Long Bowers Poems

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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The Raven and the Bard
-Daniel Henry Rodgers

The Raven's quill drips shades of blackest night,
Its haunting words, a melody of fright.
The Bard's natural lines, like "Evangeline's" fair hair,
Shed history's warm light to chase away all care...

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“Barking Up the Wrong Tree” 

ghost gums
shed their bark 
the min-min 
makes good use of it
papyrus, soft enough to 
imprint and write
thoughts, like the 
ripening welts of 
green ants 
small bites sting
subcutaneous and 
meridional, 
terra...

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Dad Revisited- Once More


Last night I sat up in bed and prayed a little longer,
I asked god to send dad back for just one more  day with great fervour.

Dad was waiting for me in...

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After picnicking in a pretty meadow, on a warm and sunny day,
I relaxed upon my soft blanket, and fell asleep where I lay.

When I awoke I took a walk, through the grass and flowers,
Lined on...

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Do not vainly look in those remote
Places,
That, once, were acquainted with a 
Small part of me;                   ...

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I was an experienced astronomer, with bright eyes ever turned to the stars,
As the mysterious, intelligent aliens, might in their turn, be looking to ours.

Space had always held fascination for me, with wonders of worlds...

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It was jazzy June and green butterflies, filled the air with magic.
Then butterscotch days were long, until the purple sunset panic.

Sunny June, when music festivals, were staged in shady parks;
While in treetops purple martins, warbled...

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"Painting is silent poetry and poetry is painting that speaks" _ Greek philosopher, Plutarch

O hearts  that breathe with nature breath! 
O eyes that dipped in heaven's wine! 
O souls in world of pain who...

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(Inspired by the film: 'The Fall of the Roman Empire')

She was with him

   in the great gore of battle....

Where skulls legion were cracked

   and limbs hewn from sword,

   ax...

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Daughters of Medusa


                   
Grey hair, ginger hair, dark hair......
All simmering in an inverted jar,
Cooked and fried
Headshrinkers doing...

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Come in scented summer garden! 
Come in nature super show! 
veins of Thee all  turned  to yellow 
Mistletoe! in spring woe? 
In the scented breath of summer
Laugh and look at magic show

Beauteous are...

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For you are to be held up in
Judgement
By they so empowered;
Whose hot genes spilled from
Incumbent towers
Upon a warring continent -
The Sovereign house thus 
Pared and deflowered!
Thinning the blue bloods flowing 
Within the veins of royal...

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We were once a pair of flying, floating, diving doves
Warming on wintry days under weathered wooden eaves
We swayed and swirled with ecstatic, electric pleasure.
In synchronized steps to the rising and lilting measure, 
	
We meandered down...

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Glancing down from breathless heights,
Amidst climey sighs,
The looming colossus awakens from slumber
And stretches across Thelwalls linear skies.
The hot engines hissing steam -
Recalled from fond memories long back -
Tumbling like huffing little rain clouds
Down from the...

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O!  Laurie-Jeanne, Laurie-Jeanne!  Belle of my Heart!
Why did you have to fly?
From me who sang you a lullaby,
From the hospital room, ‘neath the thundering sky,
Beneath the thundering sky!?

O!  I love my Laurie-Jeanne...

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"Love in the Time of Uncertainty"



Like the tide of the ocean
coming and going
with its calm seductive 
hushed reassurances and
vociferous remonstrations
dragging me towards the undertow
I have placed my trust in lovers
that come and go like holidays...

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I pace alone in a place for the dead…Over come by woe… Yet here I’ve grown so fond of 
dread that I swear its heaven… Oh my sweet May dressed in grief Don’t cry in...

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Dad Revisited

RIP 1924-2015


Last night I sat up in bed and prayed a little longer,
I asked god to send dad back for just one more  day with great fervour.

Dad was waiting for me in the...

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Am I Afraid of Real Love?

Butterflies fluttering in your stomach
The continuous smile that never seems to fade
Or the pure joy that exhumes every aspect of your life and mind
That little extra “kick” in your step...

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Wow, 2006 is rapidly becoming 
a slice of history.So many things
have been added to the story.
Some good, some not so much,
but it certainly hasn't been boring.

What about you.... what did you discover?
Was there a monumental...

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Here on poetrysoup, the newest poem,
 pops up on-screen
like the latest off-shoot, or newborn babe
or like a newest floral bud,
in the orchards of poetry.
Or like a fresh wave of words
crashing and cresting upon the turf
For...

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Bright are the hues in springtime's overflow
The sad winds proceeds thro' the sensuous room
The flowering garden kept gently reciting
The flowing notes 'neath the sun shaped moon.

The candles flicker and the blue stars glimmer
The dead pools...

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May sunshine and scattered showers
Countdown days and sleepless hours
Village maidens creep from their bowers
Meet amongst the meadow flowers

In a circle they skip and dance

Whilst chanting their love one's name
Enticing as moths to a flame
Each to...

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III

This is the land of the convectional rains
Which vie on the monsoon back scrubbing streets
This is the land at half-past four
The rainbow rubs the chilli face of the afternoon
And an evening-morning pervades the dripping, weeping
Rain...

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