Long Astound Poems

Poems about the Coronavirus I


yet another iffy coronavirus haiku #1
by michael r. burch

plagued by the Plague
i plague the goldfish
with my verse



yet another iffy coronavirus haiku #2
by michael r. burch

sunflowers
hang their heads
embarrassed by their coronas

I wrote...

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Zen Death Haiku

Brittle cicada shell,
little did I know
you were my life!
—Shuho, translation by Michael R. Burch

Returning
as it came,
this naked worm.
—Shidoken, translation by Michael R. Burch

As dew glistens
on a lotus leaf,
so too I soon must vanish.
—Shinsui,...

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Epitaph for a Palestinian Child
by Michael R. Burch

I lived as best I could, and then I died.
Be careful where you step: the grave is wide.

This poem has also been titled "Epitaph for a Child of...

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These are peace poems, prayer poems, hymns and lullabies I have written for family, friends and the world over the years ...

Peace Prayer
by Michael R. Burch

for Jim Dunlap

Be calm.
Be still.
Be silent, content.

Be one with the...

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Poems about the Coronavirus II


This World's Joy
(anonymous Middle English lyric, circa early 14th century AD)
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Winter awakens all my care
as leafless trees grow bare.
For now my sighs are fraught
whenever it enters...

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Here We Shall Remain
by Tawfiq Zayyad
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Like twenty impossibilities
in Lydda, Ramla and Galilee ...
here we shall remain.

Like brick walls braced against your chests;
lodged in your throats
like shards of glass
or prickly cactus...

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First they came for the Muslims

after Martin Niemoller

First they came for the Muslims
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Muslim.

Then they came for the homosexuals
and I did not speak out
because I was...

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Dream of Infinity
by Michael R. Burch

Have you tasted the bitterness of tears of despair?
Have you watched the sun sink through such pale, balmless air
that your soul sought its shell like a crab on a beach,
then...

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Cleansings
by Michael R. Burch

Walk here among the walking specters. Learn
inhuman patience. Flesh can only cleave
to bone this tightly if their hearts believe
that God is good, and never mind the Urn.

A lentil and a bean might...

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Sweet Rose of Virtue
by William Dunbar (c. 1460-1530)
loose translation/modernization/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

after William Dunbar

Sweet rose of virtue and of gentleness,
delightful lily of youthful wantonness,
richest in bounty and in beauty clear
and in every virtue that...

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CYRUS II - THE GREAT

KING CYRUS THE GREAT

So; here comes the story of that, King Cyrus the Great 
Whose history for some of us is still well up for debate

But; it’s such a darn good...

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What would the rich do without the poor?
If there was no poor to clean the floor
What would the rich do without the poor?
If there was no one to guard the door
What would the rich do...

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Our Year Of Months (January - July)

1. Intro

Divided into months is our Earth year;
fixed firm in space to meet with climate change,
relation with our Sun makes it so clear
we will be blessed with seasons that...

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I took a ride through the park to relax my mind
I stood on top of the hill  observing  the burnt trees 
standing patiently waiting for someone to take them in
The entire place was...

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I know 'True Americanism' when I SEE it.                           ...

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PRINCESS DIANA POEMS

Fairest Diana: an Epitaph for Princess Diana
by Michael R. Burch

Fairest Diana, princess of dreams,
born to be loved and yet distant and lone,
why did you linger?so solemn, so lovely?
an orchid ablaze in a crevice...

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SOJOURN THROUGH TAROTSPACE

Let me tell you a story,
Of a deck of cards, in all its glory.
Well, some will say, what’s the big deal?
To them my humble reply, come, conquer, and heal.

The story is my take,
On...

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S T A G N A T E D

"I'm pregnant."

A snake chill suddenly crawl in his spine when he heard her words. Icy sweats ran to his brows. He was astound! Tongue-tied. How else could...

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(Circa 1910)

Grandpa had a bulldog whose name was Tige. 
They were close – as close as honey and bees. 
If Grandpa felt a cold comin’ on –
 Well Ol’ Tige was the one who would...

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Sung to, You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, (extended version).
KP

You’re a monster, Donny Dump.
Some biiig-time twiiisted clooown.
To no end, I could deride you,
are no depths you didn’t fall to,
no ineptness could elude you,
the bottom-feeders they...

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"Two Trees:  Mr. Oak And Mr. Bamboo"


A terrible wind storm was approaching and blowing everything out of it's path!
NOTHING....not one thing at all, could withstand it's awesome wrath!
Two trees saw this storm coming! YES!....it...

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WELCOME HOME:

CHORUS:
Frozen on a mountain high,
Searching for moment so right. 
How would I have known, baby you nigh.
You coming home, you coming home,
You coming home!
You coming home, you coming home,
You coming home!

Spreading your love wings...

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Yeah I got PokeBalls to catch Goals
I'm like Ash Ketchum when he Throws
Cause Ash Catch Em Bold I'm like Pidgeotto when my wings Flow
Look at the the light around me like Pikachu 
With a forcefield...

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To each of us
Whose origins are from the dust,
An allotment of TIME is freely given
For us to love, to care, and to share.

We know neither quantity nor quality.
TIME has been defined as a period during
Which...

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These are poems for Ukraine and Ukrainians. 

We Are Here
by Michael R. Burch

“We are here.” – Volodymyr Zelensky

We are here. Were are here.
And we won’t disappear.
We are here. We are here. We are here.

We are...

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