Wine into Wisdom

Posted on 2023-07-26 by Bartholomew Barker

Wine clings to the side
As I slowly twirl the glass
Watching purple strobes
Blink in the Merlot

Feeling my shoulders drop
Into a burgundy-stained stomach
Cool liquid transmuted
Into warm inspiration

Soaking into the web of nerves
Pulled up the spine to my skull
Breaking the blood brain barrier
Soft fleece on a cold night

Each sip is a prayer to Bacchus
Grant me the confidence to chat
With these dancers so beautiful
And the wisdom not to fall in love

This year marks the tenth anniversary of my first poetry collection, Wednesday Night Regular. To celebrate I’m posting my favorite poems from the book on Wednesday nights, of course.

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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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18 Responses to Wine into Wisdom

  1. Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris's avatar Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris says:
    2023-07-26 at 20:37

    Extremely insightful and revealing Bartholomew. Lovely in its essence and vulnerability. 💜

    Liked by 2 people

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  2. butimbeautiful's avatar butimbeautiful says:
    2023-07-27 at 00:25

    You’re a devotee of Dionysus

    Liked by 2 people

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  3. luvgoodcarp's avatar luvgoodcarp says:
    2023-07-27 at 06:10

    Haha. I hope Bacchus is kinder to you than he is to me. He’s a slippery guy.

    Liked by 3 people

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  4. Stacey C. Johnson's avatar Stacey C. Johnson says:
    2023-07-27 at 08:28

    Brilliant ending. I love the twist on the serenity prayer. So resonant.

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. Kitten Lada's avatar Kitten Lada says:
    2023-07-31 at 22:25

    I love dancing and my love for dancing makes me send that love vibe to everyone I meet…if it weren’t for you where would we be…? And if it weren’t for your honest words, how would I know the truth underneath this prayer? Maybe love is there?

    Liked by 2 people

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  6. LuAnne Holder's avatar LuAnne Holder says:
    2023-08-01 at 07:41

    I can so relate. Thank you for this one; I think I might post it on my fridge as a reminder to not ‘fall in love’ with the wine dancers.

    Liked by 3 people

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  7. mukulmanku's avatar mukulmanku says:
    2023-08-18 at 04:41

    Beautifully composed

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. Pingback: Wine into Wisdom (reprise) | Bartholomew Barker, Poet

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