Tomorrow I’m having brain surgery.
I asked them to cut out my empathy
center with a sharp knife
so I can live happy.
And while I’m exposed, remove
that bright red ganglia of outrage
so I won’t be susceptible to political
ads and start voting Republican.
I just want to scroll social media,
watch cat videos and not worry
about the latest disasters or wonder
if the neighbor kids are hungry.
If this is my final post,
the surgery was a success.
(for this week’s Living Poetry Prompt.)
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 
Fun and original post, Bart.
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Thank you, Pat. Glad you enjoyed it.
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Not the sort of cosmetic brain surgery I had imagined,. but each to their own. Good luck and farewell, perhaps.
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“Cosmetic Brain Surgery” is a great title for a poem. You should write it!
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I’ll give it ago
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terrific ! wildly inventive; would go over well at a poetry slam !
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Thanks, John! I’ll give a try the next open mic.
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I hope it won’t be your last post . . . Clever piece, though, Bart!
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Thanks, Tre! We’ll see if I can come up with a haiku on Friday.
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My Lord! Spot on – going in m’blog…..How many times have I thought I’d rather not think – but always realise/decide that it’s better to LIVE!
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Thanks, Bernie! And living means thinking for us.
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I think this word is used too often these days – but it’s the one that fits here…..Absolutley!
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Reminds me of ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’.
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Love this, Bart.. hahahaha.., Sign me up, please💕
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Thanks, Cindy! I’ll refer you to my surgeon.
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😂🙏🏼
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PS – my spelling ain’t too good at this time of the morning!
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Mine would be even worse, if I were awake.
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move over, I’m next
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May your surgery be more successful than mine.
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Haha. If there are no more posts, I’ll be signing up for the same surgery.
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Alas…
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