Long Chortled Poems

Various Heresies 5

Tonight, Let's Remember
by Michael R. Burch

July 7,2007 (7-7-7)

Tonight, let's remember the fond ways
our fingers engendered new methods to praise
the gray at my temples, your thinning hair.
Tonight, let's remember, and let us draw near...

Tonight,...

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WINTER, 1948 [40 Saxton Street]

for W.W

The winter nights that pass now
are so unlike the winter nights
that passed before, that I often
struggle back in those suspended moments
when sleep grapples for a hold,
to once again hear the...

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On the night before Christmas, alone in my house, 
Sorrow gnawed at my soul, like a ravenous mouse.
Entombed in my blankets, I struggled to sleep,
Ready to snap if I counted more sheep.

I rose at the...

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“The Lewis Trap”



Well, of course he's misanthropic
He’s a Misanthropic Man
The Devil’s in the details
Buried deep under the covers
Of bedtime stories, slithers ‘neath loose sand

A Liddell bit of cake
A Liddell bit of julip
Sweets for a sweet...

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(a university-life vignette)

It’s a Friday night, Leong and I are at a small restaurant close to the dorm called “Ordinary.” We’re in a cozy, pleasantly dark, little red booth—waiting for Lisa—who’s running late. This is...

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I. The Hour of Approach

The poem I was writing refused to end—  
it kept writing me.  
Blood didn't ink these lines—  
the ink bled me.  
Each stanza a hidden-hematoma  
across...

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The bright sunrise made the snow-covered Alp mountain-tips, an hour-away-by-car, glow like they were topped with lemon ice-cream. Was this evidence of magic?

Peter (my bf) and I are low atop the five story Hotel de...

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The old sorcerer was teaching his apprentice a lesson about the moon, but as usual the subject drifted, this time, to witches. “How would I know a witch if I saw one?” The apprentice asked.

“It’s...

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In twilight's realm where...
moonbeams entwine.
There are two owls engaged...
in a contrast of minds:
A Great Horned Owl so proud and strong!
And a Great Gray Owl whis is cunning and long.

Amidst the trees their feathers shone,
"Who is...

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I’m in the residential dining hall with my suitemates Lisa and Sunny. We’re talking about sausages.

Why? Because April 30th is ‘National Sausage day.”
Someone mentioned that when I complained about the beyond-meat hot dog atrocities they...

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Do you hear the whispers?
They are all around for those who listen.
I prefer to ignore the noise,
For out of darkness the voices are risen.
He did this, and she did that;
If it needs to be spoken...

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She curled up with me on the bed, and laughed insanely
I looked at her in marvel, wondering what on earth had gotten into her
“Why are you laughing?” I asked my eyes wide in surprise.
She giggled,...

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"50 Words for Poe: Keys"

He threw the car keys over to her
“Freedom keys babe”, he purred
“Silver Lady’s my girl” she said,

This he understood.

“Freedom keys babe, let’s blow this joint, make a getaway out of this...

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Did i a) release a co-written novel
----------------with a guy who promised his sister and created a book of own poetry
-------2) sat beside my son and heard him giggle
-------W)hat is going with his let hers and...

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Wiz Away

I entered the empty funeral hall.
Am I not at the correct memorial gathering in visitation room H?
“Excuse me, sir, but is this the memorial for Mr. Wizby?
 There is not a posting besides the...

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Me farm was really sufferin’ from the rigors of a drought,
and the banks had made a promise that they’re ‘bout to throw me out,
so me family talked together while we’re havin’ tea one night, ...

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Young rookie cop was horrified at the old lady’s truth. 
She wanted to put on the cuffs and haul her in.
Wait a sec, the veteran sergeant said. This is Auntie Ruth.
She might not be the...

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The warlock said to the witch,
Man, ain't it grand living large like Oz,
being bigly Emerald City rich
The witch crowed back,
I get paid good for giving speeches
that have no policy incantation glitch
The warlock laughed hard and...

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It’s 6:15pm. Peter, Anna, Sophy and I are studying in the common room of our suite.

“We need to get serious,” Peter whispered, but there was no subject in the declaration, so I was left confused...

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Me and Mickey Roberts
Climbed from his car.
And me and Mickey Robert’s 
Brag walked to this bar
Only to be greeted by   
This welcoming shout.
The old landlord it seemed
Was moving out

And the first few beers...

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The reunion that caused all of the zany brouhaha
From a family kerfuffle with one humorless raw flaw

It all went down quite swiftly, in a quick split lickety
And ended outside in the hedges most thorn thickety...

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He said that it was brillig, but what did that word mean
And slithy is a word that I had never seen
If you gyre and gimble, what do you really do
I guess when in the wabe,...

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The aliens landed in the wrong back yard.
Next to the apple tree of a hippie, and a bard.
I was a willing subject, which made them mad.
I like being naked, it makes me glad.

They probed my...

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Heading down a not-very-busy country highway on a summer day
I saw an upside down turtle in the road and I said “Hey!
Screeched on my brakes, to help the little fellow out of the way.
But he...

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“Mice” is nice but might be called “mouses”
if a couple is next to a screen
and there is no screaming from me
except in excitement at my selection.

That Razer Viper V2 Pro
so light and quick under my...

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