Barry Middleton Poems

can someone
just hear me
there's no need
to fear me
...

Mississippi in August was dusty hot
we took our lunch beneath an oak
the prisoners and I
...

I did not hear what was always there
the midnight train from Memphis
I did not feel the earth tremble in fear
that's the way it is
...

one should speak up to hate
it filters through the air
like toxic gas or fear
...

When I saw the black water swamps,
I could believe there were dinosaurs.
Cypress as old as time and lightning
were hidden from the woodsman's saw.
...

They say that Florida
has no change of seasons,
but mid September,
in a good year,
...

which is greater
power or glory, wealth or truth
wisdom or love
...

Life can be confusing,
head goes spinning ‘round,
sure could use some friendship,
good times can't be found.
...

again we lower the flag
this time
to honor the fallen
in Nice
...

all the seekers show up here
scanning for inspiration
and finding only dawn and dusk
they sink in self-indulgent ego
...