Long Adornments Poems

Near Sainthood
by Mirza Ghalib
translation by Kanu V. Prajapati and Michael R. Burch

On the subject of mystic philosophy, Ghalib,
your words might have seemed deeply profound
and we might have pronounced you a saint...
if only we hadn't found
you...

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Poems about Things that Break I
 
These are poems about things that break and/or shatter: a bubble, glass, a mirror, a twig or tree limb, a thunderstorm, cities and towers in times of war, old...

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Stately stood Princess Amber in all her finery,
Emerald tunic over a crimson gown,
With gems inlaid in her rustling gown,
Her arms bangled in intricate gold slowly rose,
Her slender fingers rested on her heaving bosom,
Listening to unstopping...

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Was this a bold  endeavour or worst-case high risk plot?
 In one sense I was caught between two poles apart  concerns.
One must never underestimate indeed trivialise a devilish 
difficult decision.
A decision that may...

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Last Night 
by Faiz Ahmed Faiz
translation by Michael R. Burch

Last night, your memory stole into my heart
as spring sweeps uninvited through barren gardens
as morning breezes revive dormant deserts
as a patient suddenly feels better for no...

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A KIND RECONSIDERATION 
OF THE ABRAHAMIC FAITHS
IN A DIFFICULT TIME
I
I am interested in Moses,
the baby in the bulrushes
who eventually was able
to speak truth to power and
delivered his people to a
promised land
I am interested in Saul...

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Literate lettered latitudinarian

Presents the following slapdash
higglety-pigglety bupkis, whereby reader
experiences being mentally hogtied
perusing pseudo poetic perambulation
devoid of sense and sensibility
welcoming character assassination
concerning pride of yours truly,
who merely strung together
words sharing "arian"

as their last five letters
for no...

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Yolotli, the beauty of Tenochitlan,
She was a tender, loving woman.
Every day she was catered to.
That is, until she was stolen.

Men, Warriors big and strong came from an opposing tribe.
They saw her glamour even from a...

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You’ll never guess whom the cat drug in; have a day where you just couldn’t win?
He came strutting in, smacking his gum loud, dressed to the nines Goth Punk style.
Tats trailed down his left arm,...

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Written: June 24, 2023
______________________________________________________________

In the depths of my spirit, I found solace.
I witnessed adornments and embrace.
Garments and clothes, a world you would create,
Surrounded yourself in a realm so sedate.

I lent her weapons, a shield from...

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White Magic 

In our uninhibited exuberance for the beauties of Mother Nature;
We sometimes seem to forget the strength of nature’s dark force.
Peel back the layers of beauty only to discover a sinister black magic,
Hidden amid...

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The solace of home has dissipated like the charmed fog of Brigadoon
Tensing up to swim with sharks, from my deep sadness…
Please may I curl up and hibernate until I see my family again?
My heart is...

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Oh, in inspirations winter dreaming, I’ve dream't
Of a mystic valley of the Aurora Borealis,
A chambered realm of frozen colors,
Exploding within reflected light aglow,
In the hushed silence of ice and snow.
Here the pondering thoughts are set...

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He said "Give me one last kiss. A way to say goodbye. I know you want to."
But I am no one's last supper. I will not serve the last feast to the one who crucified...

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Is a strategy a slam of a door? Or another noise?

Will you just please look over there...
No no not there.....
There......
Right in front of you....
Now come on please calm down
For I am not speaking to you...

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hummingbirds are God's gift to us . . . 
          with their unique "flight" -   their agile hovering and darting
   some with...

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Lights sparkle and glimmer around the tree
A emerald pine draped in burgundy and gold
Whispering of miracles discovered in hearts
Who make the journey of hope and faith
To remember the love that was given birth
On this silent...

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Irene....My Mother and I.

I cannot believe I am her daughter!
She always dressed in the very best taste.
Very little jewelry, conservative
dresses, no slacks, are you kidding?
A white-gloved perfect lady,she.

Hats she wore yes, exquisite ones.
Never a babushka...

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Winter morning light filters through lace curtains,
Reaches down, spills onto the corner kitchen sink,
Through east and south facing windows.
The glass jar, the scrub brush and pad in plastic butter dish,
A down-turned, empty yogurt container,
The pink...

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Bursting from within the heart of a blizzard shock wave,
Shutters the flexing eye of this white hurricane storm,
Shattering the inner core into a blazing shards torrent,
A miracle of utter mystical enchantment occurs,
In this ancient incantations...

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Stone set unblemished unworked faces create hardship floors on which to sip out of rock puddles. Such luxury. In a fine art landscape one must always wear clicking heels. And one must always lift ones...

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I, Too, Sing America (and did so in my diapers!)
by Michael R. Burch

I, too, served my country,
first as a tyke, then as a toddler, later as a rambunctious boy,
growing up on military bases around the...

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So close, 
    all the prep and anticipation 
    aching to be set free with adulation,
    shimmer, sparkle, scintillating inclinations 
    push pulling...

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You can almost swim across large parts of Florida, swim and
walk a few steps and then plunge again into the cool sexual
embrace of yet another blue swimming pool.
You can almost cross the peninsular of Florida...

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It’s Christmas every day at the Goodwill donation door
Where there’s so much Christmas to be given to the poor!  
Where the wreaths and trees pile up in a monument to excess
Next to trophies, fine...

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