Summer Evening Sonnet

Posted on 2023/06/26 by Bartholomew Barker

When the sun stays up late
because it isn’t a school night,
we spend the evenings
playing outside,

a pack of neighborhood kids
tossing a baseball, football, Frisbee,
whatever isn’t stuck on a roof
or disappeared down a storm drain.

As twilight steeps the skies,
the first flashes of heat lightning
appear and we gather ’round
the streetlight like moths,

the moon in our mason jars,
chasing fireflies.

About Bartholomew Barker

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 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 makes money as a computer programmer to fund his poetry habit.
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28 Responses to Summer Evening Sonnet

  1. Stacey C. Johnson says:
    2023/06/26 at 21:18

    Oh, this: “the moon in our mason jars, chasing fireflies.” And the mention of “whatever isn’t stuck on a roof or disappeared. . .” prompts whole sagas of memory. Brilliant!

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. Cassa Bassa says:
    2023/06/26 at 22:17

    A very happy childhood and I so relate.

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. Didier Beaugrand says:
    2023/06/26 at 23:10

    I loved this one! You have touched on some old stirring magic here. Strange how memories live both in the past and present, forgotten yet still alive…
    what a great write!
    thanks.🙏

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  4. santable says:
    2023/06/26 at 23:49

    I have refreshed my childhood memories.🙏💐

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  5. Michele Lee says:
    2023/06/26 at 23:51

    Beautiful writing, Bart. This took me back, sans the fireflies.

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. carolyncordon says:
    2023/06/27 at 01:24

    I love this, the images, and I’m remembering my childhood, reliving it through your words. Awesome!

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. utopicdystopian says:
    2023/06/27 at 09:31

    the moon in our mason jars…love it ⭐️

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  8. Kirsten Curcio says:
    2023/06/27 at 12:27

    Beautiful writing of such a magical time. Those were the days. : )

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. akanshakamal says:
    2023/06/28 at 01:14

    That’s so beautiful.. Helps reminiscing those carefree childhood days.. Painting a beautiful picture through words ✨

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. berniebell1955 says:
    2023/06/28 at 03:38

    I’m remembering glow-wroms in the hedgerows – this is another one for m’blog…

    http://www.spanglefish.com/berniesblog/blog.asp?blogid=16369

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  11. luvgoodcarp says:
    2023/07/01 at 07:41

    That’s lovely. Brings back fond memories.

    Liked by 1 person

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  12. janicetv says:
    2023/07/02 at 16:39

    👏

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. Cheryl, Gulf Coast Poet says:
    2023/07/26 at 20:58

    An exquisite poem that brings back lovely childhood memories! I really enjoyed this, Bartholomew! <3

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