The Roots of Spring

Posted on 2023-03-22 by Bartholomew Barker

The trees are holding hands
in the deep dark
like quiet teenagers
at a drive-in movie

While high above
a woodpecker sucks
the sap seeping
from newly drilled holes

Although this poem isn’t about sex
it is Spring
and all the world is blossoming
with fresh unfurled lust

 

(for this week’s Living Poetry prompt, written with my friends at Charles House after we read some famous Spring poems. Believe it or not, they mentioned the woodpecker before I told them about the prompt.)

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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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26 Responses to The Roots of Spring

  1. luvgoodcarp's avatar luvgoodcarp says:
    2023-03-22 at 18:14

    The trees holding hands is such a lovely image.

    Liked by 2 people

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  2. Cassa Bassa's avatar Cassa Bassa says:
    2023-03-22 at 20:49

    Haha you did great with the prompt words. 😄

    Liked by 2 people

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  3. Katie Frances Hartless's avatar K. Hartless says:
    2023-03-22 at 21:08

    holes, hands, darkness. Nope, didn’t get anything at all from any of that. ;) Spring is so x-rated.

    Liked by 2 people

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  4. Stacey C. Johnson's avatar Stacey C. Johnson says:
    2023-03-22 at 22:21

    Love that pivot!

    Liked by 2 people

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  5. Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris's avatar Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris says:
    2023-03-23 at 09:15

    Love it Bartholomew! I have several woodpeckers that visit my feeder. 😊 (Love the Springtime innuendos too!)

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. yourplateormine967244485's avatar yourplateormine967244485 says:
    2023-03-23 at 12:55

    Love this, well done 👍
    The root of Spring and awakening, I think!!

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. rothpoetry's avatar rothpoetry says:
    2023-04-01 at 21:30

    A beautiful poem for spring!

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. butimbeautiful's avatar butimbeautiful says:
    2023-04-08 at 19:29

    Fresh unfurled lust. Beautiful

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. artiecamenzind's avatar artiecamenzind says:
    2024-07-12 at 17:24

    bird of the day on the audobon calendar is a woodpecker

    Liked by 1 person

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