What I Did on Vacation

Posted on 2024-06-11 by Bartholomew Barker

It’s best to die while on vacation
swept out to sea from some beach
fallen into a gorge between mountains

Mugged in a big city (a mere inconvenience)
until a somewhat snide suggestion
is made on his unimaginative word choice

Planes crash
Trains derail
Ferries capsize

But at least I didn’t die at the office
or sweating over a sly sonnet
or asleep in my bed alone

Make sure my obituary reads
he died doing what he loved

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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 What I Did on Vacation

  1. johnlmalone's avatar johnlmalone says:
    2024-06-11 at 19:21

    enjoyed this one, Bart , resonates — particularly with the death of Michael Mosley —

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. trE's avatar trE says:
    2024-06-11 at 19:44

    “Make sure my obituary reads
    he died doing what he loved”

    This!!! Very nice, Bart! I really like this one!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. ivor20's avatar ivor20 says:
    2024-06-11 at 20:13

    A wondrously ponderous poem … where will I die, how will I die, when will I die? … I suppose we are all born to die … sooner or later …

    Liked by 2 people

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  4. Michele Lee's avatar Michele Lee says:
    2024-06-11 at 21:25

    Fabulous crafting, Bart, and not a bad way to go! 🌊

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. Ellie Carpenter's avatar Ellie Thompson says:
    2024-06-12 at 06:12

    Now, there’s a thought, Bartholomew. Thank you for sharing. X 🦋

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. berniebell1955's avatar berniebell1955 says:
    2024-06-14 at 05:54

    You’re time to die – is your time to die – no sooner – no later – thinking of the line in ‘Bladerunner’.

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. Dawn Pisturino's avatar Dawn Pisturino says:
    2024-06-24 at 11:46

    Everyone should die that way!

    Liked by 1 person

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