Long Deluged Poems

Medieval Poem V

A Proverb from Winfred's Time
anonymous Old English poem, circa 757-786
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

1.
The procrastinator puts off purpose,
never initiates anything marvelous,
never succeeds, and dies alone.

2.
The late-deed-doer delays glory-striving,
never indulges daring dreams,
never succeeds,...

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Winter Awakens My Care
anonymous Middle English poem, circa 1300
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Winter awakens all my care
as leafless trees grow bare.
For now my sighs are fraught
whenever it enters my thought:
regarding this world's joy,
how everything...

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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 Rhymed Poem aka The Rhyming Poem and The Riming Poem
Old English Poem (i.e., Anglo-Saxon Poem) from the Exeter Book, ca. 990 AD
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

He who granted me life created this sun
and...

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The Rhymed Poem aka The Rhyming Poem and The Riming Poem - Part II
anonymous Old English Poem from the Exeter Book, circa 990 AD
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

He who granted me life created this...

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Ashen faced Prometheus aghast at inferno gone awry

Whether arsonist at fault
or confluence of ripe conditions
triggering perfect firestorm,
the titan of fire beside himself with misery,
though no fault of his own
the raging bullish conflagration
a taste of inescapable...

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I belonged to a family of farmers, we had farmed for generations;
And we were true to our land, as blooms loyal to sweet sensations.

I knew the fierce satisfaction, only derived from working the land;
And sometimes...

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Francis saw the lights and heard the approaching sound of the Harley.She was at the entrance when Suzanne and Arlis pulled up .He slumped behind Suzanne leaning upon her as she maneuvered the bike to...

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The elderly Elmer Brown dwelled alone, like a solitary tree on a hill,
Loving quiet, glazed life still, in burgundy, sunset moments of until.

A widower, Elmer Brown had generations of offspring, living far away,
Feeling fresh, foreign...

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*Image of Paradox of a Mindfoolness.


Irreconcilable Paradox

The midnight sun casts about clear shadows amidst a
     twilight noon, 'tis yesterday.
The windy gale brews, astir none to wake the quietude,
   ...

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A cosmic clash of epic force
Split Tiamet like brittle thread
Nibiru hugged its distant course
Propelling moons to gnaw and shred

Kingu marveled at what was formed
Asteroids shed from that vast orb
The watery giant was transformed
Leveling as third...

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Line of inquiry:
“Yes, I affirm, I have seen God
But He appeared and then disappeared
This knowing that transcends mind, left me awed
But until what’s imbibed is assimilated, by fears I’m seared” 


Once I felt the power...

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Brother. O Brother.
   O when; when we were callow!
	In days young; Shakers, of the movement, before 
gray & silver turned our locks; we held in idol.  

	Spree, even damned, were we. ...

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no one saw it coming they never do
the phone poles were giving off sparks
dogs began to howl birds flocked to the sky
A Plymouth hubcap of immense proportions
quivered and droned in the air over the capitol
television...

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RESTLESS


Oh my, the ghost still haunts the rest of my life
I cannot go back reminisce and picture
Where I’ve been into what extent I’ve delved
That after the euphoria I deemed  loose
This thing now sometimes controls...

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I think I self-sabotage unknowingly 
because of fear
So my message goes unheard because I’m afraid to let the people hear
And end up drowning in the poetic blues
doubting my ability to write about the truth;

I dug...

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Revival 

Death had me in check. However, I made it him with three pieces my Bishop, my Queen, and always by my side, my King of Kings 

As my eyes began to flicker, the insensitivity...

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That bridge hanging precariously
  Across the threatening gulf
Was the only escape to mortality
                   For we were...

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Ain't no wonder we're baffled about eatin' - ever'thing is taboo.
We're deluged by self-appointed gurus toutin' their points uv view.
Can't they desist and find somethin' more productive to do?
They can eat their tofu and water...

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*Image of Contrary To Popular Belief by Medium.

The End Times

A locomotive train chugs remote wails,
The tempest brews a calamitous stunt,
Falls of exiting steam, moist teary tails,
A structure of ills desires cured a want.

Veil vibration replaced...

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After much cajoling by my kids and grandkids over the years,
I entered the computer age with great tremblings and fears.
My Selectric typewriter and encyclopedia were comprehensible to me,
Now, I'm totally bewildered and fear I'll click...

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Did you see it?

It soared,
High up in the sky, 
 causing the blink of every eye,
loudly did it roar
 scaling tree and mountains divides.

I hurried to my laptop keyboard
 typed in google to describe this...

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First one wave and then another
Tossed the boat from one side then the other
 
 The storm gripped the tiny craft
and the wind pushed the sail fore and aft.

 While in the stern the Lord...

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I knew the day we met that we were meant to be
I realized our destiny was set and she was the one for me
She was rich in beauty but poor for she will die with...

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On October the 7th, the precarious peace

of  the disputed ancient lands began to cease.

The enraged avengers brought the Al-Aqsa flood

that deluged the Re'im music festival with blood.

 

Then very swiftly came the lopsided response

that...

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