Long Assent Poems

Villanelles

The villanelle is a poetic form based on repetition, with a double refrain. 



Villanelle: The Divide
by Michael R. Burch

The sea was not salt the first tide...
was man born to sorrow that first day, 
with the...

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When in the Course of Earth’s anthro-supremacist events, 
it becomes necessary for polycultures to resolve political bands 
which have connected Her with human nature, 
and to assume among the powers of Earth, 
separate and equal...

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Highlight of Goofus and Gallant 
bred within the survival instinct 
of hungry hordes of prey, 
when Earth in the balance 
against an uncomfortable truth 
smug smurf like scavengers. 

     Punishment meted...

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Chief garbage taster as fifth grade Halloween gag
at Henry Kline Boyer Elementary School
interestingly enough landed me a grubhub grab bag.

I rooted thru poetry anthology of mine,
and came across an unpublished poem
by one obscure poet (me),...

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There stood a castle on the summit of a hill
Now fallen to decay, hidden among bushes wild
It perched like an eagle’s nest on the steep hill
It was owned by a Lord, gentle and mild

Blessed with...

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Before them lay the bridge.  It was a beautiful arch spanning a small estuary that was bordered on one side by the rock and bolder strewn beach dotted here in there with mostly dying...

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I grow increasingly challenged
to discern where my innocent thoughts
hopes and fears
challenges and victories begin
where others more wisely end.

I feel wrong to publish thoughts
under just my name
built on shoulders,
plodding feet,
sleight of hands
and great transitional feats
reminding me...

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BREAKING THE SILENCE : NO MORE

Sponsored by Ink Empress 

Glass shattered a
Saturday afternoon tea ~

Silence holds steady
black fleeced momentum 
for its own ripping
when lightning as whipping 
fire from Heartbeat of
Sun slashes its Void
loudness to tumble...

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Day one; I leave the coast following the great black river.  Its meandering slow water sneaking slowly and silently past the ancient pines and hardwood trees gathered near its banks like a band of...

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We passed over, where was held in frost state
Harshly contained people of the next band,
Not down bent, but all lying in quite strait.

Weeping itself  the tears does not disband,
And pain which finds in eyes...

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Realizing a fresh life growing inside, 
What thoughts coursed through your mind, 
I still wonder, oh dear my mom. 
Did you gleefully welcome the news?
Or respond to it with a violent shock?

So sure, right away...

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As a younger man I knew, many emotions much confusion
As I grew.' Normal in many ways, red blooded desired the
Women yet deep inside, knew? had the wish to be fair gave
Thanks that they were there,...

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(dirty dental deeds done dirt cheap,
yet...aye value, treasure, revere...those
loosely fading cutting edge com man 
dubble size memories.)

(Witch role an 
   unavoidable mandatory phase),
that nowadays breaks the piggybank 
   like a dropped...

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Sappho Translations IX


Sappho, fragment 17
translation by Michael R. Burch

Hear me, Queen Hera, as your delightful festival nears,
you to whom the sons of Atreus performed vows,
those dazzling kings who did such amazing things,
first at Troy, then...

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PAINTBRUSH 

Fingertips the bristles of a 
pagan paintbrush 
painting a Tree of Life
on pacified cheekbones 
instead of in liver
from whence it sprung
now it burns to feed
HeartSpace with witty
wood for Eternal Fire

From cheekbones
it slid to jugular...

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What moves us to believe is not the fact that revealed truths 
Appear as true and intelligible in the light of our natural reason
We believe because the authority of Eternal God Himself who reveals them
Who...

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Malodorous tavern’s garret, the codger it accommodates, No more,
Fuzzled in brew, his fuzzy lady, her life she lives to abhor.

Randy colleen gape at her with aghast,
Talk around that she has “the dead hands of the...

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I cannot accept death

In death there is no righteous  purpose, no nobility, and no meaning
So I have devised a plan to follow, you may wish to call it cheating
I have called upon the Dark...

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(witch role an unavoidable mandatory phase)
that nowadays breaks the piggybank 
   like a dropped fragile vase
you most likely nod assent if offspring  grown, 

   or ponder new found challenge 
...

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Because Her Heart Is Tender, for Beth
by Michael R. Burch
 
She scrawled soft words in soap: “Never Forget”
dove-white on her car’s window (though the wren,
because its heart is tender, might regret
it called the sun to...

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She was only fourteen years old. This is the story that she told. There was a house, the color green - Not even close to being clean. She always wondered what was there - Walking...

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Thankfully wife as helpmate available,
when yours truly feels unswell
her tender loving care can spell
relief afflicted which she can hopefully quell
but spouse of mine, he doth not aim to oversell
nevertheless counterpart valued
as once me Matty Mattel
prized...

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I would be so excited, standing there on the railroad platform, holding my mothers hand.  I had waited for this day.  A chance to ride the train to Boston.  Impatiently, from time...

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HARK, whilst thee singeth melody,
gauged labyrinths midst harmony,
ransom subconscious, placed thee free,
persuade possessed, heed thy purged glee,
beg reposed heart thy beating plea.
Themes prune labor to a degree,
song finesse thine assent of thee,
music quell sorts of...

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First, I was a horse,
proud, fierce, untamed.
testing the texture of one continent,
competing with the winds and tornadoes
to achieve the ultimate granular vortex,
testing the manhood of the Cheyenne,
twisting the blistering ropes of the Sioux,
defying the white...

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