Long Artisan Poems

MODERN SONNETS I

I prefer the original definition of the sonnet as a “little song” of indeterminate form and length. These modern sonnets vary from more-or-less traditional to free verse.


Maker, Fakir, Curer
by Michael R. Burch

A poem...

Read More

MODERN SONNETS II

I prefer the original definition of the sonnet as a “little song” of indeterminate form and length. These modern sonnets vary from more-or-less traditional to free verse.



In Praise of Meter
by Michael R. Burch

The...

Read More

And on the seventh day, God descended from the brilliant abyss called heaven. He wanted to rest, but He had to view what He had created so He could memorize His good works. 
 ...

Read More

6 miles up river Arikara are encountered,
they are a people of amenable disposition and are agrarians,
they chuckle with sympathy as we inform them of our grizzly confrontation
and they tell us that disease had forced them...

Read More

A piece of waiting clay adapts
To a sculptor's finite stroke,
Infants heads were shaped by hands
Of older thinking folk.

Eight times a molder in his chair,
A newborn child held near.
Tiny heads-so softly stroked,
By my father's hands so...

Read More

I love Spectacled
I love Spectacled
And Merry Christmas
And Merry Christmas
December is the month
You have eyes Nagina
one for the sake of your appearance
Winter is the heart of discomfort everyday Titurta
That's why you see Para- Begahe
Inexplicably the right...

Read More

“Possessed”



The scarlet of her heart opens
where she blooms deepest
from the cuts 
of Past’s insanity
her windows 
full green undressed
him, in his mind;
he confessed,
in quiet reflection, 
he had lost his head
irrevocably -
and taking his brush
dipped it in...

Read More

A brushstroke choreographing dramatic elegy framing harmonic gavotte 

specified such so as to issue a rhyme, 
but proceeded as this scribe 
didst git linkedin with the cutting crew,
mow or less feeling grassy us,
yet not the...

Read More

Medusa had been a ravishingly beautiful maiden but her mirror was broken

Too many snakes in her head as she looked into the reflection of her prism

Condensed she gazed at the prison of shards cracks and...

Read More

The walls were made from old slats of wood,
That permitted the sun to prod through the gaps, where it stood.
Rows of wooden seats made in the same fashion,
Created by an artisan that seemed to lack...

Read More

She smiled at him, from a distance.
Imagination, betraying trust.
Mesmerized; he moved towards her.
His heart was racing, his mind.

Looked liked she landed from heaven.
Wearing a yellow skirt, red tops.
And a laced white jacket over her,
Perfect bosom
Her...

Read More

I glimpse the tidal waves, rise high,
Sweaty brows drip, a dry.
surf boarders and  dipper are so many,
dolphin rides touts coerce you for just a few penny.

red vested lifeguards always on their toes,
A breath of...

Read More

The missus unflagging crocheting efforts as Betsy Ross incarnate

With needle in hand incorporating love
in every single crochet stitch
that's my wife
tad more'n a quarter century ago
then newlywed to yours truly
slowly, magically but inexorably
transforming skein of yarn
into...

Read More

New Year's Resolutions 

This new year marches into view
Brooding and still with empty calendar pages
For this pilgrim on a pilgrimage past new mile markers
Engraved with resolution quoting harmony
Among the spheres.

“Make a difference with what you...

Read More

Written: February 02, 2025, for contest Sponsored by: Sara Jama

                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brushing butter onto pastries,
squeezing...

Read More

Jesus’ Birth
Matthew 1.18-25

[So, here it is]. “This is how the birth of Jesus took place.
When Mary his mother was engaged, [ace],
To Joseph, before they were married, [trace],
She became pregnant by the Holy Spirit: [grace].

Joseph her...

Read More

The future won’t arrive with trumpets—
no brass echo to herald salvation,
no golden scroll unrolled beneath a bleeding sun.
It will leak,
like soft radiation through the seams of our sleep,
like forgotten news,
scrolling endlessly
on a screen no one...

Read More

The night was frigid and at its poorest,
But who am I to judge, when I was not the wisest,
A slight breeze crawled up my spine,
I could taste the wind’s saltiest brine.
My eyes conveyed to an...

Read More

Courtesy of one or more tradesmen, 
first Monday in September set aside
for employees able, eager, ready 
and willing to acquire money 
to marry groom or bride
climb the corporate ladder or 
become an artisan, entrepreneur, technician...

Read More

Courtesy of one or more tradesmen, 
first Monday in September set aside
for employees able, eager, ready 
and willing to acquire money 
to marry groom or bride
climb the corporate ladder or 
become an artisan, entrepreneur, technician...

Read More

Courtesy of one or more tradesmen, 
first Monday in September set aside
for employees able, eager, ready 
and willing to acquire money 
to marry groom or bride
climb the corporate ladder or 
become an artisan, entrepreneur, technician...

Read More

About Twenty Two Score Years Ago...

One “FAKE” rumor purports April Fools’ Day
accepted with hostile abandonment
according to Giggle ling search result
conducted by this gent
adopted when France switched

rather than fight abolishment
transitioning from Julian calendar
to Gregorian calendar,
(yet maintaining...

Read More

You will untie knots from your chain, with trembling hands whistling in the wind,
And you will be unstrung, in turn, from someone's necklace, like an exiled pearl.
Often, partings dress in mute garments, sleeping in the...

Read More

''Observations of Joseph's shop.''

The artisan moves unhurriedly,                            ...

Read More

I am a baker in a quaint, small town,
for my artisan breads the people come ’round,
Tuscan and baguettes by the dozen are sold,
but most people come here for my Gender Rolls.

I came up with them...

Read More