Long Blowfish Poems

Dusk-gliding swallow, 
please spare my small friends
flitting among the flowers! 
—Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch

A bee emerging
from deep within the peony's hairy recesses
flies off, sated
—Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch

That dying cricket,...

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Grasses wilt:
the braking locomotive
grinds to a halt
—Yamaguchi Seishi, translation by Michael R. Burch

Oh, fallen camellias,
if I were you,
I'd leap into the torrent!
—Takaha Shugyo, translation by Michael R. Burch

The first soft snow:
leaves of the awed jonquil
bow...

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January 13th 2024 - Happy Lxv-th birthday Matthew Scott Harris

date of conception:?  ~ Late March – mid April 1958.
date of parturition: January xiii, mcmlix.
date of expiration:? January i, eminem, 
where earth, wind, and fire...

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I, A. Robbie - Ham guilty for gobbledygook...
and ruffling turkey feathers!

An innocent A1 miss steak kin kith
once, a former main lion resident 
living social where Tigress and Euphrates 
converge and pool into Lake Wobegone ...

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I am a foodie, I must confess, I swim a few laps for exercise
Along come the Mollusk, and to my pleasant surprise
I have no restraint and they look so yummy
I just open my jaws wide,...

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Sassy sobriquets schooled sissy spindleshanks...
studious sexagenarian skinny scruffy scribe

My utmost humblest apology
for inducing the following
cerebral calisthenics upon your cranium,
but the cost of friendship
with yours truly 
(me – a foo fighting,
eagle eyed, beatle browed, beastie boy...

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Whit dat tight till - say
yes, aye wool thank ewe
mooch at least for today
hoof fully (this Joe kerr)
can easily bide his time weigh
beef hoar rammy cows come home.

Meantime India interim
lemme clover - reaching
far out on...

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Of hubris, overweening pride, 
(a thing the gods can not abide) 
and all the hassle it may bring: 
of this, and blowfish, do I sing. 

The former, we will meet anon 
(it merits being mused...

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While Up And Adrift In Cloud 9...

Reprieve from damp,
     and rainy, or sultry weather,
     I schlepped a
     light weight Shaker
made folding chair
 ...

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T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house
Pitter patter of little feet were heard stepping lightly as a mouse
For they knew Santa was coming and were determined to sneak a peak
Maybe place a...

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I'm Restless and defeated
Feeling overwhelmed and cheated
My Plate about to topple
Don't you dare pop that waffle
Shut your mouth and the door
Clean the dog pee off the floor
Fit to be tied, mouth foaming
Computer died, phone roaming...

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Far away 
Portray, many 
Serine shadows 
Blossoming and dancing 
A watery romance 
And before your eyes 
Stretches an ocean buffet 
That cries, and wails 
In an unknown place  
Lies  water so clear 
You...

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I was on my way to school when it happened.
     You see, I never miss school and for me,
playing hooky has an entirely different meaning!

Well,
I was scrounging up some lunch along...

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My friend loved sushi because it's tasty.
But he made a decision that was hasty.
I told him not to cut the poison out of that blowfish.
I begged him not to do it but I didn't get...

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