Long Crystals 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 VI

The Board
by Michael R. Burch

Accessible rhyme is never good.
The penalty is understood?
soft titters from dark board rooms where
the businessmen paste on their hair
and, Walter Mitties, woo the Muse
with reprimands of Dr. Seuss.

The...

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Various Heresies 3

Breakings
by Michael R. Burch

I did it out of pity.
I did it out of love.
I did it not to break the heart of a tender, wounded dove.

But gods without compassion
ordained: Frail things must break!
Now...

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Snapshots
by Michael R. Burch

Here I scrawl extravagant rainbows.
And there you go, skipping your way to school.
And here we are, drifting apart
like untethered balloons.

Here I am, creating "art,"
chanting in shadows,
pale as the crinoline moon,
ignoring your face.

There...

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- 2016 -

- JANUARY -

A freezing cold evening

Where the stars shining bright

With frost blade flanks

From mouth and nose steam

In the clear silence

White untrodden snows

Nature's frozen pulse

Sleep like a little baby

One gracious moon

After the night the...

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Sonnets XC-XCVII

Artificial Smile
by Michael R. Burch

I’m waiting for my artificial teeth
to stretch belief, to hollow out the cob
of zealous righteousness, to grasp life’s stub
between clenched molars, and yank out the grief.

Mine must be art-official?zenlike Art?
a...

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Imitation! Creative Compliment, Lacking in Originality, or Plagiarism? 

This week takes me back to college days. I was taking a graduate course (as a Physics major)   in 'Modern Poets' at the University of...

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The elves left separately and reconvened in the safe room.  If  Rian was aware of Joulupukki's presence in the Village, they did not want to give away what magic he had.  When...

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“This will come to an end now,” Rian demanded!  Joulupukki nudged Dyndoeth and glanced at the crystals in each corner of the ceiling. He saw the elf begin to tense.  He also noticed...

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This is how it starts
the decline of who we are, the decline of something more
the start of wars
Installed in us is confidence
confidence, a blessing or a curse
Without confidence we stand degraded, disenchanted, alone
while with too...

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Poems about Poets VII

Gallant Knight
by Michael R. Burch

for Alfred Dorn and Anita Dorn

Till you rest with your beautiful Anita,
rouse yourself, Poet; rouse and write.
The world is not ready for your departure,
Gallant Knight.

Teach us to sing...

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“Now, if we can get these proceedings under way,” began Seileach.
     “No,” exhorted Rian!  “I demand to have more information about what is occurring here before we proceed.  It...

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New Year's Eve 2022

Yours truly riddled with social anxiety,
hence (billy me) he will idle away
December 31st, 2022 
sequestered (with the missus) 
hunkered down in his mancave
while madding crowd  
entertains reckons partition of time 
into...

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Their sighting of the Village came more quickly than they anticipated, only a few hours after Joulupukki had mentioned it to Lumi.
     “Well, sooner than expected,” Joulupukki said aloud., “almost straight...

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Absolute deafening silence...

during and after a moderate snowfall
today January 19th, 2024,
within Southeastern Pennsylvania
and elsewhere across the Eastern Seaboard,
whereby blanket of whiteness
muffles sounds of civilization.

I hate a spoiler alert
regarding weather forecasters prediction,
especially when meteorologist
wannabe spouse doth...

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Two friends were travelling to the east seeking unexplored lands
eventually they reached some grim looking tall mountains
slowly they made their way up to the summit and stood there
Breathlessly they were amazed by the panoramic view...

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The Ending at Wounded Knee

This is what happened:
Two worlds collided,
And the elder one died.

Pony soldiers and Indian police,
Triggerhappy and jumping at shadows,
Killed Sitting Bull at Pine Ridge;
     His horse pawed the...

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I was in my backyard sunning, while lost in warm daydreams,
Enjoying red raspberries, while listening to the birds sing.

Lying on afternoon chaise, in the golden midst of hot July,
As I watched mauve butterflies, and lazy...

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?Universe interconnected?      
            ®O?N~§ € £ F€º 
?{Interconnected»«Universe}?
    Pen's Broadcasting Name
     ...

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DynDoeth managed to blurt out, 
     “Well done Joulupukki, that is enough,” over the growing din that surrounded him.  “Put your magic away.”
Joulupukki was reluctant to stop.  It felt...

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split schizoid mission 

Lifting the mind 
like a sword 
counting poets 
losing self in 
unsettled love
and mysteries
plucked off the shelf 
all the Berlin walls
come tumbling down
words like dice
shaken and thrown
the electric 
black dogs barking 
call...

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The bones of winter cracked the ice black, coal black night.
A hoary wind spits frost crystals that dazzle and blur the sight.
Boney fingers of bare deciduous wood, scratch against the eaves
as the stranger's tread crackles...

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   Storms seductive desiring of dreams   
   Forms favoring moonlight of beams
    Craving hearts upon starlit nights
    Waving wands of unicorned flights
 ...

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How exciting; first appreciable (healthy) snowfall 2024...

within hinterlands of 
Perkiomen Valley Pennsylvania 
occurred January 6th promptly at noon.

Virgin whiteness blankets terrestrial realm
bajillion snowflakes tumble out of sky
atavistic fascination awakened
agog at ice crystals stinging each eye
while...

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The majestic and Angelic Iris

The majestic and Angelic Iris.
Layered in thick scales, pure as snow,
Claws curved into sharp, black knives
Piercing the ground before her.
Prowling the land
Searching for her own,
Growling a fierce roar into
Every living soul...

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