Long Clash Poems

I see people moving, but going nowhere
I see people moving with their hands thrown in the air
I see people moving but they have nothing to share
Bags and pans, old kettle, and old man
The scavenger, the...

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Epigrams by Michael R. Burch



Negligibles
by Michael R. Burch
 
Show me your most intimate items of apparel:
begin with the hem of your quicksilver slip ...



Negotiables
by Michael R. Burch

Love should be more than the sum of its...

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Alone I arrive, walking from Frederick
over the gaps, across gentle hills
out onto a knoll
overlooking this burnished landscape.
Before me I see countless writhing rows
of indiscernible shapes gathered
in terrible rituals mid fire and smoke
darkening the sun.
From distant...

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From Judges 11.
Pronunciation: Seh-LAY-nah

His brothers cast the young man out, the child of an harlot;
He fled away to distant Tob before they found an outlet
For anger, more than what they'd done, to fully disinherit
And drive...

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Toddlers' Exploration: 

Cardboard drum and a thunderous beast
With playful roars in tiny fists and feasts.
Fleeting wings glide to dreams just out of reach
Soaring through tales of barnyard Waddles and Squeaks.
Moo! Quack! Giggles tumble and bump.
Flaps...

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Prelude to what…..

I see you,  /  you / yes, come into my…… 
laboratory of alchemist mystical languaging.
where arsenic spills into the whirlpool of thought 
and savage syntax shatter like glass on concrete.

Where Titans...

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We have come to you
Like the sun to the cloud does
Anything you can afford
Please,do,spare us.
We've been under this bridge
even the ants gossips us
Because we share the same meal.
We have come to you
President soldier,Pastor Navy
Money,nuts,fruit-
we'll appreciate!
We...

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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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yet another iffy coronavirus haiku #1
by michael r. burch

plagued by the Plague
i plague the goldfish
with my verse



yet another iffy coronavirus haiku #2
by michael r. burch

sunflowers
hang their heads
embarrassed by their coronas

I wrote this poem after having...

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Spirit and sponsor sane sexagenarian scribe (and his spouse) to a Utopian country

He seeks (in tandem with the missus) 
legal asylum in Canada...
New Brunswick, Newfoundland, 
Nova Scotia, et cetera,
or any other socially 
progressive European country,
and...

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World famous player of the five fingered flute,
   Wasn't quite so happy as he used to be.
   Being alone with just his flute,
   Nice clothes,
   And lounging...

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LITERAL SENSE :

This is ANDERSON WALKINGSHOES.... 
VERSE 1:
This ANDERSON WALKINGSHOES.... 
Concrete counterintuitive ratioed for looser and Leader;
Interim arguments to know who's worst and best person,
Makes no sense either.
Itemised unique personalities need no prejudice session. 
Sparked...

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(Dedication: For Ann)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~



The tale now mints: a hero hears
A call that tints, a choice appears.


It cannot be, this journey quest
To cross the seas, to face the test.


Denial comes brisk, no hero here
To dare grave risk,...

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I never cared to do the dangerous things, and liked to play it safe,
But the strict bonds of ordinariness, can oftentimes start to chafe.

I always preferred to cover my bets, for I hated the idea...

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The table is old and worn
nicks and scratches 
its red plastic tablecloth left over from a forgotten Christmas
its holiday pattern worn and forlorn
many a Thanksgiving dinner was hosted
the plump turkey as dry as yesterday

many wars...

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You make me feel so complete	 
You brought me up to my feet
You’re the good company that I’d like to greet
I shouldn’t ever doubt you – you’re such a treat 

I tried so hard not...

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Allegheny rail train has been rolling along since dawn.
I can hear the patchy sounds of the horn ushered by the wind.
Sounds at first are muffled but become distinct as the train gets closer.

Gulls hovering over...

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{ emo music inspired poem }

ELEPHANT WOMAN 

She is Elephant Woman 
you cannot hide from her
in houses of brick or glass or 
lined velvet curtains
whether it sits on Signal Hill
or in Newlands bourgeois class 
cannot...

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The beauteous days of summer were here at last,
And the primetime of nature was coming so fast!

We sat on the porch, watching a lazy day go by,
With no interesting views, to gladden our eyes.

Then one...

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UNQUOTABLE QUOTES: Tongue-Teasers - XLIX

« Third Degree » is when you add « Insult to injury ».

If you take everything everybody says with a « pinch of salt », we’ll soon be able to drink...

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It was a late springtime day, and the bluebirds all were singing,
Outside the classroom window, while the bells all were ringing.

I had a lucky window seat, which afforded quite amazing views,
Of lovely natural colorings, the...

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This year's Halloween edition....





"Pale Horse and the Yellow Submarines"



There approaches 
One

Light bringer
rides a dead pony

albino 
red eyed, no gun

or so 
the story goes

pale 
as death

hear its 
Netherworld neigh

beetles 
dig deep 

pigeons coo 
novocained

ignorant 
messages fixed

dull...

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In the eases softening breeze leaves rustle in the crisp
Autumn air, as the creeping shadows begin to claim the
Hallows of the darkening night, layer by layer the blackness
Swallows whole the last remaining essence of light,...

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Placed Second in :
Confidence, Clean Air, Clash of Civilisations Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Sotto Poet

“Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.” Confucius

                 ...

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Controversies have been circling ‘round my head
Regrets need to be let go – instead…
Dread gets in the way
Today isn’t so gray
There’s this deepness in your voice that I love most
It’s a thing that I won’t...

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