Long Clerks Poems

State of the Art (III)

These are my "ars poetica" poems: the ones about the art and craft of writing poetry in a modern world that doesn't always recognize the artists or their work. 



Come Down
by...

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Poems about Poems IV

The Toast
by Michael R. Burch

For longings warmed by tepid suns
(brief lusts that animated clay),
for passions wilted at the bud
and skies grown desolate and gray,
for stars that fell from tinseled heights
and mountains bleak...

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My auntie came to visit when I was three, but nearly four.
    I proudly and lovingly wore her name gifted to me, a sweet legacy.
       I...

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Did I hear that wrong?

On my way for another appointment
with the vampire bleeding Quest,
big stage conversations on the radio
travel way too fast
for me to stay tuned in
to our nesty mess
at my normal liberal-conserving pace.

A single...

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From my lowly bachelor’s house
Proudly christened ‘Embassy Fair’
I woke up to the chirping of birds
On the trees above and across the vale
And the riverine bushes in-between
I woke up to the crowing of cocks
And the mooing...

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Blocking the Doorway Dolly
Demanded, "What boys are you
Going with?"  Damian Tried to
Be understanding. "Baby, just
Friends from School. Malcolm,
Shakespeare and Shannon."
She grabbed his hand "Damian
Rub my belly. This boy is 
Doing somersaults in me."
"Don't go."...

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A rising sun burns like a solar flare
  from St. Augustine to St. Clair,
to daze me from sleep’s tranquil hold
  and dreams of serendipities of old -
to rise again the boy I was...

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Damian had a restful sleep.
Up at 9  simply shaved 
Showered savagely ate. And 
On the road at 10 to retrieve
His future.  He hoped she was
anxiously anticipating 
The surprise. The weekdays 
The road was...

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FOR SUNSHINE SMILE

Feelings I've always kept inside myself and never have written down before
Offering to you sweet lady from my heart to your great poetic words quite more
Remembering all those times I felt like you...

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I STOLE FOOD TO SATISFY MY SOUL

I used to be poor;
Lonely dis-pared homeless;
Maturated, no one cares;
Haven't had any type of bath in twelve days;
And yes, I stole hungry and dirty;
I'm hungry and thirsty; 
I when...

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I STOLE FOOD TO SATISFY MY SOUL

I used to be poor;
Lonely dis-pared homeless;
Maturated, no one cares;
Haven't had any type of bath in twelve days;
And yes, I stole hungry and dirty;
I'm hungry and thirsty; 
I when...

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The Stop & Shop strike v. Game of Thrones. 
In Game what’s not made plain
is the condition of the people
compared with warriors and queens.
There’s no mention of land-clearance, tree-felling, 
pruning, chopping, digging, hoeing, 
weeding, branding,...

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My Clinician 111 of Compass Health, Greg Richardson, of Everett Washington. Recently told me an amusing personal experience while shopping for clothing at Value Village. He was going to try on some clothing.  When...

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Across the cracked concrete slabs,
past a fallen dogwoods left lying like so much litter;
at the red brick base of the courthouse, the jurors strode.

Through the doors too heavy for a mere woman to open unassisted;
and...

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How Hungry for GOD Are You?

How hungry for GOD are you? Do you pray and read the
Word daily?  Do you stay in an attitude of prayer throughout
the day?  Do you stay in fellowship...

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320 has a great bunch working there
They show a lot pride they really care
I personally don't consider any of this work, to me it's all fun
Sweat already pouring from the Warehouse heat and the morning...

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Don't shoot me down.
Don't start to frown,
It's past my pay grade.
I'm just Her messenger.

QueenMother DNA
has Her final
non-violent first say.

She's polypathic
and gracefully green.
Love's systemic polyphonics,
math paths I've never zero-seen
or heard tell of polynomials

"Green refines great healthy...

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(Background:  After I retired from the college some years ago, I decided to take a 
temporary sales job at J.C. Penney in the mens’ wear department.  The pay was 
laughable, but I had...

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I see her there in our backyard,
Pushing our youngest on the swing,
Were it just six short months ago
She would’ve been my everything.
Back before I could understand,
Before the scales fell from my eyes,
Before the truth of...

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On the anvil that’s the dorp
The noon-day sun beats down.
So between twelve and two
Life in the place is suspended.
Doors to the stores are ‘toe’
And in their dusty windows cheap 
Mannequins sleep with open eyes.

The air...

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E Pluribus Unum ~  Out Of Many, One

[Author's note: E Pluribus Unum is a traditional motto of the United 
States, but the scope of this poem is intended to be of a more global...

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A Son ~ far away ~ too far
South Dakota ~ now his Wedding Anniversary, "Seventeen"
here in Nebraska, the Midwest
time evolves ~ into space!

Miles and miles ~ the ducks fly over
they have a port,
almost their own...

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OH Let it all become known far and wide all over the cities, towns and country sides, "You are braver than you believe Stronger than you seem Smarter than you think & Loved more than...

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We went shopping
The misses and me
And afterwards we went
To our favourite café for a tea

The misses decided 
She wanted to visit her brother Jim
She said “Since we in town,
“I have somefink to give to him”

So...

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Underage drinking has taken its tolls on all the teenagers today, including the ones under
the age of 21. It's been affecting the minds of all young people for years to come. I'm
told that drinking too...

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