Long Coalescence Poems

Fadwa Tuqan has been called the Grand Dame of Palestinian letters and The Poet of Palestine. These are my translations of Fadwa Tuqan poems originally written in Arabic.



Enough for Me
by Fadwa Tuqan 
loose translation/interpretation by...

Read More

English translations of Arabic poems by Fadwa Tuqan aka "The Poet of Palestine"

Enough for Me
by Fadwa Tuqan 
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Enough for me to lie in the earth,
to be buried in her,
to sink...

Read More

Devil's advocate claims Teflon Trump...

The demagogue reincarnate 
feels gifted to reign supreme
captivates, glorifies, lauds, 
renounces, yawps extreme
views bellows dogmatic fulminations
in an attempt to redeem
stolen 2020 capital one bid.

Which hunter (biden his time) 
will reap grim...

Read More

I crowned the write full missus "champ paean practical joker"

The following moniker “innocent prankster” 
awarded, hashtagged, and qualified wife
as trickster de jure appended 
to alluded spouse 
(then of twenty five plus years),
when she pulled a...

Read More

to parlay view to unleash nuclear weapons on cue
destroying vast swaths of flora and fauna,
   most inn no cent life forms pay hefty due
to assuage aggressively cruel, enjoyably 

   growling goal,...

Read More

Countdown to Armageddon precariously hinges 
   potential apocalypse outcome, mere smattering days away
if the brazen, fierce-some dragon doth don 
   trumps presidential throne - 
   ships with whistling ...

Read More

Call me a pacifist activist deploring insanity of war,
never a Fitbit moon-unit soldier of military industrial
complex, this articulate baby boomer verily stupefied,
openmouthed, dumbfounded at inane ill logic to send
best and brightest, or even those boasting...

Read More

Embarkation upon meditation...

Believe me you upon manifestation
regarding Das godaddy bing linkedin
with avast cosmic consciousness
self induced light hypnotic trance
I become enthralled

unless wife disrupts intent concentration
calling out "Matt...Matt...Matt"
bajillion times Googleplex
(slight hyperbole for literary effect),
subsequently courtesy

disembodied voices
deliver poetic...

Read More

I hate robocalls!

Inxs of recorded messages   
transmitted automatically 
to my telephone number 
by automatic dialing device.

I turn off damn ringer,
and disassemble (carefully 
as disabling a time bomb) 
internal workings nevertheless...
telephone still buzzes
twenty four...

Read More

I crown the missus "champ impractical joker"

Unbeknownst the wife appeared unusually upbeat,
she did pretend and succeed
to give yours truly a special treat
aforementioned item alluded to purchased
at Liberty Ministry thrift store

3841 Ridge Pike
(some miles further east
same...

Read More

Strikes relentlessly thrashing
     (from all points
     encompassing me) assigned
unforgivingly, vehemently,
     witheringly, blind
ding figurative sight, then
    I finally craft a title,
then...

Read More

Red hot chili pepper poker face...

Born that way angry antithetical 
mailer daemon when...
all of Christendom bows their collective 
talking heads in supplication,
a temporary truce and reprieve 
against bigotry, deviltry, idolatry (nah),  
et cetera across...

Read More

I hate robocalls!

I turn off damn ringer,
nonetheless...
telephone still buzzes
twenty four seven
eight days a week
automated telephone calls

digitally recorded message
perfectly spoken English
differentiation to distinguish
"FAKE" simulation
all bot impossible
totally immune to escape

gagging hospitable invective
electronic jawboning immunized
against antipathy, cruelty, enemy,
hostility,...

Read More

I turn off damn ringer,
nonetheless...
telephone still buzzes
twenty four seven
eight days a week
automated telephone calls

digitally recorded message
perfectly spoken English
differentiation to distinguish
"FAKE" simulation
all bot impossible
totally immune to escape

gagging hospitable invective
electronic jawboning immunized
against antipathy, cruelty, enemy,
hostility, insecurity, pleasantry
Yukon...

Read More

Dance for me now ...

Eyes of polished onyx pierce me like the keen edge
          of a scalpel, deftly wielded ...

The blood of my black heart flowing...

Read More

Though joyousness impaled,
albeit skewered over poker hot coals
courtesy roaring fiery
molten psychological magma
kindling sparks incinerate
nonetheless inchoate coalescence

asserts, damned feeble endeavor
fostering, glomming, harking
futile hellbent fixation manifests
imperceptible yearning inclination
atavistic aspiration toward archangel
fleetingly overrides pathos

prevalent within pathetic psyche
regarding mental...

Read More

it starts out full of determination, 
crusading with vision and vigor
a strong staff, new boots, and a good hat.
a map with direction and no mud stains

walking with purpose in mid-afternoon
the clouds in the distance poignantly
seem...

Read More

aswirl within tremendous maelstroms
universal united uninhabitable cauldron
tempered with analogous:
outrageous, portentous
thunderous cacophony in tandem

with thick mucilaginous fog
metaphorically postpartum
nebulous placenta afterbirth
and/or proto planets aborted

per primordial material
slowly (millions of years) coalescence
annealed bubbling primeval soup
engendering (extant

via immeasurably immense stretches...

Read More

now ...

dance for me …
eyes of polished onyx pierce
me like the keen edge of a scalpel,
deftly wielded ...
the blood of my black
heart flowing in and around you,
warm and welcomed to your
wings and wants ...
the aspiration...

Read More

The first movie they watched with each other was Across The Universe

Ten finger tips reaching out sweaty palms and pounding heartbeats


		     Synchronous

			     Wholesome

				    ...

Read More

Iridescence and subliminal flow has condensed within your fragrant bower,
a scene of isolated beauty that portrays the essence of all splendour and redeeming 
power.

You are repose and renewal to my longing soul
which in hunger for...

Read More

THE NEW JERUSALEM

THE FIRST STANZA
Have thou ever seen such a concordance?
A new relation between man and beast
For beyond these hostile hills lies a place where the boisterous Bacchus feast
Imagine the fruits of Adam grow on...

Read More

Beginnings Know Only Beginnings
                               ...

Read More

I watched a young mother slapping her child
Unmercifully in his face today 
And wanted to return the favor
Equally, in a like-wise manner.
I’ve no earthly idea what the child must have done
To find himself the recipient...

Read More

But I learn and oblige to learn 
which are taught to me, how to teach me 
From the divided Holy Scriptures; 
which are followed our predecessors 
the divisions lives in belief and disbelief, 
No division...

Read More