Best Chaperones Poems

To a Daughter More Precious than Gems
by Otomo no Sakanoue no Iratsume
loose translation by Michael R. Burch

Heaven's cold dew has fallen—
and thus another season arrives.
Oh, my child living so far away,
do you pine for me as I do for you?

I have trusted my jewel to...

Continue reading...

State of the Art (IV)

These are my "ars poetica" poems about the art and craft of writing poetry. 



Hearthside
by Michael R. Burch

“When you are old and grey and full of sleep...”  — W.  B.  Yeats

For all that we professed of love, we...

Continue reading...

this place, such a reprieve
I am held without speech--
heaven's clouds Float aloft
like white Foam Froth atop
Fresh morning cappuccino

my chamber, allows comfort
obstructions lifted like air--
open Windows brush inside  
Wondrous Whispers of life
the breath of a Wooden villa

I step outside, more to find
a path leading to...

Continue reading...

With spacetime ripples
come dark energy waves
Emanating from the ether
tainted forces hold me slave
What sort of person
fly’s kites after dark
One with many issues
hiding Cains invisible mark

Left to wander miasma
blind man at controls
Free will is human delusion
We’re all just digging holes
Carving out wishing wells
siphoned dry as stone
Skeletons...

Continue reading...

I flew over a vastness of sand,
ancient ocean withdrawn,
dessicated desert,
neither eternal nor pathetic,
snow dusted, the foot of the Hindu Kush,
even now,
as we humans,
such knotted desperate pieces of work,
loving disorder,
our root cause of violence,
livid hatred for truth,
stare balefully at each other,
as the g-force of a turn,
presses...

Continue reading...

The rig rolled through Laredo 
On the road to San Antone,
Its eighteen wheels of commerce
Headed north from parts unknown.
The shipping costs all paid to
Their coyote chaperones.
					
The plan was clear in concept,
But the method imprecise.
If not the dehydration,
Suffocation would suffice;
The Black Hole of Calcutta
Brought to Texas...

Continue reading...

The Senior Prom was the social event of the school year!
I approached the occasion with great humility and fear.
Never knowing if I could get a date caused me apprehension,
But finding someone to go greatly eased my tension!

So many things for this momentous gala to prepare.
Rent...

Continue reading...

Poetry in motion 
Take me out … the ballgame
bats and balls a'soaring
Root, toot, toot … the home team
'round the bases scoring.

Poetry in motion
Daddy and daughter dance
…hard to give her away
Wedding music magic
Dad won’t stand in your way.

Poetry in motion 
Maypole dance, oom pah pah
lads and...

Continue reading...

One day—
The sea will be my backyard
Every morning, standing upon the deck
Of the one called Going Numb
A “Greatest Dad” mug in one hand
My last vice burning orange in the other

I will watch the sun rise like the formidable Phoenix
Warming the blue green sea with her...

Continue reading...

Are you ready?
Picture eighty-seven children, practicing for a Christmas show
in a sales barn that does not have heat or a sound system.

A skunk died somewhere in here a few hours ago.
Many are screaming.
Some are crying.

Many do not know me.
I am new in town, and obviously...

Continue reading...

Christmas meant a party
At the company club.
It was fun guessing whose dad 
Would dress up as Santa Claus.

As we gathered, the carols played
And one by one, chaperones led
Unwilling boys to blushful girls
We had to dance, flushing with discomfort.

But oh! the food, was so good.
 It...

Continue reading...

A two-tone case of blue and white
                             to house euphonious delight
It graces still the table top
 ...

Continue reading...

Mommy, Jim, Bob, and the guys are going to climb Ole Rocky Ridge.
Can I go too, Huh, please can I go. Please, pretty please!
No, you can’t go. You know a boy was badly hurt up there last year.
Come on, Mommy, all the guys are going....

Continue reading...

Hearthside: an Imagined Sequel to "When You Are Old"
by Michael R. Burch

“When you are old and grey and full of sleep...” ? W. B. Yeats

For all that we professed of love, we knew
this night would come, that we would bend alone
to tend wan fires’ dimming...

Continue reading...

It was a Friday,
and I was excited
about the High School Dance that night.

I wore a yellow chiffon dress up to my knees
with black Patton leather pumps.

Students stood, jumping, and dancing wall-to-wall.
Partners were no longer needed to join in the on the fun.
Teenage hearts entwined, ambushed...

Continue reading...