Solitude

Posted on 2025-04-14 by Bartholomew Barker

Solitude is not blue
that’s loneliness
with all its sapphire longing
and deep ocean waves

Solitude is not magenta
that’s abandonment
with a twinge of crimson
anger sputtering into flame

No, solitude is the color
of leaves in the middle of April
new hope draping an old tree
with emeralds emerging from the soil

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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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22 Responses to Solitude

  1. Melissa Lemay's avatar Melissa Lemay says:
    2025-04-14 at 22:16

    I really like the second stanza.

    Liked by 2 people

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  3. Linlokfei's avatar Linlokfei says:
    2025-04-14 at 22:31

    Love this! ❤️

    Liked by 2 people

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  4. Britta Benson's avatar Britta Benson says:
    2025-04-15 at 04:32

    This is beautiful! And I totally agree. Solitude is neither blue nor magenta, but the colour of leaves, the colour of ‘new hope draping an old tree’. Wow. Love this poem and the power of solitude.

    Liked by 2 people

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  5. luisa zambrotta's avatar luisa zambrotta says:
    2025-04-15 at 05:39

    Such a great poem full beautiful imagery.

    Liked by 3 people

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  7. Susi Bocks's avatar Susi Bocks says:
    2025-04-23 at 19:03

    Beautiful, Bart!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. luvgoodcarp's avatar luvgoodcarp says:
    2025-04-24 at 06:22

    Couldn’t agree with you more. Loneliness is blue, and that color has belonged to Joni Mitchell for decades now.

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. Astradie's avatar Astradie says:
    2025-04-27 at 08:45

    Magnifique !!

    Liked by 1 person

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