Long Dabbed Poems

The first soft snow: 
leaves of the awed jonquil 
bow low
—Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch

Come, investigate loneliness! 
a solitary leaf
clings to the Kiri tree
—Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch

The cheerful-chirping cricket
contends gray...

Read More

Dusk-gliding swallow, 
please spare my small friends
flitting among the flowers! 
—Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch

A bee emerging
from deep within the peony's hairy recesses
flies off, sated
—Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch

That dying cricket,...

Read More

Grasses wilt:
the braking locomotive
grinds to a halt
—Yamaguchi Seishi, translation by Michael R. Burch

Oh, fallen camellias,
if I were you,
I'd leap into the torrent!
—Takaha Shugyo, translation by Michael R. Burch

The first soft snow:
leaves of the awed jonquil
bow...

Read More

Early morning dawn July
"Mallory"  Damian whispered, sliding 
Closer to her. "Mallory" he Whispered 
Again gently caressing. She wanted
To say stop. It was to late
he moved quite quickly. He spread
Like wild fire. Soon consuming her.
The...

Read More

THIS WORLD OF DEW

This world? 
Moonlit dew
flicked from a crane's bill.
—Eihei Dogen Kigen, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Seventy-one?
How long
can a dewdrop last? 
—Eihei Dogen Kigen, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Dewdrops beading grass-blades
die before...

Read More

The Sun was acting rather strange
With the Moon and Stars concerned.
As it was not content to share the sky...
And not prepared to wait its turn.
So the sea was simmering and boiling hot
Without the night's return.

But...

Read More

The ambulance ride only lasted
For 10 minutes.
Delilah was in Labor now
Experiencing strange labor
Sensations. They were orgasms
Dolly didn't want to admit that.
Most of both families swept into
The hospital 2 Hours later, A few
 relatitives at A...

Read More

It’s Friday afternoon. Anna, Lisa, Leong and I are sitting around our common room - sagging actually - after a long day.
“I need a break,” I said, “now’s the time - today, this day -...

Read More

As I was walking swiftly
Just to reach Bajoga early
To see what a hot birthday
Will be chucked in the day
Of 27th of the october,
I collided with a creature
Seemingly so calm in nature
And so educated by sanity
With...

Read More

Once i was a prince in your eyes my every wish granted
        even before I could wish it
eevaa peerankal muuvaa maruntu
the hot kuul boiling complaining in the chessman...

Read More

Not really fit for you.
Probably slipped under God’s nose and dropped here.
I bet He wonders “who’s this” when I pray.
I’m surely not on any “living human list”

My life’s smashing all over,
Is it even correct to...

Read More

Earlier in the week I was pretty sick and Peter was pampering me. One night, as Peter was taking away my tea tray, I took a selfie to send to my mom - as proof...

Read More

It's been a little more and two score

Since I revisited all of my most
treaured ghostly line from my
poetic past

Dipped and dabbed my nib in ink
like a knife through endless scraps
of paper wondering if I had...

Read More

Don't ask your heart,
Don't blame it,
Don't chastise your heart,
Don't scorch it,
Make yourself assured
You grasped a true love,
That would never short,
Because I made it as hard love.

I will fill each hole of your heart
To have it...

Read More

A Debutante’s Ball to Remember

In the autumn of my life, oft have I recalled that superb summer night,
when I finally experienced my long-awaited heart’s delight.
Family and close friends were all ready for my entry into...

Read More

A warm sultry summers night, a silver crystal formed in
the corner of an eye. Trickled and rolled a gentle cheek,
fell to earth where all was dry. Whence it touched the 
ground did speak, an Orchid...

Read More

Attraction free verse

I see you there, across the aisle, in the second carriage on the train.
Perched on the edge of your seat, as if in eager anticipation, crushingly not for me. 
Your eyes, like emeralds,...

Read More

In pitch black night there is no color, 
For light is color's revealer.
In daylight, your eyes see an object as white, when all light is reflected, 
White is all the colors from a billion rainbows,...

Read More

On a dusty and narrow path dwarfed by the enormous
redwood trees, which have conquered all of the soft-blue sky;
I walk and I'm astonished by the tallest of them all! 
Winter has left and the snows...

Read More

I set up my easel in the shade of my beach umbrella. Wanting to paint by the morning light, I dabbed my colors onto the palette...sea foam green, azure blue, titanium white, and ochre.
 
...

Read More

Made a beautiful silky bow collar, 
for his little skinny neck 
So we can go for a walk, 
sneaked out the back gate 
walking around to the front 
All the kids were amazed, 
dancing skipping...

Read More

Though scattered, focus on short tasks.
Pro-actively,  with respect, and QUIET way.
If you're depressed, these are your circumstances.
There is nothing to gaze to if you exhausted the try.
 
Foray to unwind or do something pleasing...

Read More

I set up an easel in the shade of my beach umbrella. Wanting to paint by the morning light, I dabbed colors onto the palette...sea foam green, azure, titanium white, and ochre.

   ...

Read More

Rumors spread like a flood seeping through the streets
That an adult black panther, kept as a pet, had escaped,
And was now prowling around the back alleys in town, according to the tweets.
Big cat far too...

Read More

Circa - approximately early
to late nineteen sixties,
     where yours truly
found himself surly,
particularly compounded
     if my parents, 

where Mister and 
Missus Santa Claus 
played by Boyce and 
Harriet...

Read More