Fraiku: Relinquish Belief

Posted on 2025-07-18 by Bartholomew Barker

Like a cockroach in your coffee
Republican corruption is fully steeped
Pour it out and start a new pot

(for this week’s Monday Poetry Prompt)

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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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27 Responses to Fraiku: Relinquish Belief

  1. equipsblog's avatar equipsblog says:
    2025-07-18 at 20:14

    Brilliant analogy, Bartholomew.

    Liked by 2 people

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  2. DD's avatar DD says:
    2025-07-18 at 20:44

    Depending on the species, cockroaches might taste like shrimp, greasy chicken or blue cheese. Regardless, not in my Coffee please.

    Liked by 2 people

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  4. JeanMarie's avatar JeanMarie says:
    2025-07-18 at 23:50

    Eww! Good job

    Liked by 2 people

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  5. berniebell1955's avatar berniebell1955 says:
    2025-07-19 at 03:32

    Problem is …Cockroaches are one of the world strongest survivors. I have this idea that when humans/the earth go Kaput what will survive will be…..fungi – there are fungal spores out in space which can re-colonize – and….cockroaches. They can survive in the most in-hospitable conditions.

    I think rats might manage too as they, also, can live in un-believable conditions but they are mammals, after all, and so are a bit more vulnerable. Underestimate the power of survival of the Cockroache at your peril!

    I’m not sure if this link will work, as you’re not on FB – I’ll have a go – it’s clips of various cats reacting to Trump. Gotta larf ain’t ya’?

    https://www.facebook.com/reel/724626913412548

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    • Bartholomew Barker's avatar Bartholomew Barker says:
      2025-07-19 at 19:16

      I wasn’t considering the long term implications but I stand by the metaphor. We’ll never eradicate corruption (cockroaches) but we can reset periodically, make it more difficult and force a new generation to figure out how to get back into the grift.

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  6. magickmermaid's avatar magickmermaid says:
    2025-07-19 at 15:57

    Throw away the pot and get a new one! :D

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. Cheryl Batavia's avatar Cheryl Batavia says:
    2025-07-19 at 18:30

    Sad, but appropriate, Bart. 🤨 The current Rebublican Party is a far cry from what it used to be. It is a cesspool of greed and corruption, and yes, about as welcome as an infestation of cockroaches!

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  8. Cheryl Batavia's avatar Cheryl Batavia says:
    2025-07-19 at 20:20

    I am a little nostalgic for John McCain. My late husband was a health care advisor for him for two years, and he was an honorable man. Nixon and Reagan, not so much!

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