Long Charity Poems

“SUMMER”



Where 
has Summer 
gone?

The world 
has lost 
Summer

Sweet 
little 
dream

missing 

all those other 
beautiful  
small dreams 

seen as toys
small and 
inconsequential 

casually tossed aside, 
disposable play,
things

pure shining lights
smiling eyes once so bright, 
switched off,

'neath...

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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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Instruction
by Michael R. Burch

Toss this poem aside
to the filigreed and the wild tide
of sunset.

Strike my name,
and still it is all the same.
The onset

of night is in the despairing skies;
each hut shuts its bright bewildered eyes.
The...

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Medieval Poems



Wulf and Eadwacer
(Old English circa 990 AD)
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

My people pursue him like crippled prey.
They'll rip him apart if he approaches their pack.
We are so different!

Wulf's on one island; I'm on...

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I Have Labored Sore
anonymous medieval lyric (circa the fifteenth century)
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

I have labored sore / and suffered death, 
so now I rest / and catch my breath.
But I shall come /...

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Veronica Franco translations

Veronica Franco (1546-1591) was a Venetian courtesan who wrote literary-quality poetry and prose.

Capitolo 19: A Courtesan's Love Lyric (I) 
by Veronica Franco
loose translation by Michael R. Burch

"I resolved to make a virtue of...

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Where do we come in
					in medias res  not knowing nor caring when
doesn’t everybody pine being number one we leave behind our lives in pages  pictures  or else make for images of what...

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SINGING IN THE CHIOR OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL ST  PATRICKS CHURCH FINALLY MEETING MY NEW HUSBAND FOR THE FIRST TIME WE WERE ENGAGED 2015 VOLUNTEERING ALL OVER POLK COUNTY IN LAKELAND WITH THE...

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MY PRAYERS ARE WITH ALL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS MY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION STEMMED FROM MY WEARING WIRES PREGNANT FOR THE FBI BUYING WEAPONS AND DRUGS FROM JUNK SICK COPS BECAUSE THE FBI WARNED...

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THE REASON THE FBI WARNED ME MY LIFE WAS IN DANGER ARSON MURDER OF 9 CIRO GARGANO AND MY ABUSIVE EX HUSBAND TORCHED A BUIDING MY WEARING WIRES PREGNANT WAS USED TO HELP CIRO GARGANO...

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Because the charity of my native place
Obliged me, the broken branches I the picked up
Them giving back him, who was to debase.

Then we finally reached where had to leap
From the second turn to third, and...

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Eric Mottram on the American literary and cultural scene during 1965-66 while he was the recipient of the American Learned Societies’ award for a year. (begun in the last post and to be continued)

January 2,...

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S/he is controversially counter-cultural

And yet,
MotherEartha defensively claims,
not so:

We grow trans-regenerational
transubstantiating substances
and subjects
to integrate more sacredly organic

Positive passions
re-connecting
re-membered past peak
pleasures restoring universal EarthJustice
and unitarian EarthMother peace.

I stand before you today
not to bury every conservative re-ligion
but to...

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as the PROPHETS of profits, WE lead and WE’re fair
while WE’re living the life of the poor BILLIONAIRE
– silver yachts, pearly castles, cash (plenty to spare) –
with the world on OUR backs... ah! the burdens...

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BEG AND UTILIZE
Nzongi Mwero
I strongly air my huge words,
I still call the entire world,
And also I write a message card,
That will heavily guide,
Those who are greedy.

Oh, let me tell you foreign charities,
From various countries,
Along with...

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Such Tenderness
by Michael R. Burch

for the mothers of Gaza

There was, in your touch, such tenderness—as
only the dove on her mildest day has,
when she shelters downed fledglings beneath a warm wing
and coos to them softly, unable...

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In the greatness of heavens realm there are many chapters of angels
Arch Angel Micheal the great warrior, Arch Angel Gabriel the great
messenger, Angels who tabulate, Angels who sing, Angels who watch
and for Earth the most...

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REMEMBERING JOSEPH FRANCIS GRATES JOE AND MY HUSBAND SERVED TOGETHER IN VIETNAM 101 SCREAMING EAGLES HE WAS ACTUALLY A MAYOR AT ANYRATE HE WAS A BIG PART OF OUR MARRIAGE ACTUALLY WE WOULD SIT FOR...

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An Excelente Balade of Charitie (“An Excellent Ballad of Charity”)
by Thomas Chatterton, age 17
modernization/translation by Michael R. Burch

As wroten bie the goode Prieste
Thomas Rowley 1464

In Virgynë the swelt'ring sun grew keen,
Then hot upon the meadows...

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I once spent a week in the drunk tank
couldn't handle the spirits that I drank
the cuisine wasn't half bad
we even had a few laughs
but I had to guard my butt with a shank


……………………………………………………………………….


It used to...

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Product of Dave the Brave

Product of Peace
Product of Poverty
Product of Happy
Product of Charity 
P-Product of crazy...weightless envy...bipolar blues...etc. etc.

Product of selfish ambition ...
A shameful sin in disguise 
Turning my cheek to this decision
Discussion goes beyond...

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Copyright © 2008 #03
4/12/2008 // (Edited: 1/22/2013/lp
(a historical glimpse of humanity's rise)

*This poetic epic begins with the
greatest sin against humanity

*This poem is dedicated to all
serving and protecting the
¨Basic Rights of Mankind¨

Once, mankind was forgiven from...

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GARGANOS MARRIAGE PROPOSAL VERY CLEAR CUT AND DRY EXCEPT FOR HIS 8 DIVORCES FROM 8 WIVES MY TWO DIVORCES FROM EXTREMELY ABUSIVE HUSBANDS WOULDN’T BE ACTUALLY APPROPRIATE FOR A CHURCH WEDDING ANY PRIEST WHO MARRIES...

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Tim’s father had been a refugee once he put down his fight and his gun

The story is that he embarked on the very last ship leaving East Prussia

Under siege tanks and bombs from above fireworks...

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Mahmoud Darwish English Translations of Arabic Poems



Palestine
by Mahmoud Darwish
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

This land gives us
all that makes life worthwhile:
April's blushing advances,
the aroma of bread warming at dawn,
a woman haranguing men,
the poetry of Aeschylus,
love's...

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