Long Gavels Poems

Enough!
by Michael R. Burch

It’s not that I don’t want to die;
I shall be glad to go.
Enough of diabetes pie,
and eating sickly crow!
Enough of win and place and show.
Enough of endless woe!

Enough of suffering and vice!
I’ve...

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World War II Poems and Holocaust Poems - IV - Primo Levi

Shema
by Primo Levi
translation by Michael R. Burch

You who live secure
in your comfortable houses, 
who return each evening to find
warm food, 
welcoming faces...

consider whether this...

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No! you weren’t born
to be beaten
raped
chained to a life  bloodstained  ingrained with pain
wordless  worthless  voiceless  choiceless  

No! you can’t live
being beaten
raped
chained to a life  profaned  restrained ...

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      As I fall into the buzzing altar of heavy 
metal shifting sand, maw, swirling sheets, 
illness drools plus plus halcyon?
drawn too many wrinkles...

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This is the home of the heartless 
Corporate concrete
Where you become captive 
To the same things you thought set you free
Where solutions to society's problems 
Don't correct anything 
Class is in session please pay attention
Only...

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The things I've been, the things I have been, the things I am, things I'm to be,
a symbol so dark, a sign so brite, a mark of the heart,
shadow of the soul,
rind of mind,
as the...

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"The Green Bruise of Daylight" 

A person can die for love
one sees red
the other sees blue
purple bruises

one sees red 
alarm lights siren
purple bruises 
detach into the grey

alarm lights siren
there is no more singing
detaches into the...

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10/7/16


I've done

Seen them fold and flop
Will it ever get old or stop?
Regardless of if it's cold or hot
Many talked and told a lot
And the sight of their own goals were lost

When push comes to shove
Blood...

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Marbles

The reds, the blues, yellows and greens
Some dark, some light, no ‘semblage of means
A simple man, with simple dreams
A hardened heart with softened pleas

As I think too much, and mumble about
I worry aloud as the...

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Whatever happens when days counted as weeks?

And years counted as astrological countdowns

What ever happened to disco rap battling drums?

On streets filled graffiti and sand castles

Whatever happens to shoes with no laces?

And bras with no straps

Backpack...

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There are words that I want to say to the corrupt judges
But I am too civilized and decent to put them on paper
Most judges in this mess have their brain on crutches
They collude with double-dealing...

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'Here-comes-The-She--riff'/'And-his-second-trusted-Deputy'
'They-chea-ted-and-were-shot-de--ead'/'By-the-new-Ma-yo--or'/ 'Bob-Mar-ley'

'If-their-left-foot-takes-an-in--nch'/'And-their-right-foot-takes-a-lengthier-mile'
'Hand-law-a-forty-fi--ive'/'And-make-that-bestnerd-hop-with-a-smile'

'Your-dancing-half-you-spun-le--eft'/'You-alone-with-Suave-south-for-a-drive' 
'Not-as-Missing-Per--sons'/'Posters-as-being-Wan-ted-Dead-or-Alive'

'Your-thrones-King's-and-Que--een's'/'The-Court-Jester-made-his-sweet-sixteen'
'Queen-is-expec-ti--ing'/'King's-glad-Jester-fa-ces-le-Guil-lo-tine'

'Judges-and-Ju--dy's'/'This-here-courtroom-is-in-repossession'
'Gavels-get-rea--dy'/'And-assault-with-deadly-precision'

'Guilty-as-cha--arged'/'Throw-the-book-at-um-as-they-cry-out-ouch!'
'Innocent-is-set-fre--ee'/'After-those-they-accused-gouged-their-eyes-out!'

'Kamala-is-the-fel--la'/'Lady-Justice-like-the-blindfolders-spawn'
'The-Justices-all-wa--atched'/'As-U.-S.-Constitution-burned-on-the-lawn'

'Pu-tin's-confus--sion'/'Non-goes-front-or-back-of-fic--ti--on'
'Tales-from-Tsar's-wo--ods'/'Rasputin-Myname-front- or-back-a-muse'

'Biden-casta--Net's'/'And-Yahoo's-all-over-Is-ra-el'
'Joe-cuts-China-tea--time'/'Pekoe-dives-inside-Starbuck's-swimming-pool'...

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Well said, my poetically challenged friend... 

Your insight is deep and telling of your sage, 
Even if I can not understand your poetic wage, 

Tell us more of your triumphs and travels, 
And don't leave...

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Well said, my poetically challenged friend... 

Your insight is deep and telling of your sage, 
Even if I can not understand your poetic wage, 

Tell us more of your triumphs and travels, 
And don't leave...

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Dove

Remembering what was,
in the hope of could be.

The sword of my being
rises up within the wake of destruction.
No more lead by heart.  No more cluttered mind.
Only truth, light
and now belief.

A soiled dove.
Broken within brokenness.
Has...

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We must do better inspite
of many who might
wish to impose
their fiefdom on those
with a new resolution to press
in the halls of congress.

We have to get better at
conference reports that
only bring more confusion
to our hallowed institution
as...

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