Tag Archives: fear

Athazagoraphobia

Posted on 2023-04-23 by Bartholomew Barker

I’m not bothered by snakes or spiders. I love climbing trees and exploring caves. Public speaking excites some minor anxiety but much less than an invitation to a party. No, I’m afraid of an empty inbox, of a phone that … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Tagged , , , , | 31 Comments

Fear Itself

Posted on 2023-01-24 by Bartholomew Barker

That big angry dog at the end of my paper route half German Shepherd half fear itself The one who barks and snaps at my tires as I pedal away fast as my twelve-year-old legs can pump Some days he’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Tagged , , , | 35 Comments

Breaking News

Posted on 2022-04-14 by Bartholomew Barker

For today’s prompt, write a scary poem. Breaking News My stomach feels like a puddle of still waterdisturbed by the cinematic ripples of dinosaur steps I am that little Ohio boy again in early Springwhen a tornado watch marches across … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Seat 14B

Posted on 2021-09-28 by Bartholomew Barker

Seat 14B She’s didn’t want to talkas the airplane turnedfrom taxi to runway. This woman, braveas any I knew, wantedme to shut the hell up. All my memorized statisticsmy calculated probabilitiescould not abate her fear that this thin aluminum tubewith … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments