If you find my journal

Posted on 2025-12-16 by Bartholomew Barker

If you find my journal

Best keep the clasp tight
not for any secrets sitting within
(poets don’t write those down)
but for everything
that might spill out

A stem of heather picked
in the Ring of Brodgar
on the winter solstice

A credit card receipt
from the first date
with a tragic muse

An autumn leaf collected
in April while eating street
pancakes in Auckland

A strapless bra
left in my bed that still
smells of her body wash

A candle glowing
from the first anniversary
of her death

A cliff overlooking the sea
to stand upon while wind
scrapes tears from your eyes

No— Best drop my journal
in the mail unopened
it may look like a bible
but there’s no religion within
just the truth

(for the Monday Poetry Prompt and EC)

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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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28 Responses to If you find my journal

  1. JeanMarie's avatar JeanMarie says:
    2025-12-16 at 21:32

    Nice. “it may look like a bible … but there’s no religion here” Great ending

    Liked by 3 people

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  2. DD's avatar DD says:
    2025-12-16 at 22:12

    I really enjoyed this one Bart.
    Thank you.
    Be well and do good.
    DD

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. erroneouschoices's avatar erroneouschoices says:
    2025-12-17 at 00:55

    I definitely love this, it hits all of my soft spots, nostalgia, loss, love. So pretty

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. berniebell1955's avatar berniebell1955 says:
    2025-12-17 at 03:52

    Oh – yes!

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. berniebell1955's avatar berniebell1955 says:
    2025-12-17 at 04:00

    A bit of a coincidence re. secrets….in m’blog today…along with your poem! They Know, you know

    The bin-men know the drinkers
    The postie knows who’s popular
    “They got 10 cards in one day”
    The lady at the till
    Clocks the Vegan buying Jerky

    BB Dec. ‘25

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. carolyncordon's avatar carolyncordon says:
    2025-12-17 at 06:25

    How beautifully observed. It took the reader on a journey into your personal world.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. Kirsten Curcio's avatar Kirsten Curcio says:
    2025-12-17 at 10:57

    This is excellent, Bart!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. Violet Lentz's avatar Violet Lentz says:
    2025-12-17 at 11:29

    Ooooo This was delicious!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. Amarela's avatar Amarela says:
    2025-12-17 at 13:47

    An intimate and sensitive poem that turns objects and memories into living moments. It shows that the truth of a life isn’t in secrets, but in the small moments and details that leave a mark on the heart. Thank you for sharing.✨🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  11. Pingback: If you find my journal – Noah Omweri

  13. berniebell1955's avatar berniebell1955 says:
    2025-12-18 at 04:46

    I said to Mike…he probably hasn’t got a Journal – that’s Poets for ya’.

    Liked by 1 person

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