How I Learned to Write Poetry at The Lake

Posted on 2025-10-01 by Bartholomew Barker

I’m very proud to announce that a new poem of mine has just been published at The Lake. My thanks to John Murphy for accepting my work.

How I Learned to Write Poetry starts like this:

Little boy in a yellow rain coat
and galoshes squatting in the gutter
watches the rain become a river.

Hope you’ll give it a read.

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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35 Responses to How I Learned to Write Poetry at The Lake

  1. berniebell1955's avatar berniebell1955 says:
    2025-10-01 at 12:36

    “There’s the past, the future

    and the current.”

    Going with the flow…..

    I used to spend hours doing exactly that – daming a stream in the woods near where I lived – blocking, unblocking, making little bridges with stones. Just me an’ m’dog.

    Liked by 3 people

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  2. trE's avatar trE says:
    2025-10-01 at 12:59

    I love this, Bart! So many visuals with so few words. I especially like the ending!

    Liked by 2 people

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  3. DD's avatar DD says:
    2025-10-01 at 16:33

    Ending with such a gorgeously blatant pun made my day, Bart, with
    laughter flowing into smiles.
    Congratulations and well done.
    Thanks,
    DD

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Ephemeral Encounters's avatar Ephemeral Encounters says:
    2025-10-01 at 16:58

    Congratulations Bart 🤗

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Meelosmom's avatar Meelosmom says:
    2025-10-01 at 21:35

    Wonderful, Bart! I love the imagery.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Kirsten Curcio's avatar Kirsten Curcio says:
    2025-10-02 at 00:18

    The pure, unfiltered joy of creation. 😊 Congratulations, Bart!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. poetisatinta's avatar poetisatinta says:
    2025-10-02 at 03:37

    Congratulations 🥂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. poetisatinta's avatar poetisatinta says:
    2025-10-02 at 03:44

    Just read it Bart, I love how your poem moves from the sensory world of child’s play into a metaphor for a life of poetry- just lovely 🌟

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. LuAnne Holder's avatar LuAnne Holder says:
    2025-10-02 at 08:16

    That is a stunning poem. So glad you shared the link. And congratulations. I love the ending and your double meaning for the last word. But the whole poem is wonderful. You create a vivid image that speaks to me.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  11. Rene Heartsong's avatar Rene Heartsong says:
    2025-10-02 at 13:08

    Huge Congrats!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. Dawn Pisturino's avatar Dawn Pisturino says:
    2025-10-03 at 10:00

    Congratulations! I love the poem. On the humorous side, I couldn’t help waiting for Pennywise the Clown to appear from the gutter.

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. Cindy Georgakas's avatar Cindy Georgakas says:
    2025-10-04 at 13:42

    A lovely poem of a child’s play. Congratulations, Bart!
    💕

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. JeanMarie's avatar JeanMarie says:
    2025-10-05 at 04:22

    “There’s the past, the future
    and the current.”

    I see what you did there, clever boy. Well done and congratulations.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  15. berniebell1955's avatar berniebell1955 says:
    2025-10-05 at 04:28

    Aaaaannnndddd….it’s in m’blog…… http://www.spanglefish.com/berniesblog/blog.asp?blogid=17524

    Liked by 1 person

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