This isn’t a Love Poem

Posted on 2025-04-16 by Bartholomew Barker

All poets start
by writing love poems
then break-up poems
then more love poems
then more break-up poems—
a never ending refrain.

I can’t compare you to a summer’s day
or how you’re like a red, red rose.
I can’t count the ways
or describe how you walk in beauty.
It’s already been written
by older, better poets.

Those are lame excuses.

I love how you love
that water-damaged paperback
you read in the bath.

I love how you hate
couples walking along the beach
in boner-pill commercials.

I love how we fight
over who’ll get credit
for the murder-suicide.

I don’t write enough love poems
and I have no excuse
for not writing more love poems
about you.

Unknown's avatar

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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29 Responses to This isn’t a Love Poem

  1. jsimpsonpoet's avatar jsimpsonpoet says:
    2025-04-16 at 23:12

    A great love poem.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  2. Lincol Martín's avatar Lincol Martín says:
    2025-04-16 at 23:54

    Your poem is an honest and self-aware meditation on the act of writing about love in a world filled with love poetry. It’s a poem that, at first, seems to shy away from the subject of love, but ends up embracing it in a fresh and authentic way.

    Best regards.

    Liked by 2 people

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  3. luisa zambrotta's avatar luisa zambrotta says:
    2025-04-17 at 04:35

    I love this “love” poem, its honesty and its literary references

    Liked by 2 people

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  5. Cheryl Batavia's avatar Cheryl Batavia says:
    2025-04-17 at 11:53

    Bart, I will never receive a love poem from my beloved! He’s not a poet, but if he were, I would hope to get a similar poem from him!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  6. JeanMarie's avatar JeanMarie says:
    2025-04-17 at 23:26

    Fighting over who gets credit for the murder- suicide is the most original line I’ve ever seen in a love poem. I’m impressed.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  7. Benjamin Grossman's avatar Benjamin Grossman says:
    2025-04-18 at 19:53

    Excellent! Interesting!! A great read!!!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  8. LuAnne Holder's avatar LuAnne Holder says:
    2025-04-20 at 18:37

    That is the most tender (non) love poem I have ever read!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  9. Annabel's avatar Annabel says:
    2025-04-22 at 02:33

    Very very cute! 🌻 this doesn’t feel like your usual style? Great poetic expansion

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. Susi Bocks's avatar Susi Bocks says:
    2025-04-23 at 19:10

    Sounds like she’s grabbed you by the heart! ;)

    Liked by 1 person

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

    Trop Mimi J’adore !!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. Lena Ballad's avatar Lena Ballad says:
    2025-08-01 at 14:54

    Is so simple, yet touching! love it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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