Today the rain is colder
and the tempest tries
to steal my umbrella
But I’m not angered
by a solemn autumn
storm when leaves
explode smokeless
and swirl in the wind
like fireflies
Today let’s celebrate
the beauty of motion
and the bittersweet harvest
(I visited my friends at Waltonwood Lake Boone less than twelve hours after the Equinox Saturday, during a tropical storm, and we were inspired to write this autumnal poem.)
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.
Bartholomew Barker, Poet 
Our equinox was similar.
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Glad you didn’t get washed away.
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Too far inland to get the heavy wind and rain. Lucky.
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“exploding smokeless leaves” amazing image.
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Thanks, K! I wasn’t sure if that bit was going to work.
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This is exquisite, poetic lines through and through. 💚💚💚
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Thank you, CB. We did some good work that afternoon.
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Such a lovely poem!💙
The shot is great
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Grazie, Luisa! That’s another stock photo but it seemed to match the poem rather well.
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I agree with you: the pairing is fantastic ❣️
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Love this, Bart! <3 Even the elements of nature we dread can inspire us with their power and beauty!
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Thanks, Cheryl! We can’t stop the storm so we might as well embrace it.
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Nice work B.
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Thanks, JM! I’m doing another autumn poetry program tomorrow at Charles House.
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This is beautiful Bart. Walking in the rain is splendid❣️
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It’s less than splendid after shoes get wet but i appreciate the sentiment.
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💕🙏💕
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