Fraiku: Ripped from the Headlines

Posted on 2025-10-24 by Bartholomew Barker

Trump wrecks White House.
No need for metaphor.
Life becomes parody.

(East Wing of White House reduced to rubble as part of Trump’s ballroom construction)

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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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23 Responses to Fraiku: Ripped from the Headlines

  1. trE's avatar trE says:
    2025-10-24 at 20:06

    Demolishing a national monument is just mind-blowing. Yet, here we are.

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris's avatar Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris says:
    2025-10-24 at 20:34

    He’s building a ballroom ….
    I’d just like to be able to afford teeth!! 🦷

    Liked by 2 people

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  3. JeanMarie's avatar JeanMarie says:
    2025-10-25 at 03:38

    Good poem. Earlier tonight I watched video on Instagram about Hitler’s ballroom. It was built for blah blah, whatever they said at the time, but more importantly it was the “roof” of a bunker that was built at the same time. And fast forward to now, the ballroom drump is building just so happens to be above the situation room, aka bunker.

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  4. berniebell1955's avatar berniebell1955 says:
    2025-10-25 at 03:50

    I was wittering at Mike about how hard I’m finding it to accept the fact – and that it is a fact – that Trump is demolishing the East Wing of the White House.
    I was thinking of the people who are driving the bulldozers and aiming the wrecking-balls – possibly having grown up with the White House as a symbol of their nation – then they’re told to knock it down. Strong symbolism there, too. They have to do what they’re told, or they’re out of a job. Unless, of course, they go on strike.
    It’s used a bit too much now, but this is a ‘What the fuck?’ scenario if ever there was one.

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  5. Neal Saye's avatar Neal Saye says:
    2025-10-25 at 06:51

    You’re exactly right about parody!

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. berniebell1955's avatar berniebell1955 says:
    2025-10-26 at 05:41

    I’m not sure if you’ll be able to se this, but I’ll have a go…… https://www.facebook.com/reel/1206561651305857

    Liked by 2 people

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