Long Barney 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...

Read More

Regret
by Michael R. Burch

Regret,
a bitter
ache to bear . . .

once starlight
languished
in your hair . . .

a shining there
as brief
as rare.

Regret . . .
a pain
I chose to bear . . .

unleash
the torrent
of your hair . ....

Read More

Note: This is the 2nd half of one of my MANY long story works, and the 1st half can be accessed, of course, at "poems by Mark Stellinga" on the soup.
My wife and I were...

Read More

Beware The Ides of March 2023
 
Ides simply referred to first new moon, 
which usually fell between 
the thirteenth and fifteenth day
of a given month.

The following events all occurred
fifteenth of March 
across span of millenniums.

One:...

Read More

Renee Vivien Translations


Song
by Renée Vivien
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

When the moon weeps,
illuminating flowers on the graves of the faithful,
my memories creep
back to you, wrapped in flightless wings.

It's getting late; soon we will sleep
(your eyes...

Read More

As I awake this morning
I remember a Barney song 
for my more oppositionally misaligned daughter.

I love you
and you love me
even if I couldn't realign my four B's,
Brain,
and Branches,
and Belly,
and Butt, 
these four aligned
good government.

If you...

Read More

So, Yang,
who would you like to meet
your psychotropic doctor today?

[no answer]

I'm hoping Princess Yang
will speak with us today,
because she is my favorite,
I must confess
this PositivEnergy bias
for conserving nutritional activities,
nurturing co-relationships,
cooperative ZeroZone centering balance.

Hi,
I'm Princess Yang,
and...

Read More

I was born within the sound of Bow bells in the east end of London, this makes me a true cockney, I own a cock and sparrow down by the shake and shiver, I sell...

Read More

I was asked to read some poetry down at an old folks home,
Where they'd lost need for toothbrushes, and naturally a comb,
That is the blokes of course, who are gummy, stooped and bald, 
And closing...

Read More

get back to the basics busting fat laces running the bases
it used to be cool to obey the golden rule yet that went out the door in 64
open the door for your neighbor then you...

Read More

Television triptych throwback

and despite remote chance 
to channel small medium at large
metamorphosis I may witness 
analogous to caterpillar
will transform me into a butterfly
otherwise Norwegian bachelor (batch chiller)
farmer will simply plow along
taking a stab writing "FAKE"...

Read More

America
I´m here to bring you
What you don´t need
Another heartfelt poem
Another heartsick plea
Worth less than
Chewed gum
America I’m tapping
At your window
At 3 am
With a bag full of
Sour wine
And a shopping list
Of grievances
America wake up
It´s me and I...

Read More

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...

Read More

Woman Poets
Super Duper Poetry Soup Woman Poets

Anyone can make a comment when they want to.
Someone should write one about the men now.

Are pretty woman poets living in a palace
With no malice at all so we...

Read More

Super Duper Poetry Soup Woman Poets

Anyone can make a comment when they want to.
Someone should write one about the men now.

Are pretty woman poets living in a palace
With no malice at all so we call...

Read More

#Cemetery

When you grow older, dear dad, dear mum,
Instead of having your children and grandchildren running around in your home,
You'd have empty rooms filled with nothing but pictures hanging on the walls,
Nothing more, just darkness, emptiness...

Read More

The Divide
by Michael R. Burch

The sea was not salt the first tide ...
was man born to sorrow that first day
with the moon—a pale beacon across the Divide,
the brighter for longing, an object denied—
the tug at...

Read More

A tribute to the late, great Victoria Wood x

Arthur and Mandy sat one night
When he gave her a dreadful fright
Ripped off his jumper revealed his string vest
Showing snippets of his hairy chest
He looked at her...

Read More

Ordinary Love
by Michael R. Burch 
 
Indescribable—our love—and still we say
with eyes averted, turning out the light,
"I love you," in the ordinary way
 
and tug the coverlet where once we lay,
all suntanned limbs entangled, shivering,...

Read More

Woman Poets
Super Duper Poetry Soup Woman Poets

A Repeat

Pretty woman poets are living in a palace,
With no malice at all so we call her Alice,
But then in mail received another invoice;
Said her name is Joyce and...

Read More

Ten: A New Global Health Scare, 2003
After accumulating reports 
of a mysterious respiratory disease 
afflicting patients and healthcare workers 
in China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, 
Singapore and Canada, 
the World Health Organization 
issues a heightened global...

Read More

Zenith University   

I am a proud graduate  
of Zenith University,  
where the quality stays on  
until the little dot  
shrinks and goes away.  

I attended that fine institution  
with Tom and Jerry,  
Heckl, Jeckl, Mickey, Minnie,  
Da?y, Donald, Daisy,  
Huey, Dewey, Louie,  
Speedy, Wile E., Gumby, Pokey,  
Yogi, Boo Boo, Dino, Chucko,  
Hobo Kelley, Lassie, Bozo,  
Betty, Barney, Bam Bam Rubble, 
Wilma, Pebbles, Fred,  
Casper, Felix, Sheri? John,  
Gentle Ben, and Mr. Ed.     

Astro, Elroy,  
Judy, George, and Jane--  
Eddie Haskell, Wally Cleaver,  
Mom and Dad and Little Beaver.    

Favorite Martian--Flying Nun,  
James Arness--smoking gun, 
Spanky and Alfalfa,  
Larry, Moe, and Curly.

Tests consisted   
of posted patterns.
To see those,  
you had to get up early  
like Jack LaLanne and Buns of Steel, 
Captain Kangaroo.  

Mid-morning classes included  
Monte Hall (quite a deal), 
Bob the Barker (not the builder). 

Allen Ludden passed the words, ...

Read More

+++++  TV TRAVELS  +++++
                  
Oh where, oh where shall I travel today
Maybe 1940's where life portrayed
In...

Read More

ever since Homo Sapiens didst
   insinuate, elbow and barge
humanity at the mercy sans, small, medium
   (Strunk and White) elemental forces at large

which indiscriminate merciless whims extant
ask Homer Simpson or Marge
g'head and...

Read More

(Chorus)
You think you've got swagger but really you hobble,
you've got the jet lagger and you're drunk so you wobble,
don't start on me mate 'cus I will bring trouble,
to put it into slang words I'm Barney...

Read More