Long Eavesdropped Poems

Villanelles

The villanelle is a poetic form based on repetition, with a double refrain. 



Villanelle: The Divide
by Michael R. Burch

The sea was not salt the first tide...
was man born to sorrow that first day, 
with the...

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Colures transposed orbits closed whence derive the rains of rose?
Across million mileage magic and magnitude are striding
O'er holistic horizon svelteness and smoothness are sliding
Meridian framed parallax tamed whither swash the rains of rose?
Spray by spray,...

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The howling winds of March

Furious gusts of air
mightily blow bestirring anchored poet
sitting comfortably numb
securely strapped in his hard to maneuver
easy bath chair
while all around him debris
strewn helter skelter everywhere
heavy objects unmoored
pirouetting topsy turvy

defying laws of...

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BLACK,RED and GOLD

Location---SOMEWHERE IN KÖNIGSBERG 1945 APRIL 9
Scene---A Dying German Agent/A Soldier`s thoughts/reflections just before death 

On this periphery of life
Let blue jeans of my ice blonde Brenda wear me to marry with death
Fire will...

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“It’s the day
God will send His Son”
Overheard the guardian angels say
“It’s the day
The infant king will jump out of the tummy”
Heard the sheep caressing the calf
“It’s the day
The saviour of the universe is coming”
Eavesdropped on...

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Strolling the beach one day, a magnificent shell I happened to see.
I picked it up and held it to my ear - just out of curiosity -
To see if the old wives tale was true...

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We used to Communicate, Brainstorm, Debate
but I find you've been quiet and distant, of late.

Just what aren't you Saying? What is the good Word?
To find out, I eavesdropped and here's all that I heard:

You Cheered...

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As I was leaving the doctor’s office he was dictating notes about our meeting…
I eavesdropped…because I can….
He said he’d just finished up a conference with a delightful 70 year old man.

I was glad he used...

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Have you ever wished you could mind read? 
Let me save you some trouble my friend, 
When those weird thoughts seem to pop in your head
The best plan, simply turn them on end

Consider if things...

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hopeless
this
i am sad
tell me why is that so bad
i guess i don't know
no 
good words
i did not go to school
i didn't wear clothes
listen to music
or study
feel cool
how do i get into this world
with a ged
and...

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If you've ever seen Ca' Rezzonico 
seeming quite to float 
upon the Grand Canal 
as you bob in a boat, 

or if you've ever eavesdropped 
in some Trastevere alley 
some golden afternoon 
on some tenor's...

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My sweet baby sister (AKA the traitor)
Has radars for ears and the mind of a spy,
She eavesdrops, twists facts, and then tattletales,
And proudly serves mom an elaborate lie.

I sweet talked, I begged, I bribed then...

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Wicked whispers, like hisses,
slithered throughout the office
when the disliked departed for the day.
Rotten hysteria blared
like beastly blasts.
Louder their voices leaped
as they could see that she was gone.
Like following lost sheep,
on and on they'd bleep
about her...

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Seeking a shred of purpose
to pass the remaining time
or play with dark spots
and flashes of thunder
and dreams of vespers?
Tenderly rummaging through memories of bones
and promises of fragile enchantments.

Who awaits us in the elder's shadow?
Who awaits...

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Planet of the Grapes


and so the grapes
conspired
met in secret bunches
eavesdropped 
on the vintners
during their
wine sipping lunches.

too win we must
subvert their minds
causing loss of  focus
torturously tenderize
rendering it “mocus”.

we must accept
our crushing fate
entombment in the
vintners cellar
convince...

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