Long Fealty Poems

Come, You
by Rainer Maria Rilke
loose translation by Michael R. Burch

This was Rilke’s last poem, written ten days before his death. He died open-eyed in the arms of his doctor on December 29, 1926, in the...

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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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Saturday, September 23, 2023  

Coincides with first day of fall
and Autumnal equinox for said year,
where colorful splash kindled like tinder.

After I riff flecked about thee August
Autumn Equinox 2023,
this seasonal polymath teached you 
fall Equinox...

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Dot dot dot, and in other news devil's advocate claims Teflon Trump

courtesy the comfort of his mancave, 
I (a mutated batman wannabe) 
doth prattle and stump
and display wide whirled webbed 
and variegated tail feathers 
(also...

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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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Thou, O king, hast made a decree, 
that every man that shall hear the
sound of the cornet, flute, harp,
sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, 
and all kinds of musick, shall fall
down and worship the golden image:
And whoso...

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In America June 14th equals flag day
and in Pennsylvania a federal holiday.

"...I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the republic for which it stands. One nation under god...

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Neigh say being  corralled & cult shod 

"Sic semper evello mortem tyrannis"
translation = thus always I 
bring death to tyrants.”

Above the fray of twittering, 
squabbling, and madding crowds,
an arrogantly belligerent creature deified, 
yet vilified...

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Joseph Robinette Biden Junior

The last prescient perspicacious politician, 
who presided at the White House
ran out of office despite victorious landslide win
most Democrats gave their signed, 
sealed, and delivered grudging approval, 
but could not stem the...

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...cont

His sleep was tormented,
each sound he heard playing upon his dreams,
until the sweet notes he remembered
floated into his ears like the gentleness of down.
Following the sound he was surprised
to see his lovely companion sitting quite...

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Every January first of the new year...

finds me (a doggone muttering Homo sapien)
to give pause for reminiscences
and to take stock (sh lock and barrel)
about mein kampf in general
and previous three hundred
and sixty five days in...

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Rebellious nonestablishmentarian Pennsylvania Yankee...
honored at freedom fête
of course in my dreams
where Tony the Tiger
roars Matthew Scott Harris 
ranks as one hip cat gr-r-eat
showcasing adroitness
with ability to turn a phrase
evident if we could arrange a tête-à-tête
where...

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Inevitable death defines afterlife

I mull mortality 
thru lens crafted occipital orbs
regarding a better future
experience sing a space oddity – 
whar incessant yaks
exuding a big hurt
emanate as cosmic atomic 
bipedal hominids replete roof lee wax
during a...

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Existentialism emancipation proclamation manumission...

Flourishes amidst freedom 
once invisible (alice in) chains shucked
when soul no longer kept linkedin 
to jane's addiction 
with corporeal duty, entity, fealty... 
while formerly shed body electric 
gendered as former googly eyed...

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Devil's advocate claims Teflon Trump...

The demagogue reincarnate 
feels gifted to reign supreme
captivates, glorifies, lauds, 
renounces, yawps extreme
views bellows dogmatic fulminations
in an attempt to redeem
stolen 2020 capital one bid.

Which hunter (biden his time) 
will reap grim...

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Part 7

The Atheist was a Man who thought much of himself
    And would not brook any measure of social compliance.
So no matter the 'who,' he would not suffer their views,
  ...

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THE NOCTURNAL DELIGHT OF MEPHISTOPHELES - PART TWO (CONTINUED):

The stage was now set . . . from nowhere, Mephisto handed me a missive in 
Medieval Latin to read. He said, “Young poet, the hour is...

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Free association comprises ratiocination...

Bonafide catatonic doggedness,
nevertheless this stubborn stoic poet writ
afore and another feeble effort courtesy
exhaustive mental effort
he brewed den - brought about divine visit
analogously to solve mystery pinpointing
within suspense unveiling whodunnit.

Whereat your true
plane vanilla...

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Free association comprises ratiocination...

Bonafide catatonic doggedness,
nevertheless this stubborn stoic poet writ
afore and another feeble effort courtesy
exhaustive mental effort
he brewed den - brought about divine visit
analogously to solve mystery pinpointing
within suspense unveiling whodunnit.

Whereat your true
plane vanilla...

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I was a Taoist
philosophically and spiritually
metaphysically and physically
long before my Public Administration classes.

Which may be poignantly of interest
because the original Taoist teacher,
LaoTse,
taught sensory experiences
of Yang-testosterone energy
and Yin-estrogen synergy
for a bicameral governing audience
with questions about how...

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Dump Trump - The demagogue Hitler reincarnate!

Countdown to Armageddon 
precariously, lugubriously, hellaciously, 
and deleteriously hinges
potential apocalypse now outcome, 
mere smattering weeks away
if the brazen, fierce-some 
amazing dragon doth don
trumps presidential throne -
ships with whistling ...

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(1.)

(*I wish I didn't know now, what I didn't know then.*)
Bob Seger, song lyric, from, " Against The Wind"...

I Wish I Didn't Know Now, What I Didn't Know Then

I recall rambunctious racing boy of a...

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Daemons within gray matter of this male run amuck...

hence yours truly (me)
seeks mental health services 
without any luck
even after reading Scripture 
from my namesake who exuded pluck
after paging thru 
the AETNA Medicare directory,
whether a group...

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TIME WILL TELL

A modest planet and quietly progressing
Troubling no other and fealty confessing
 Surviving well enough and paying its dues;
 Quiet corner of the galaxy. No foreseen surprise to bemuse

The ruling committee were in contented...

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