Category: Micropoetry

Your Voices Have Been Heard

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Thank you for helping me choose a name for Zumi’s toy sea turtle

Zumi’s New Friend photo collage. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

Many of you participated in choosing a “C” name for Zumi’s new friend, a beautiful toy sea turtle, gifted to us by one of my friends. From the previous post that brought on this one, the names were: Cricket, Charlley, and Coral.

I shared the post with at least ten of my closest friends and acquaintances. They chimed in with their selections, and we have named this little beauty.

saddled sea turtle
with most voted for “C” name
fits it perfectly

And the name that received the most votes is… *vigorous drumroll*

Charlley!

Honestly, I am incredibly happy that this is the name most people wanted for our new little addition. Charlley was riding high initially, ahead by 4 votes, but Coral picked up massive speed from many of my friends. Cricket only had three votes by Saturday night, so it never had a chance. The end results: Charlley: 7 votes, Coral: 6 votes, and Cricket: 3 votes.

Thank you to everyone who took an interest in participating in our little fun experiment! I appreciate your presence here, and I am grateful to be able to share the little things in my life that bring me a spot of joy with all of you.

Peace and blessings.

Happy Sunday, beautiful people!

Have you gotten your copy of Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction at Lulu in E-Book & Paperback versions, or Amazon in Paperback (only) yet?

I am on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing, as I discuss recent events related to my previous place of employment, including racism and discrimination, the growth I experienced after resigning from that company, and the foibles and overall experiences of life. I welcome your visit.

cold-turkeying a love & As Christmas Comes To an End

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Two poems shared on Substack notes

AI-Generated Image: A Black woman with locs, wearing glasses, sitting on her bed, writing in a journal. 

cold-turkeying a love

I’m cold-turkeying a love I should have
left when I first realized it was time
to leave before I become
cold-hearted.

As Christmas Comes To an End

I am locked into Broncos and Chiefs,
and Prime was glitching earlier, no
rhyme or reason to the delay, but I
remain tuned in; first quarter took a while
To warm up — old Buick, winter weather…
breathe, you’ll get it.

My cousin’s text message breaks my
attention, and I see the preview for a
photo and a video, and instantly, I’m
reminded of how much fun we used to
have as children — “Popcorn Loving”
our way down the block.

New Edition was a drug of choice.
7 and 9-year-olds shouldn’t know anything
about crushes, but we were latchkey kids, raising
ourselves from the hours of 3 PM to 8 PM.
We were curious, and curiosity was meant
to kill us, but it didn’t.
We survived the block.

And even though we’re so far removed
from the neighborhood that reared us through
grade school, pieces of it still breathe life
into us.

Christmas is ending, and I remember the
past while braving my present.
What does the future have for me to live
through next?

I guess… we’ll have
to see.

Have you gotten your copy of Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction at Lulu in E-Book & Paperback versions, or Amazon in Paperback (only) yet?

I am on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing, as I discuss recent events related to my previous place of employment, including racism and discrimination, the growth I experienced after resigning from that company, and the foibles and overall experiences of life. I welcome your visit.

chocolate teaser

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a savory poem

Hot cocoa. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

with my salivating taste
buds patiently
waiting, I tweaked a
hot cocoa recipe
and took the first
sip that led me to a
a new lover’s arms.

I’ll be right here
tomorrow; same
time, same place,
eager to coat my
tongue with a savory
chocolate heaven.

simply divine.

A savory poem celebrates rich, complex flavors and satisfying, hearty experiences, often using food imagery to evoke deep emotion or memory, as seen in poems about home cooking, spices, family gatherings, or even love and loss, focusing on hearty tastes like bacon, curries, and herbs rather than just sweetness, finding depth in everyday meals and shared moments. 

Google Gemini Overview of a Savory Poem.

Have you gotten your copy of Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction at Lulu in E-Book & Paperback versions, or Amazon in Paperback (only) yet?

I am on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing, as I discuss recent events related to my previous place of employment, including racism and discrimination, the growth I experienced after resigning from that company, and the foibles and overall experiences of life. I welcome your visit.

Titillating Literary Culinary Offerings

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A Book Review

Milkshakes & Chilidogs by Bartholomew Barker. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

You will never have to twist my arm or convince me to purchase a book of poems by Bartholomew Barker. If he’s writing them, I’m buying it. Some people master structure, line breaks, wordplay, and intensity all in one go with their poetry, and Bart is one of those people.

I assure you, reading about dinner, drinks, and dessert will never be the same. You’ll find yourself thinking you can actually undress a glass of wine, see full and supple breasts in a bunch of tomatoes, and hear heaven’s angels sing while you’re baking a fresh batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies.

It was a pleasure to read and review this chapbook, which I did on both Amazon and Goodreads.

Serve Me a Symphony of Purple in a Glass

I knew that I would not be disappointed as soon as I opened “Milkshakes and Chilidogs”, and began reading. Barker has a way of working language, playing with phrases and rhythm, so that his poetry not only sticks with you, it is pleasing to the ear when read aloud.

His line breaks are intentional and powerful. Every stanza is a welcome wave of sighs of relief for a reader and writer of poetry.

There are so many quotable phrases throughout this chapbook such as:

“I keep time with an hourglass
because I prefer the shape.”

“Sunday morning pancakes
start out pale like her skin
in early spring.”

“Tomatoes
Firm as your breasts
Red as your lips
On a night out
Drenched in Merlot.”

And this doesn’t even begin to scrape the surface of his brilliant use of form and structure. I loved everything about this offering except for the fact that it’s not long enough.

I would have loved to see a formal book of poetry regarding dinner, drinks, and dessert, especially if they’re going to be written by Bartholomew Barker.

Currently, at just $1.99 for Kindle and $5.45 for paperback, Milkshakes & Chilidogs is far beyond affordable and worth so much more. If you’re looking for a stocking stuffer for a few of your wordsmith-like friends, this chapbook would make the perfect gift!

Have you gotten your copy of Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction at Lulu in E-Book & Paperback versions, or Amazon in Paperback (only) yet?

I am on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing, as I discuss recent events related to my previous place of employment, including racism and discrimination, the growth I experienced after resigning from that company, and the foibles and overall experiences of life. I welcome your visit.

Queen Winter Solstice

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A Haiku

Trees and Sky. Sunday, December 21, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

Winter Solstice smiles
lying dormant for one year
she re-emerges

Have you gotten your copy of Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction at Lulu in E-Book & Paperback versions, or Amazon in Paperback (only) yet?

I am on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing, as I discuss recent events related to my previous place of employment, including racism and discrimination, the growth I experienced after resigning from that company, and the foibles and overall experiences of life. I welcome your visit.

Ájá, Happy 3 Years To You!

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It’s my three-year locs anniversary!

I went from a short, almost pixie-style haircut to just over shoulder-length locs in 3 years! Ájá is healthy, thick, and has a personality all on her own. She’s still doing her own thing, and I’m so happy with my hair! Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
A Photo Montage of Some of My Favorite Moments Rocking Ájá. Video Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

natural hair journey
three-year anniversary
Ájá’s still thriving

Have you gotten your copy of Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction at Lulu in E-Book & Paperback versions, or Amazon in Paperback (only) yet?

I am on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing, as I discuss recent events related to my previous place of employment, including racism and discrimination, the growth I experienced after resigning from that company, and the foibles and overall experiences of life. I welcome your visit.