Childhood Memories of an Afternoon Nap

Posted on 2022-07-11 by Bartholomew Barker

Childhood Memories of an Afternoon Nap

Sneaking out the bedroom window
jumping off the porch roof
running to the park past
the fragrant rose bushes

Climbing the cherry tree
back to the turtle sandbox
with our crimson treats

Then to the big swings
where we pump our bare legs
pushing toes to the sky
three— two— one—
then free as a firefly
in the summer dusk floating
even as our stomach drops

This poem was composed with help from my friends at Charles House. We read summer-themed poetry today and then melded various childhood memories into the poem above.

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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 Childhood Memories of an Afternoon Nap

  1. pensivepoetblog's avatar pensivepoetblog says:
    2022-07-11 at 22:48

    Nice one, Bart. Can almost smell the roses and feel that jump.

    Well done,

    Mary

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. JeanMarie's avatar JeanMarie says:
    2022-07-11 at 22:56

    Sweet and nostalgic. Like popsicle s from the ice cream truck. 🍦

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris's avatar Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris says:
    2022-07-11 at 23:39

    Loved swinging barefoot on those old saddle back chain-link swings when I was young(er). I could feel that wonderfully horrible feeling of leaving my stomach at the upswing and then going back for more as I read your piece. Thank you for the nice remembrance Bartholomew! 😊

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  4. berniebell1955's avatar berniebell1955 says:
    2022-07-12 at 02:57

    “even as our stomach drops”

    That’s just it – on the back-swing – wheeeeeeee!

    The Swing

    How do you like to go up in a swing,
    Up in the air so blue?
    Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
    Ever a child can do!

    Up in the air and over the wall,
    Till I can see so wide,
    Rivers and trees and cattle and all
    Over the countryside—

    Till I look down on the garden green,
    Down on the roof so brown—
    Up in the air I go flying again,
    Up in the air and down!

    From A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson

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  5. Cassa Bassa's avatar Cassa Bassa says:
    2022-07-12 at 14:58

    Beautiful and joy filled memories.

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. Susi Bocks's avatar Susi Bocks says:
    2022-07-20 at 23:20

    I remember hours and hours spent like that! Loved it, Bart!

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