Worn Red Nail Polish

Posted on 2023-09-13 by Bartholomew Barker

Worn red nail polish
adorns the ends of ten toes
covered with fishnet stockings
I would take those toes
enclose them in warm hands
absorb the cold
push thumb to sole
feel flesh yield
tension release
thought dissolve
beneath sturdy
poetry writing fingers
forcefully caressing
formerly bound
high-heeled feet

All because a glimpse of red
caught my attention
like a berry
at the end
of mistletoe

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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19 Responses to Worn Red Nail Polish

  1. ivor20's avatar ivor20 says:
    2023-09-13 at 20:25

    berry good, Bart

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. Michele Lee's avatar Michele Lee says:
    2023-09-13 at 22:04

    “poetry writing fingers” Nice! I ordered your book. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. luisa zambrotta's avatar luisa zambrotta says:
    2023-09-14 at 05:08

    Beautiful lines!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. berniebell1955's avatar berniebell1955 says:
    2023-09-14 at 05:11

    What is it about red nail polish? Particularly when it’s chipped?

    And fishnet stockings.

    Triggers.

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. berniebell1955's avatar berniebell1955 says:
    2023-09-15 at 03:34

    Conditioning + trigger = arousal!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. christinenovalarue's avatar christinenovalarue says:
    2023-09-18 at 01:28

    💜

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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