Insurrection
Insurrection
by Michael R. Burch
She has become as the night—listening
for rumors of dawn—while the dew, glistening,
reminds me of her, and the wind, whistling,
lashes my cheeks with its soft chastening.
She has become as the lights—flickering
in the distance—till memories old and troubling
rise up again and demand remembering ...
like peasants rebelling against a mad king.
The Insurrection of Sighs
by Michael R. Burch
She was my Shilo, my Gethsemane;
she nestled my head to her immaculate breast
as she breathed into my insensate lips
the soft benedictions of her ecstatic sighs . . .
But those veiled allegations of her disconsolate tears!
Years I abided the agile assaults of her flesh . . .
She loved me the most when I was most sorely pressed;
she undressed with delight for her ministrations
when all I needed was a moment’s rest . . .
She anointed my lips with strange dews at her perilous breast;
the insurrection of sighs left me fallen, distressed, at her elegant heel.
I felt the hard iron, the cold steel, in her words and I knew:
the terrible arrow showed through my conscripted flesh.
The sun in retreat left her Victor, then all was Night.
Late ap-peals of surrender went sinking and dying—unheard.
Only Flesh
by Michael R. Burch
Moonlight in a pale silver rain caresses her cheek.
What she feels is an emptiness more chilling than fear ...
Nothing is questioned, yet the answer seems clear.
Night, inevitably, only seems to end.
Flesh is the stuff that does not endure.
The sand begins its passage through narrowing glass
as Time sifts out each seed yet to come.
Only flesh does not last.
Eternally, the days rise and fall with the sun;
each bright grain, slipping past, will return.
Only flesh fades to ash though unable to burn.
Only flesh does not last.
Only flesh, in the end, makes its bed in brown grass.
Only flesh shivers, pale as the pale wintry light.
Only flesh seeps in oils that will not ignite.
Only flesh rues its past.
Only flesh.
Keywords/Tags: Insurrection, Rebel, Rebellion, Rebeling, life, death, lifespan, flesh, mortality, time, sand, hourglass, ash, ashes, loss, grave, night, moon, moonlight, stars, rain, grass, despair, Memory, Memories, Night, Dawn, Rumors, Rebel, Rebelling, Rebellion, Rebellious, Love, Relationships, Parting, Separation, Engagement, Marriage, Divorce
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