Long Comin Poems

Fahr an' Ice
by Michael R. Burch

From what I know of death, I'll side with those
who'd like to have a say in how it goes:
just make mine cool, cool rocks (twice drowned in likker),
and real fahr...

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Translations of the Oldest English Rhyming Poems

The Rhymed Poem aka The Rhyming Poem aka The Riming Poem
Old English/Anglo-Saxon poem from the Exeter Book, circa 990 AD
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

(excerpt)
He who granted me life...

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The Spirits of Culloden. 
This is like a pilgrimage, a try tae come every year,
Gather at the cairn, meet old friends, wipe away a tear.
Standin on that moor, that once with blood was sodden,
Paying respects...

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a force for good
(for john coltrane and ahmed obafemi
based on ‘trane’s treatment of ‘nature boy’)

“…I wanna be a force for good…”
		-John Coltrane
 
…there was a man…
a very brave, enchanted man…
and he spoke of many things…
peace...

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Another day in dreamland

Wake up.  Watch the sun ease in the light
like the day before, goin back, and on some more.
Cuddle with the reasons why while I collect
my unconscious back from the sky.
Okay, get...

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You are now about to witness my lack of street knowledge
Straight outta lockdown,
lazy brother named THE DUDE
Formed a gang called diggers With Altitudes
Work is called off, I got a paid off
Strains getting quicker, and bodies...

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Thirsty

I could tell right away he was up ta sum thin.
I could see it in doze beady eyes!
His wordz were smooth in a snake like sorta way,
my pappy says heze city smooth.
He don't look like...

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holler say what
yo yo yo
all the saint over there rise on up
git on up
everybody else where
git on up hold them arms, hand and eyes up toward the heavens
things gonna git better 
(when you)
Pray
(when you)
Praise so....

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TWA HAIRY DUGS

Twa hairy dugs
 Walking doon the street,
Raking in the buckets
Tae find a bite tae eat.

Licking oot a puddle
Tae git a nice cool drink,
Survival on the streets alone
They really have tae think.

Sleeping on a...

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Comin Thro the Rye
by Robert Burns
modern English translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
 
Oh, Jenny's all wet, poor body,
Jenny's seldom dry;
She's draggin' all her petticoats
Comin' through the rye.
 
Comin' through the rye, poor body,
Comin' through the...

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A love not to be forgotten
After the disaster, after the misery
Little sister of mine begged my dad for chicks
He tried to convince her what a bad idea it is
How a hard caring takes to keep...

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A Red, Red Rose
by Robert Burns
modern English translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
 
Oh, my love is like a red, red rose
that's newly sprung in June
and my love is like the melody
that's sweetly played in tune.

And...

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What made me stumble,
did I make fools of us ?
Fear was in disguise
and it overwhelmed.
Oh, I remember so little of it,
fragments of memory
and spoken words
whispered in my ear.
The bar with the bodies packed in it,
they...

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Those sinners in that night club in florida, if you ask me, finally got what was comin for them 

When my father said this to me at our dinner table i could have cried
I could...

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Dark Side of the Sixties

peace brother hey man i just scored some bennies it’s really far out i’m speedin like a mother wanna buy some you won’t get busted i know this cat who’s tight...

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My brother, John, was older than me; and I had ever looked up to him,
As a golden sun seems always with you, but comes and goes at whim.

My brother, John, taught me to roller skate,...

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We need laws, laws, laws greeting peace, peace, peace to the people (Hi! Friends)
We need laws, laws, laws greeting peace, peace, peace to the people (Hi! Friends)
We need laws, laws, laws greeting peace, peace, peace...

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Muddy Water's Gramma gave us licorice

I walked the old Kenwood neighborhood with my twin little brother and sister in tow,
'hold there hands and look both ways before you cross the street'
No use trying to talk...

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I wrote this poem at 2 am last night when I couldn't sleep.  I enjoyed writing it 
immensely and I'd love to see someone sing it to the tune of Wells Fargo Wagon 
from...

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*THIS IS NOT MY STORY, BUT IT IS A STORY I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW!

There was a man working at our school. No one knew he was. The teachers kept a close eye 
on him...

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Folks think I'm a 
nice guy, to a fault I 
guess I am, if those 
folks only knew 
deep down I'm tellin 
them to scram,

I'm tryin to keep my 
language clean like 
crispy Franklin 
notes,...

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I wanna state a cardiac arrest for ya chest
Detest your own humidity within humanity, cats rest in vanity
Controlling underground charisma the mic got me checking
Wrecking one image of fame at a time
Cursed vines connecting family...

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Hey Man THAT AIN'T NO WAY TO TREAT A WOMAN

Hey man why you comin to me complain bout your woman
You sayin she dun burnt ya dinner again
What's you doin stop your complaining
Hey man stop comin...

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 O! my man Oh! Man he’s got bottom feet;
My man ma’man got them bottom feet;
And My O My he’s so ever sweet;
Ma Man he’s got bottom feet;

Gen Z favors brands like, Brand 
Men's Ted...

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Part I 

my flesh is filled and fraught with foul disease; 
offensive is my life to mine own eyes 
that see me sail life's clear and cloudy seas 
where faith fills up or empties out...

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