Yes, that's right, that's the basic concept behind the legend. He's a sort of personification of barley, and his revenge for what was done to him as a crop, is to come back as beer and make people drunk. Haha... 😎
Was the guest poet at my neighborhood Y today. I used Honeygloom’s Substack and fun prompts to teach 9 “Overs” (that’s over 65 years old) how to compose Haiku and Senryu. It was illuminating. And, quite fun.
These are poems in the style of my favorite modern poets known for their Haiku and Senyru poetry, all inspired by today’s prompt: John Barleycorn.
♾️ Richard Wright
The scythe in his hand
swings through golden stalks of grain—
John’s blood fills the sky.
♾️ Sonia Sanchez
Barleycorn rises—
cut him, drink him, love him deep,
his blood in our cups.
♾️ Jack Kerouac
Barley fields shimmer
under a silver moon—
we sip from the earth.
♾️ Michael Dylan Welch
The long summer’s heat—
John Barleycorn bows his head,
sharp edges await.
♾️ Cor van den Heuvel
In the dark barn
a bottle tips—
Barleycorn’s ghost.
♾️ Nick Virgilio
They drink his blood
again, again, again—
John Barleycorn waits.
♾️ Fay Aoyagi
Barleycorn’s shadow—
the moon sits in my glass
silent, watching.
♾️ David G. Lanoue
John in my whiskey,
laughing at my long troubles—
we’re old friends, he says.
♾️ Kala Ramesh
Midsummer harvest—
John Barleycorn whispers soft
through the broken fields.
Each poem draws from the distinct style and voice of these poets, interpreting the John Barleycorn myth through their unique lenses.
The British rock group Traffic set this poem to music on the "John Barleycorn Must Die" album.
Also, Jack London used the name as the title for a book about his addiction to alcohol.
I didn’t know that about Jack London, wild!
Fascinating. However do you know such interesting information? Thank you for sharing.
I read books.
Heartsblood libation
so good for the soul they say -
Down the hatch! Sláinte!
Yep, the burn is your soul healing😌
Brought to ground by flint
Not buried nor burned but cast
As water of life
I love this, hints of sacrifice and fate, very cool🖤
I was wondering when you'd get to "John Barleycorn Must Die"!😂
Ha! Just keeping you in suspense 😏
It was revenge for,
What we did here, now he lives,
In each glass of beer... 🍺😎🍺
Are you saying John Barleycorn is a hangover??!!
Yes, that's right, that's the basic concept behind the legend. He's a sort of personification of barley, and his revenge for what was done to him as a crop, is to come back as beer and make people drunk. Haha... 😎
That’s pretty epic honestly, I really like this guy.
He's getting his vengeance from beyond the grave. A bit like 'The Crow'! Haha... 😎👍
Barley host’s beer
A toast to most
But liquor is quicker
Haha, yes it is!
Poor John losr his life
to become immortal drink
Good bargain or not?
Ha! He brings so much joy😜I love the tone of this so much 🖤
I am sorry it is lost not losr
Thanks
Immortalized drink
Once innocent in the sun
Blazes through hot veins
Nice! I love the dichotomy here, and especially how people are the ones who create it🖤
Was the guest poet at my neighborhood Y today. I used Honeygloom’s Substack and fun prompts to teach 9 “Overs” (that’s over 65 years old) how to compose Haiku and Senryu. It was illuminating. And, quite fun.
These are poems in the style of my favorite modern poets known for their Haiku and Senyru poetry, all inspired by today’s prompt: John Barleycorn.
♾️ Richard Wright
The scythe in his hand
swings through golden stalks of grain—
John’s blood fills the sky.
♾️ Sonia Sanchez
Barleycorn rises—
cut him, drink him, love him deep,
his blood in our cups.
♾️ Jack Kerouac
Barley fields shimmer
under a silver moon—
we sip from the earth.
♾️ Michael Dylan Welch
The long summer’s heat—
John Barleycorn bows his head,
sharp edges await.
♾️ Cor van den Heuvel
In the dark barn
a bottle tips—
Barleycorn’s ghost.
♾️ Nick Virgilio
They drink his blood
again, again, again—
John Barleycorn waits.
♾️ Fay Aoyagi
Barleycorn’s shadow—
the moon sits in my glass
silent, watching.
♾️ David G. Lanoue
John in my whiskey,
laughing at my long troubles—
we’re old friends, he says.
♾️ Kala Ramesh
Midsummer harvest—
John Barleycorn whispers soft
through the broken fields.
Each poem draws from the distinct style and voice of these poets, interpreting the John Barleycorn myth through their unique lenses.
That is so cool!! Sounds like so much fun! And I’m so chuffed you used HHC😊
These poems are so incredible! I love the Cor van den Heuvel one, I’ll have to check them out, so spooky 🖤
I have all their published poetry. It’s absurd how original and how talented each poet is.