Long Decipher Poems

Archaic Torso of Apollo
by Rainer Maria Rilke
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

We cannot know the beheaded god
nor his eyes' forfeited visions. But still
the figure's trunk glows with the strange vitality
of a lamp lit from within,...

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The Panther
by Rainer Maria Rilke
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

His weary vision's so overwhelmed by iron bars,
his exhausted eyes see only blank Oblivion.
His world is not our world. It has no stars.
No light. Ten thousand...

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Poetic Encryption Like Ancient Egyptian

This terror and threat to poetic clarity,
Becomes a pet rock for some poets.

Words do count for sure, but so does
Clarity unless poets put a mask on.

Encryption can be used to mask...

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This is, as indicated, the 2nd HALF of this fairly lengthy poem. Due to Poetry Soup's file-size limitations, this piece had to be posted in 2 parts. 
   The 1st HALF can be...

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This is my translation of the first of Rilke’s Duino Elegies. Rilke began the first Duino Elegy in 1912, as a guest of Princess Marie von Thurn und Taxis, at Duino Castle, near Trieste on...

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The Story so far continued from 'Visitor'…
An attractive extra-terrestrial female researcher sent to a remote island to observe earth and beam back her findings is struggling with unfamiliar, alien romantic emotions. Even though she is...

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A young girl who’s lost & wandering in the darkness cries out

“If there’s a God out there please save me!”

The darkness replied with silence

But she kept listening so intently to the nothingness around her,

Clenching and...

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Attitude with latitude

originally written January 19th, 2019
and tension defines the dynamic

Valiant prince sip pulled effort
rebuffed, snubbed, thumbed
courtesy eldest daughter
uncontested vainglorious woke
mine genuine apology,
viz sincerely yours truly
psyche asper paternal overture
toward aforementioned offspring
smitten with opprobrium
figuratively smacked upside...

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In the silky night, dotted with mystery,
Where the moon's thread weaves shadows on the paths,
The heart, a thin garment, a flash in the ether,
Listens as the time from the hourglass seeps away,
And its rhythm, a...

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There are a select few people who are essential to my entire well-being
Embarrassed that I haven’t thanked you for the love you gave to me
I must tackle the troubles that double in size, strength and...

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WOMB OF ALL BEGINNINGS


In the delicious womb of all beginnings 
we learnt to giggle electrons
to bear all things 
without nusturtiums, pink lilies or doughnuts 
warm gurglings of God’s dream for us

Morning glories were waiting 
deep...

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A smile won’t help at this very moment
A moment of peace, a moment of rest that ditched me long ago
Wondering what has been unknown…for many, many years
A million, million, million miles away have you been
I...

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The name of my sidekick was Benjamin, a fellow church member
An ornery, brown haired boy who had nothing in common with me
Save for his sudden sense of adventure and exploration
He asked me, “Laura? Have you...

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her life had been a rollercoaster of moody upheaval

          manic fervor from sheer in-exhaustible passion

           ...

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We turned off before reaching Kings Lynn and headed down a road that would take us to Henderson Aerodrome a local flying school, we were waved through the main gate and headed onto the main...

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Sometimes, perhaps often when we are young,
we fall in love without knowing or having experienced real love...
that's how we learn... painful at times... happy for a while... but as we grow, we learn.
And when it...

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Took a breath
Of your death
Upon my tongue…
Burnt a lung…
In the process
Of my hopeless state
I’m making progress
As of late, as of late

So young and awkwardly long
I can’t believe I don’t belong
So wrong, it feels right all...

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It was the summer of my 16th year. Mother encouraged me to spend part of my summer vacation with Granddad, a self-professed stoic. I reluctantly agreed, for he was a peculiar man. I couldn’t imagine...

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You are dying for a simplified system when your economy is filled to the brim; you are looking for a simplified system so take a ride with me to the gym. 

You want your meal...

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Like every divorced couple, we were transitioning into a platonic relationship as friends full of understanding. My former husband seems entirely decided to give life a fresh try. He is thinking of another girl. He...

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KING DAY
(A Retrospective Perspective)

			     David said to Solomon his son, be
			strong and of good courage, and do 
			it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the
			Lord God…will be with thee; he will
...

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PERCEPTUAL CONSCIOUSNESS

Is it a perceived danger in the scent of night 
air that triggers a message to my brain of 
reminiscent horrors or is there imminent danger?

Is there an underlying reality perceived by itself or...

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“The Penelope Squad”



A line of bluebirds 
tittering on a line
swaying on the winds
like comedian pageboys 
having a good time
poop in the peg bucket
words wooden and sharp
fly off with frosty notes
dirt and sherry stains
imprinted on 
Penelope’s...

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open …
I keep my eyes open
to watch you as you kiss me
to think on all that you are thinking
all the carnal thoughts that
might be stirring behind those lids
our lashes so close …
like little feathers that...

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Oh, Apollo,* son of Zeus,
How could, a simple man as I, your divine command- to know myself-
Will ever be able to realize
When
Fruitless, so far, any efforts of mine have turned out to be,
Even though- ashamed...

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