Long Bristles Poems

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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alarm goes off*
I sit straight up startled and scared
Just my alarm, I hit the button
Get up and go to the bathroom
I brush my teeth with my toothbrush
Scratchy, painful bristles
Toothpaste that makes me sick
With the strong...

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The burial ground,  groomed to greet
the gatherers of their love apocalypse
with garlands grown and sown
from the rose fire of Athena's throne,
on this day they come to mourn
the Poet who perished for the passion of...

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A tramp steamer plies an ocean of fog. 
The Chief Bos’n makes a note in the log while the helmsman 
Strains to see beyond the wheel. 
The ship’s Captain leaves the bridge with a groan....

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Harry was waiting at base camp for his party of tourists
hoping that Beverly and her children would not be rowdy.
When they finally arrived, he got them settled in their tent.
Once unpacked they joined him in...

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IMPRINTS
(Part 1 of Trilogy for My Father)

His shoes by the front door make me cry,
like his glasses resting atop an
unfinished crossword
and his toothbrush in its holder
the bristles still damp.
And I wonder...

Did he brush his teeth...

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Wave a sea softened
                  and a pain and a tenderness
        ...

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_____________________________________________________________

                              THE PRICE OF ADMISSION


So many...

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Searching outside of myself
Far and wide
Looking into the eyes and souls of others
Seeking answers 
Looking for my missing part
Always sensing an absence

Awakening one day with tears in my eyes
A complete realization
I had found my missing...

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Around 29AD, a saviour claimed eternity as a light of future hope,
Recorded or foretold, accepted or rejected, he left a message that stretched,
Across the pages of all mankind, throughout all time, resurrected but neglected,
Simple message...

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PAINTBRUSH 

Fingertips the bristles of a 
pagan paintbrush 
painting a Tree of Life
on pacified cheekbones 
instead of in liver
from whence it sprung
now it burns to feed
HeartSpace with witty
wood for Eternal Fire

From cheekbones
it slid to jugular...

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She's a Messenger, a standard bearer of a Message of Love.  She's Love's unforgettable fruition and flower.  With Her trusty hounds bounding along beside Her, She suddenly races ahead, crossing the beach, down...

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Edith had been suffering from shoulder pain
She'd developed a stoop and only her left shoulder would sag
When she went to see her doctor
He put all the blame on her weighty handbag

One afternoon she had time...

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Often after the fallen snow is swept, glory
Is found when the treading surface is clear.
A light dusting is a breeze to remove. For heavy slush I trade
My broom for a shovel. It is foolhardy to...

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She gazed at the looking glass, but the mirror refused to grant her a preview of what might happen, a clear picture of where she had been and if she existed at all, the spectre...

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Brush bristles edged fine in light, 
As I fought the battle inside, 
A fine clothe matty was on board, 
Most expensive colors lay all spread, 
Other brushes and pencils cluttered the floor, 
I had already...

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"Beyond lychgate lies future death" she says,
cucumbered eyes slid back under cauliflower sky,
brimming smithereens of harkening demons.

Been in saddle some time since torchlight began,
a child's silent castle ago. Chaos-times cut alleyways
through rose-lettered circles, reads trashy...

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A LION’S TALE

The lion told the bear
This jungle we can share
If you eat only honey and fish
For bees, I fear and fish, I don’t relish

Although I love to play in water
I stay far from the...

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Antithesis

In May, the lion’s ear blooms immaculately,
As if the night sky is on fire.
It excretes a ravishing untarnished beauty,
A mesmerizing compelling beauty
Only the mad mystics and poets can discern.
Here, put on these rubber sandals;
The pair...

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Oh mother, hold me in your womb - safe and secure,
You do not judge me, you do not call me names,
Except when you are encouraging me,
Grow little bud and bloom - you whisper in the...

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Eyes open as you inhale the morning air, The body still heavy from slumber loosens with each stretch and yawn, Standing slowly you walk to the window, Peeking through the inviting sun beams onto you...

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Bed time story

  Night sky stood still inky dark and gloomy
  There came a light that flickered zigzagging behind the clouds
  a sudden resounding loud sound of cymbals
  Heavy pouring rain...

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Tooth Brush

Tender bristles plenty in number
Against the shiny enamel
Like ears of millet plantation
Tossing heads
Against perfumed brush of swooning breeze
Allure tongues not lesser
Than vehement kisses
O! Tooth Brush!

Charmed equally 
Miners and milliners
You are simply a principle
A scientific...

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the tattoo on her eyebrow frowned

at the sight of yesteryear’s cutlass

the well-rounded blade had become

blunt dull and worn down from overuse 

and yet straight to the point of salvation


the pain cut unceremoniously deep

like a double-edged...

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Woozy the witch fuelled up her chrome studded besom 

Which was parked in the garage at the Cromlech at noon

She polished dusted and oiled the vintage broom’s motor

And applied magic spittle to fix butterfly wings...

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