening!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. jsimpsonpoet's avatar jsimpsonpoet says:
    2022-05-11 at 22:24

    Yes.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. berniebell1955's avatar berniebell1955 says:
    2022-05-12 at 02:45

    Oh yes! There’s ‘nowt wrong wi’ comfortable decrepitude – in people or places.
    Another good one, Mr. B – I now think of you as Bart Barks.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. Katie Frances Hartless's avatar K.Hartless says:
    2022-05-17 at 21:15

    Congratulations, of course your title reminds me of Chinua Achebe’s novel. It’s been so long ago since I read it, I don’t remember an details; your poem on the other hand has many fresh lines to ponder.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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