I’ve been underwater
for almost a month
beneath a gray sky
no sun — no moon
not even a hope
of stars
Like a cod swimming
in the North Sea
through cool
familiar waters
then plucked from home
thrown into a fryer
but at least I’ll see
the night once more
I count eleven meals of fish & chips over the past 27 days, including tonight’s, above.
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 
Hang in there you got this. You never know what’s around the corner.
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I hope I know exactly what’s around the corner since I’m scheduled to return home tomorrow. This is not the time for the unexpected.
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Just met somebody good in your life. I didn’t mean anything bad I’m sorry.
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No need to apologize, Anthony. I appreciate that you saw a metaphor in my poem that I missed.
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looks healthy, Bart: go easy on the chips; cheers :)
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Thanks, John! No more chips for me. They’ll be french fries soon.
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good choice; I like my Atlantic Salmon and Flathead :)
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I had to look up Flatheads. I’m pretty sure I’ve never eaten one of those.
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‘Fries’ – Pshaw!
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Fish and chips = delicious.
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I’ve had bad fish & chips before but it’s very rare and didn’t happen on this trip!
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A lovely tongue in cheek farewell to Scotland.
Perhaps that tongue is feeling around the remnants of a fried Mars Bar right now.
Anyhoo…
Bon Voyage
.
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Thank you, DD! I successfully avoided the Fried Mars Bar this trip.
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Might be time to stop counting. 😄 Creative comparison, Bart. Hope your flight home is more peaceful than that scenario!
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Good idea, Michele! I’m not looking forward to walking out of the airport in North Carolina after having spent a month closer to the pole than the equator. That’s going to be a shock.
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I can understand that. Hard to leave when you feel like you’re just getting started. A month is wonderful though! Good for you! Brace yourself and drink plenty of water. Safe travels.
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Thank you, Michele. I’m back in my apartment, safe and sound.
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Which is better – Icelandic Cod or Westray Haddock? Careful how you answer!
All together now…’Hoooooomeward bound….’ – Simon & Garfunkel.
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I must admit, I didn’t notice much of a difference in the fish flesh itself. I’m much more conscious of the batter.
Time to pack up, check out and take off.
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