Best Barleycorn Poems

He served as a deacon in his church and was as pious as they come.
(But on the side, he sold whiskey from a thirty-gallon drum!)
He taught the junior high Sunday school class and was a Bible scholar.
(But on the side, he 'stilled' moonshine way back...

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Moon In Auburn


As the stars were heaped upon a mantles Shangri-La
The miniature toy town beneath its cape 
Quiet hung in yellow golden windows lit
So silent in the dales and woods blanket
The dog fox cry echoed from the moon
Crisp and cloudless chill less coldness
With the twin...

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Carrie Nation was renown for her scorn

For the havoc caused by john barleycorn

She wielded her axe causing dire consternation

Wrecking bars with what she termed a "hatchitation"

Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved...

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Thinking of my youth 
when we rode around 
   in a light green VW beetle
Listening to Stevie Winwood 
   and the boys sing John Barleycorn 
Soon enough my friends scattered 
   Some gone down South 
Some out to L.A....

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He served as a deacon in his church and was as pious as they come.
(But on the side, he sold whiskey from a thirty-gallon drum!)
He taught junior high Sunday School and was a Bible scholar.
(But on the side he 'stilled' moonshine way back up in...

Continue reading...

They buried him two inches deep
and for months there wasn't peep
And then with barely a sound
he forced his head out of the ground

For months he grew tall and grew straight
until it was time for his fate
In his prime he was cut to the ground
and then...

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Furst night in Brockton
new guy in town
Again
lost in a sea
of Nauthinaz
I'll get my bearings
I'm an Ex-Sailor
used to course less
wanderings
no boundaries have i
aimless
no to john barleycorn 
born to nowhere
drawn to the sea...

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September noon was hot
I sat alone in a crowd

My counterfeit leather boots were cheap vinyl,
Like traces of gas in a puddle,
They shone an iridescent rainbow

I wanted faded “501’S” but wore
“Monkey Wards” counterfeit denim

My skin no longer fits; I was alone in a crowd

The bleachers flanking...

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Choose moment foiled 
Over moment gone or none.
Penance paid all bard alas anon.
Bars of boxcars rolling down 
Canals of clotted wax;
These are the facts 
As I know them to be; 
Sum total me.

Scratch barleycorn 
For earth and inch for truth.
All tiny, tiny words 
In huddled...

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Unwind.

As a tiring day
Unwinds
And goes to rest
Blue skies turn to grey
Closing the lid
On natures bountiful
Treasure chest

Blackbird on high
Bids farewell
With it’s sweet
Retiring lament
The wild daffodil
Closes delicate its petals and folds
Now the day is spent 
And the lilac tree gives off
It’s heady scent

The air still warm 
Clings...

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