Long Estimation Poems

Turkish Poetry Translations II

Çanakkale Sehitlerine
"For the Çanakkale Martyrs"
by Mehmet Akif Ersoy
loose English translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Was there ever anything like the Bosphorus war??
The earth’s mightiest armies pressing Marmara,
Forcing entry between her mountain passes
To a...

Read More

What Kind of People Are We

In a Shakespearean sense of tragedy and doubt the well-used
“To Be or Not To Be” from Hamlet is not the question I shall
discuss in this narrative. Rather, I shall consider...

Read More

They came from as far a way as New York and Dallas Texas. The class of 1981 wasn't a large class, it was the very first class of a very very private school. Their school,...

Read More

Mehmet Akif Ersoy: Modern English Translations of Turkish Poems

Mehmet Âkif Ersoy (1873-1936) was a Turkish poet, author, writer, academic, member of parliament, and the composer of the Turkish National Anthem.



Snapshot
by Mehmet Akif Ersoy
loose English translation/interpretation...

Read More

The figurative nail hit on the hirsute covered head!

Eventually vices will witness me crow king
cough'n affliction caw hearse courtesy 
smok'n since me yay high,
hence appellation (mountain) wheezer 
natural set of adult teeth (rotten to the...

Read More

Yeah, Right!


A friend of ours from years gone by - his name was Chester Colfax - though slightly strange, was still a real nice guy. 
But every tale he ever told was laced with so...

Read More

Among the theories of origins, the Genesis account stands as chief,
Logical, coherent, and concise, among its peers it stands in stark relief,
Its poetic style, elegant literary structure, and distinctive motif,
Contribute to an account that for...

Read More

What do I see? I see ... THE ALL ...

The chance to kiss deep the matter, dark, and merge with the macrocosm ... to
embrace the tremble of strings, like the fingertips of a lustful god,...

Read More

It seems appropriate this Easter Sunday [4/21/19] as I write this to ask THE question humans have asked since we developed our unique-- to the animal kingdom-- self-awareness: is death the meaning of life? Are...

Read More

Mine Mean Mien, Hence Deserved Cross To Bare

Upon reflection of fatherhood,
onset of hands-on schooling 
fraught with narcissism
a role I lept in unaware 
with slim success
unknowingly portending how fatuous

frolics spelled ultimate doom
with theoretical strings attached,
when snagged,...

Read More

Now With Increasing Darkness O'erhead

Bleating at the rain, the despondent sheep
Their days and nights aching in blinded sleep;
Til masters, their dominated lives take
With true evil, which they never forsake,
For greed and lust demands taking it...

Read More

It took some heavy digging and a lot of clever research.
But scientists have now explained in full detail how evolution works.
Finally it all comes together after much debate and so much time.
(To appeal to the...

Read More

I’d extend an invitation
to all in the congregation
through this speech of inspiration
which is quite a compilation
yet I expect no adulation
and no gest of adoration
for in my own estimation
it’s a trifle occupation
clearing out the obfuscation
of a...

Read More

The new 950-ton bridge would beat
down time dashing to classes cheat
ting vulnerability asper thick traffic 
     putting life at risk, 
     thus laudatory alternative
 
     intending to offer Sweetwater 
     to last a lifetime would...

Read More

I write in the cuneiform stylings of the Sumerian
But, somehow, this system won't allow my brand of hieroglyphics
To print out
So, sadly, I must communicate through this jumbled network of characters
And, therefore, I will speak as...

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

Tomorrow is an illusion
It relies on assumption
Of the planet’s rotation
On the seasons’ migration
And the moon’s revolution
On man’s innovation 
And his evolution
For his interpretation
Or insinuation
And theorisation
On Law’s of gravitation
Using invention
And his powers of investigation
And logical deduction
To...

Read More

Larger stop signs are required by the law
Traveling at the speed of light is not legal
Going slow in Leonia is down right evil

All things are prohibited in Bergen County
They don't like strangers either
Like out of...

Read More

A cacophony of cheers
Sand sprays like fireworks
From feet, hands, ball, hair.
Four women, two-a-side,
In a battle for the ages.

A motion of fluidity and a
Knowledge brought forth
From years in the fray.
Sun, rain, the elements,
Just more adversaries

In a...

Read More

Encapsulation Versus Elaboration...

Therefore, I opted to
reduce heavy sedation
within unsuspecting reader rabbit
summarization superseded elaboration,
less reason spurring salacious secretion
i.e. a-z expletive epithet, et cetera laced

verbalization crucifixion subsequently,
neither nameless nincompoop (me)
crossing verboten drive,
nor this ditto anonymous
poetic purveyor to...

Read More

This piece could be, I suppose, a kind of "bucket list", but it's not about regretting all the things I wanted to do in my life and didn't, but, rather, it's about being okay with...

Read More

1.
“Communion of saints, forgiveness of sins,”
Worship words recited, relationships
Reflected among restless, inconstant,
Imperfect people, somehow sharing a
Faith which makes them one. I appropriate
These sacred words to speak in hallowed
Terms to the bond which unites our two...

Read More

FIXATION	

There was music    of course
Not the usual sort of girl    at least in my fixated estimation
Jump rope
“Winnie the Pooh”
Teddy bear
These survivors unto high school and through
Rather a “flower child’...

Read More

Walk does he not the specter of death, 
His saith raised high, even he himself has had
Enough killing, on the battlefield of Gettysburg,
Satan screams, stop sons of men, truly war
Is hell on earth.
Time's spiritual voices...

Read More

The sage green wall had worn a blank look
until, slightly askew, with a tilt to the left
dangling helplessly, without a complaint 
is the pride of an artist, who lacked all constraints.

He dipped into his paints...

Read More