30 Reasons April is the Cruellest Month

Posted on 2023-04-01 by Bartholomew Barker

Bobo‘s favorite tennis ball, the color of pine tree pollen,
still rests in my hand after a pump fake launched him running.
He saunters back, tail wagging, ready for another round,
not realizing he’s been the victim of a cruel joke.

Moriarty doesn’t even flinch when I sneak up behind him wearing
last Halloween’s googly eye glasses, his face a feline mix
of disdain and boredom. Those wily wrens outside do better tricks,
landing on the windowsill. I clean nose prints from the glass.

Robert Lee Brewer’s practical joke is to get us to write
a poem every day this month. I can hear his laughter as he posts
daily prompts, mustache twirling, each more diabolical than the last
as we lay ourselves across his railroad tracks.

But I’m the fool, volunteering to be the victim each April.
I could stop any day, any year, yet I’m still pranking myself.

(For Robert Lee Brewer, who today prompted “… write a foolish poem.”)

Unknown's avatar

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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23 Responses to 30 Reasons April is the Cruellest Month

  1. Ali Grimshaw's avatar Ali Grimshaw says:
    2023-04-01 at 20:37

    You are daring to play with words all month long. Good for you!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  2. Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris's avatar Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris says:
    2023-04-01 at 20:54

    Edge player – you old devil! 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. trE's avatar trE says:
    2023-04-01 at 21:14

    There’s a challenge in the challenge. Keep’em comin’, Bart!

    Liked by 2 people

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  4. Michele Lee's avatar Michele Lee says:
    2023-04-01 at 21:57

    You are a fun prankster! I enjoyed reading your post.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. jaidai23's avatar jai says:
    2023-04-01 at 22:24

    I didn’t know one had to post a daily poem from a prompt. This isn’t for me, but I applaude your fortitude, Bartholomew. I’ll just go with my usual—posting something when I feel like it on whatever subject I want. Unfortunately (or not) I’m not much of a joiner.
    Clever poem, by the way. I imagine it took some time to compose. 👏👏👏

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. JeanMarie's avatar JeanMarie says:
    2023-04-01 at 22:35

    I love this. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. r.Douglas's avatar r.Douglas says:
    2023-04-01 at 23:54

    Didn’t know you’re a dog and cat kinda guy. Good on you. And a fine and fun first one, poem that is. I’m gonna try again this year…sans prompts… Have a good month, and woof and meow to your buddies. peace…

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. pensivepoetblog's avatar pensivepoetblog says:
    2023-04-02 at 02:44

    Nice.

    Moriarty stanza is my fav though.

    M

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. luvgoodcarp's avatar luvgoodcarp says:
    2023-04-02 at 16:07

    Haha. Keep pranking, Bart.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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