On the Road

Posted on 2023-11-23 by Bartholomew Barker

Wrong turn too many miles ago
now we’re on back roads
crackling on the windshield
the sleet blankets the trees
drooping low over the black ice
as we search for the right way
that leads us back home

We follow the smells of sage stuffing,
cranberry relish and sweet potato pie
from deep in our memories
dragging us along the road
like a horse pulling a sleigh
through the white
and drifted snow

Yesterday I made my annual Thanksgiving poetry visit to Charles House where we read several holiday poems including Joy Harjo’s Perhaps the World Ends Here and Lydia Maria Child’s The New-England Boy’s Song about Thanksgiving Day from which we stole the last two lines of our collaboration above.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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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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11 Responses to On the Road

  1. equipsblog's avatar equipsblog says:
    2023-11-23 at 17:27

    Really like this poem with it’s blending of many different Thanksgiving stories.

    Liked by 2 people

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  3. Pingback: On the Road – Zack

  4. yourplateormine967244485's avatar yourplateormine967244485 says:
    2023-11-25 at 01:32

    Well put together, like a family of holiday traditions and travels to grandparents home for the holidays. 💞✨🍁

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. LuAnne Holder's avatar LuAnne Holder says:
    2023-11-25 at 14:01

    Lovely images. I love that aromas could lead the way even through blankets of snow.

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. butungislayp's avatar butungislayp says:
    2023-11-27 at 08:47

    i like how you make us see the persona’s memories as compass here. beautiful piece 💜

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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