An American Eats Sushi in Edinburgh

Posted on 2024-07-02 by Bartholomew Barker

I once counted States visited
on family vacation roadtrips
proud when we’d entered
every one east of the Mississippi
even if only to see the back
of the Welcome To sign

Now I collect stamps in my passport
bleary-eyed banter with uniforms
at borders tucked inside airports
though thanks to e-Passport
the records of my crossings
now only exist in a database

The world hasn’t gotten any smaller
we’ve gotten bigger

Like out growing the family manse
it’s time we stopped sibling squabbling
and worked together to move out and up
before we burn the place the down

(Photo of the dinner which inspired this poem.)

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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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13 Responses to An American Eats Sushi in Edinburgh

  1. DD's avatar DD says:
    2024-07-02 at 16:50

    I notice a red wine with ,your dinner
    Instead of a white it’s a winner
    If talking diversity
    It’s no perversity
    A cross cultural embrace not a sin eh?
    ~
    Cheers Batt, It’s looking and sounding like a great trip. Thanks for letting us tag along.
    DD

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. trE's avatar trE says:
    2024-07-02 at 18:19

    *Salivating over the picture*

    The poem is dope, too, Bart!

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. ivor20's avatar ivor20 says:
    2024-07-02 at 20:32

    Scrumptious cuisine,
    no need for me to intervene
    upon your worldly trip’s routine … 🌝🌏🍷

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. johnlmalone's avatar johnlmalone says:
    2024-07-02 at 21:28

    great title for the post, Bart; well written with an important message —

    Liked by 1 person

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