Long Clerk Poems

She looked at him concerned
"Oh my God, we forgot the buns!"
A barbeque happening
Guests arriving
Coals flaming
Food prepared
But nothing to put burgers on
For their housewarming

Hasty instructions and some cash
From his Lover and her roomies
Then he starts to...

Read More

"Go on forth young graduates,

And show us who you are

You're now our future leaders

We know you will go far"

And so commencement ended

Pictures done and people changed

Now, off to private parties

All orderly pre-arranged

But four young girls...

Read More

Medieval Poems



Deor's Lament (Anglo Saxon poem, circa 10th century AD)
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Weland knew the agony of exile.
That indomitable smith was wracked by grief.
He endured countless troubles:
sorrows were his only companions
in his frozen...

Read More

Conditions were harsh out in Kansas,
For the children and Sarah and Paul.
Neighbors and friends packed up and were gone;
Headed west they could hear fortune's call.
Never sure year to year of the harvest,
So their talents were...

Read More

I wrote a sad but true urban legend called “Dillen and the DMV” last week.
Here follows an update.

Background Review:

One of my health care employees, Dillen, has wicked ADD, borderline intelligence, not qualifying for disability supports,...

Read More

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...

Read More

On that night the moon seemed hidden from her starry brothers
The kind of night not suited for the fighters nor the lovers
I ventured out only to put out the low burning lamp
When there I saw...

Read More

“Inside the Great Halls of Us”



Inside 
The Great Halls of Us,
there resides a ghost 

IT hides in plain sight,
waiting quietly, alone, 
in our dark

there, IT holds ITs light,
to draw us further in,
we nervously laugh IT...

Read More

CYRUS II - THE GREAT

So; here comes the story of that, King Cyrus the Great 
Whose history for some of us; is still well up for debate

But; it’s such a darn good story, it well...

Read More

NOTE: This is the final THIRD of a funny 3-part poem. You'll find the 1st and 2nd parts on my homepage, of course. I hope you'll take the time to read the whole thing, it's...

Read More

Here's the deal, folks...
   This is, as indicated, the 2nd HALF of this fairly lengthy poem. Due to Poetry Soup's file-size limitations, this piece had to be posted in 2 parts. 
 ...

Read More

Here's the scoop, friends...like a bunch of my pieces now posted - and coming soon - this is, as indicated, the 1st HALF of this fairly lengthy poem. The 2nd half had to be posted...

Read More

World War II Poems and Holocaust Poems II - Bertolt Brecht



The Burning of the Books
by Bertolt Brecht
loose translation by Michael R. Burch

When the Regime
commanded the unlawful books to be burned, 
teams of dull oxen hauled...

Read More

Date: April  1,   2051

  air planes departed in flight
 1 hour and 15 minutes
Between them. The trip was 7 hours
And approximately 30 minutes in
Duration. The first plane touched down 
On the...

Read More

The scenery was magnificent, and the morning was slightly hot,
Our land cruiser was windowless, and sitting in a lovely spot.

The giraffes were splendid, and much bigger than I'd expected,
One could hardly gaze at the vast...

Read More

Playing Batman and Robin is a lot different

When the Riddler is your Stepfather

And simultaneously an alcoholic and pedophile

When your secret mission is to keep him

From bringing heroin and pornography

To Gotham city

 

Your mother wanted to...

Read More

No Halloween Candy

I can't get no Halloween candy.
I can't get no Halloween candy.
But I try, and I try, and I try, and I try.
I can't get no.  I can't get no.

Well I'm walking door...

Read More

*Image of Many Meanings by KWC.

Likeness ssenekiL: Part 2

(HOMONYMS: Homophones & Homographs)

The batter's foul ball killed a fowl that later caused a foul odor.
After painting the room red, he then redd it up and read...

Read More

There are times in life when we deal with strife
    And are helpless to the powers that be.
Where we are sequestered by doubt... and still tossed about
    By others...

Read More

The Truth Of This Magnitude”

Obstinate defiance from an indignant child 
Consummate reliance on the spirit of the Wild 

Intricate compositions of meticulous art 
A syndicate of derision that is waiting to depart 

The honorary commemoration...

Read More

Bob was the first man she had ever loved, sure she had some crushes when she was in school but nothing like she had felt with Bob. He was six years older handsome and self...

Read More

I bow down to the great Dickens
Whose name has touched every soil,
And whose art has touched every soul,
His  art "Hard Times" has travelled far and wide
When at last built it's castle at Sherubtse college,
Fortuitous...

Read More

This is, as indicated, the 2nd HALF of this fairly lengthy poem. Due to Poetry Soup's file-size limitations, this piece had to be posted in 2 parts. 
   The 1st HALF can be...

Read More

A pure Hawaiian of rare birth,
living a life somewhat carefree,
fed farm animals by this squirt,
sticks and stones were real toys indeed,
set trash ablaze, be on alert,
a barefoot country kid, that's me,
a runner on trails made...

Read More

A Farmer built a chicken coop 
    from extra wood and wire.
To satisfy the pent demand 
    for eggs from many buyers.
He hoped to make some money 
 ...

Read More