Long Airport Poems

I see people moving, but going nowhere
I see people moving with their hands thrown in the air
I see people moving but they have nothing to share
Bags and pans, old kettle, and old man
The scavenger, the...

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Date: December  2042

Early afternoon, Damian was 
Busy in his den planning the trip 
To Trinidad. He called CJ first 
To confirm his commitment to
The project. "Hey brother you
Still on for that trip we spoke
About."...

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Damian Stood in the morning sun.
The sun felt good on his face.
Delilah was still sleeping. He
Kissed her face and caressed 
Her belly until she awoke.
Hey my Mrs. Me. Come on babe.
We will be leaving today...

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Millie's Christmas Wish
Winter Vacation was coming
The kids were all set
They were thinking of Christmas
And the gifts they would get

But, Millie sat waiting
Thinking of nothing but snow
Watching the class clock
That was moving so slow


They did arts...

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Poems about Fathers and Grandfathers II



All Things Galore
by Michael R. Burch

for my grandfathers George Edwin Hurt Sr. and Paul Ray Burch, Sr.

Grandfather,
now in your gray presence
you are

somehow more near

and remind me that,
once, upon a star,
you...

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I was hungry and headed to one of the tents that had been set up as a field kitchen and noticed Tim who came over to talk to me , he said that he was...

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from island corner, big Antrim lad
  to Belfast city, a tiny pad
  shattered windows, tilted clocks
  Goliath had lost his socks
  gargantuan giant going mad

  Armagh apple girl, any topic
...

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Saul’s twinkling eyes took it all in – the platinum hair framing a first-class face, the silvery sheath dress wrapped around a figure that was out of sight, but in plain view. She was definitely...

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It was Christmas Eve and I was at the airport,
Not a soul in sight, almost deserted, it was 10.00 pm,
Only two hours before Christmas day,
Perhaps if I got on a plane, I would see Santa...

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Such Tenderness
by Michael R. Burch

for the mothers of Gaza

There was, in your touch, such tenderness—as
only the dove on her mildest day has,
when she shelters downed fledglings beneath a warm wing
and coos to them softly, unable...

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Date:  March  2051

3 days until April:
Flight time 3:05 afternoon--  IN flight 
"Dolly and Molly fumbled in their
Seat to achieve comfort. "Ooo does
This flight have to be this long!" 
Dolly was frustrated. Holly...

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Date:  April  2051
End of the first week of April 
late morning.

The Hakim Family was preparing 
For a quick exit. Desharah DJ 
Sashi Amadeus Amani and Jordan 
And Justin were in Desharah and
Sedanah's room...

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Date:  March  2051

Warm nearly spring afternoon 
Some Hakims were assembled 
On the vast front lawn with their
Luggage. Sidney Saderi Dolly Molly
Spoke with mother Daughtry about
The children's care.  Damian spoke
To Pierce and Tiffan...

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Damian DJ Dolly and Molly 
Were awake aware actually 
Absolutely wide eyed and 
Energetic. They woke 
Everyone 7 o'clock in the
Morning. Damian hollered 
Orders  "alright Hakim. When 
You have Everything packed up
Start loading it...

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Walking down the alley behind the buildings on Royal street the Mandevilla and Jasmine vines line the sidewalk calming my stressed nerves.  The sweet fragrance of the flowers intoxicating my senses.  My luggage...

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Mahmoud Darwish English Translations of Arabic Poems



Palestine
by Mahmoud Darwish
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

This land gives us
all that makes life worthwhile:
April's blushing advances,
the aroma of bread warming at dawn,
a woman haranguing men,
the poetry of Aeschylus,
love's...

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Age defiant was this spruce and spirited citizen slinking blithely past the burgundy red doors of her enigmatic country dwelling.
As her olive skin neatly curved fingers 
slid over an intermittently scratched carbon black handrail she...

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Date:  April   2051

Second day of April.
There was a light Hawaiian cool 
Breeze early morning.  DJ Amadeus 
Nyaf Rico Tino and Damali met Sidney
CJ  Crysteph Adonis Kyon and Franky 
In Kyon's...

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I
How long have I been doing this
Throwing my time & money
Into a hole
Filling up notebooks
Mining overheard conversation
For lines
Squeezing the sponge
Of my wine soaked
Mind
Into the bucket
Of poetry
And now here we are
Gulping down the
Lead tainted water
Like Romans
Romans
Forced...

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The time was 11:05. Damian 
Made the essential announcement 
"HAKIM the time is now 11:05
We will leave this place at 11:15am.
That's 10 minutes from now.
So use the toilet, do everything 
You need to do for...

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This train is coming down the main
This train is rocking my brain
This train is the overcrowded train
This train is washing in the rain
This train is the messy train
This train is filled with pain 
This train...

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My watch is broken, I can not wait for you to get here
The sun is heating,(I cannot believe) today, we're finally meeting.
I'm not quite sure how I'm gonna act or what I'm gonna say
But of...

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Some believe in divine intervention,                              ...

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The legal system is business operated by officers and boys in the street
The legal system is a business  fashioned to target the vulnerable and the weak
The people who cannot defend themselves or don't have...

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We’re on October break, which is a 6-day weekend. For the last two weeks, everyone’s been making plans.
“What do you think of Cancún?” Sunny’d asked me.
“The only people going to Mexico are on the cheap...

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