Long Banshee Poems

When you came to me...

Not that you wanted me.  Oh, no!  It was I who wanted you,
Your comfort... your caring... your
... compassion, your compassion...
Your body, beautiful and young, perhaps that as well at...

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Like Hannibal we crossed the pass and crossed 
   the Alps (okay, the Brynderwyn Hills) 
and a bridge too far on north-west passage.
   From out of the Valley of Mizpah 
to...

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The Song of Amergin: Modern English Translations

The Song of Amergin
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

I am the sea breeze
I am the ocean wave
I am the surf's thunder
I am the stag of the seven tines
I am...

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Please take this time to steer your thoughts
To a wretched land of lochs and glens.
Where a village was tasked and the people fraught
At the woe and sadness life could send.

With the Dragons gone and the...

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The Pictish Faeries
by Michael R. Burch

Smaller and darker
than their closest kin,
the faeries learned only too well
never to dwell
close to the villages of larger men. 

Only to dance in the starlight
when the moon was full
and men...

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At that moment an explosion of mud filled the air
    as their tension was now largely increased.
They tried to gather their wits but all took to stare
    as for...

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Raid versus woe

Black flag(s) show up
on social media platforms
when potential homicidal maniac(s)
communicate(s) intent to strike
with ambush and ready
read - able, eager, and willing
to embark upon murderous rampage.

Prospective killer armed to the teeth
usually a young bucking...

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Here's the scoop, friends...
   This is, as indicated, the 1st HALF of this fairly lengthy poem. The 2nd half had to be posted separately due to Poetry Soup's file-size limitations. No other way...

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Galloping hooves broke morn's peace in Soup Creek's Main Street
When Jimmy Smith rode in from Bar 20 his face white as a sheet
He stopped at Sheriff Koplins office and banged heavily on the door 
"What's...

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Betty was bonafide crazy. She had shot her husband after a night of drunken quarreling, and was in the state mental hospital instead of being in the slammer. She'd shot the louse in the stomach...

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Here's the deal, folks...
   This is, as indicated, the 2nd HALF of this fairly lengthy poem. Due to Poetry Soup's file-size limitations, this piece had to be posted in 2 parts. 
 ...

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Words of a mother melting your spirit despite it being cold. Her loving you no matter what chasing that heart of gold. 
         "You don't need to...

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The tale below was carved one night
upon the stone, by candlelight
...most won’t believe, but some just might
.........most won’t believe, but some just might



            ...

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Galley slave to obsessive compulsive disordered behavior announces...

Fore score minus xv orbitz ago
from being centenarian
strong contractions forced me
to pass thru cervix,
buck naked bare lady,
I ranked as only grandson sharing
same surname as Aaron,
(mine paternal grandfather)
me the...

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Mine slovenly unkempt appearance spelled embarrassment

spurred by most recent therapy session 
with Renee Cardone
whereby thematic thread
stitched how yours truly sewed
coping modus operandi,
viz avoiding emotionally volatile situations
courtesy mine trademark signature reactions 
rather than be in compliance...

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This embarrassingly irreverent piece is loosely based on a true story for which I've paid the price for pretty much causing it to happen more than once...PLEASE, no hate mail!   PS: "Bonnie" is...

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Back approximately half my life ago
dissociative disorder 
if qualified to self diagnose 
mein kampf psychological state...

I lacked emotions where others concerned.

That refrain replayed itself,
when wife picked up 
(like a broken record), 
where parents left off
before...

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The din awakens me
Hall smoke alarm screaming like a banshee
Smoke everywhere, though I see no flames
I reach up through the thick black fumes and yank the battery
Silencing the banshee, but I hear sirens approaching

Thank god...

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I hope that you have barricaded your doors and sealed your windows up tight, because there is a train barreling down these tracks that is about to uproot your life
The plan is already in motion,...

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In golden chains of bondage, was the royal queen
Brought forth, force to kneel, before the newly crowned
Pharaoh of Egypt!
Branded a heretic, a blasphemer of the Gods, a traitor to
Her people, unworthy to wear the serpents...

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"Penny Dreadful"





Penny Dreadful
Penny Dreadful

Do you remember when?
That time long before Formaldehyde kicked in?
When the Transformer grew your freedom wings, blew your neurons in?
That time when your story kissed her Blue Violet bleeding grin?
A wet ripe...

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Baron Von Frankenstein sent me, an invitation to the ball
To be held on Hallows Eve, at his castle in the great hall
I had nothing planned for the night so decided to go
And I thought he'd...

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Among an unnamed female person known within mine black barbed ken

Analogous to black box
holding untold secrets,
(after deadly plane crash
no survivors except 
a journeyman foreigner),
I share the following self
introspection with ye dear readers,
which purported hidden truths
might...

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John: Sounds like I might like to straddle her equator with my meridian and throw down with a hula hoop on each arm. How soon can I execute my commission?

Mitchell: Do you like to eat...

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Needles and pins.
Needles and pins.
When you grow up I hope you have twins.

Yes, this was written into my mother’s  slam book when she was 12,
Setting her up to have twins at the age of...

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