Long Basketball Poems

WOMEN ...

Truly amaze me ... they possess the super-human
strength to birth a child - one of the most painful
and demanding physical and emotional feats of end-
urance known to our species - yet they have the
self-confidence...

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Where Does the Butterfly Go?
by Michael R. Burch

for the children of the Holocaust and the Nakba

Where does the butterfly go
when lightning rails,
when thunder howls,
when hailstones scream,
when winter scowls,
when nights compound dark frosts with snow ...
Where...

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Juvenilia: Early Poems IX

These are early poems of mine, written in my teens as a high school student and during my first two years of college.

Shock
by Michael R. Burch

It was early in the morning of...

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My wife and I met more than a few of this type of “shifty wheeler-dealer” during our many years dealing in antiques and collectibles.

           ...

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The entire Family moved into 
Their new home. Bigger better
Much more room which 
Everybody needed. As months
Became years, the children 
Thrived and grew.
Damian Junior Was 12 years old 
Damian Amadeus, 9
Damian Justin and twin
Damian Jordan,...

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DJ and  the Damian squad rushed
The house. "Dad we're gonna 
Play CRUEL BALL!"  Amadeus 
Gave notice. Damian said, "Oh
Yeah." He put his hands on both
His sons shoulders and said.
"Fellows first of all it's...

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I started out life as Anna Mae Bullock,                           ...

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11 am everybody was preped
And in the yard pass the two 
Houses waiting and planning for the
Cruel Ball Opposition.
 There was Amadeus 
DJ Damali Rico Nyaf Justin Jordan 
Tanaka Aka Tank Constantino Aka
Tino Ricky and...

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There are actual people
half woman half man
running mornings and
dream people in movies
half language half light.
Tomorrow is John’s funeral.

		*			*			*

This is my minute
my moment
Oops, gone!

Anything can happen
if you don’t resist
Resist!

		*			*			*

But who am I? You think bullets won’t
kill?...

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Playing Batman and Robin is a lot different

When the Riddler is your Stepfather

And simultaneously an alcoholic and pedophile

When your secret mission is to keep him

From bringing heroin and pornography

To Gotham city

 

Your mother wanted to...

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Road Trip

The country, people, and the village,
All equal, as if, for the first time, 
All of that gave a fresher image,
Nay, 'tis but a relative vantage.
Save fresh road, to its left bears a sign.

"A few...

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At the final stroking of saint Halloween eve, it seems not so long ago,
That my trusty SUV, transport vehicle unceremoniously broke down,
Right outside the local pet cemetery, what a marvelous place to
Spend the spookiest night...

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The country, people, and the village,
All equal, as if, for the first time, 
All of that gave a fresher image,
Nay, 'tis but a relative vantage.
Save fresh road, to its left bears a sign.

"A few more...

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His full given name is Barack Hussein Obama
The etymology of his first name, "Baraka," a Swahili word meaning "Blessed"


      It's easy to see why he's my favorite POTUS
  ...

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Summer magic, Winter delight, Spring fresh, and beautiful Fall.
The diverseness of the assorted seasons tends to delight us.
Each has its own ambiance and nuances, after all.
Some years they arrive with less fuss and muss.
Summer is...

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In 1958 Elmer's was the only high school in his county that had been integrated. Basketball was the big sport. People in the little town filled the gym every Tuesday and Friday. They roared when...

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"I Would Be....WOOD"


   "Knock On Me!" or more correct "Knock On WOOD!" You've probably said that and rapped your knuckles against me while saying it! I know you've knocked on me many times...

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Night! 
It’s around nine thirty 
maybe ten. 

The phone rings. 
The voice is irritating, the words frightening.

Within minutes I’m in a car with my mate. 
Within minutes I arrive at my own ground zero. 
Exit...

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I know this preacher
Big and famous
Books and hooks
Got good looks
The gals all love
Dudes are glued
To his words
Though some think
He’s a turd

He’s got so much money
He stopped counting
Talks about his legacy
So he can buy
The universe 
And...

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5 minutes 

Black man- Regular Font
White cop- ALL CAPS 

Excuse me Mr. Officer can i ask you a question
WHAT THE HELL YOU WANT BOY YOU ARE GETTING OUT OF YOUR PROTEST SECTION
Why do you hate...

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Classic rock 
Played so softly
Zooming
Grooving

Got it playing
So quietly 
Though it’s kind
Of metal 
Rocking

But It brings back
Cool memories 
And I love
My music

But all those commercials
But even those
There so funny 
Always selling insurance
And always pushing
Warranties

Offering tidbits
About John...

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Happy birthday, my love….
Today you turn forty-seven years old, dear sister... 
May your wings shine brighter today than ever before.

May my smile bring you joy and laughter. Oh, how your laughter saved me so many...

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Pedestrians are moving ups and downs the day can define the differences he experiences in the bathroom, cars buzzing their noise, around my understanding I cannot keep on thrusting for answers which has to be...

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When you wear a dirty shirt,
You're a book getting judged by its cover.
People think you're really poor, or nutty,
Or that you have a menial job.
Or that you're all three of those,
And then they throw in...

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flirting with fire blowin it up in the most earnest desire
 her perfume was led to basement blues remove those shoes
 bask in the news then you will se a falsified game of reality
 in...

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