Long Grandchildren Poems

Angry FireGod sneers sarcasm,
"Not warm enough yet?"
"Still too much clean water and air
and other healthy stuff,
like sun-baked red chili peppers?"

Excuse me,
I was under the impression
that I invited you for my interview,
which would involve me asking...

Read More

With my Uyghur poetry translations I am trying to build awareness of the plight of Uyghur poets who are being sent to Chinese "reeducation" concentration camps.

Elegy
by Perhat Tursun
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Asylum seekers, will...

Read More

Imagine we live in an eco-normative story
of competing for wealth-commodities,
cash piled in quantifiable currencies,
collectively blinded to our Win-Win
natural economic,
ecological,
psychological,
biological health and well-being 
nurturing value roots.

One day, our PolyCultural Received View
unveils a co-operatively synergetic evolution 
of...

Read More

A Night On A Wharf

The couple decide to walk. The boardwalk still lit at this late hour guides them. They walk hand in hand,..whispering softly with small talk...solemn.,. lonely , yet together. The walk is...

Read More

REGGIE WHITE SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS AT UNIVERSITY MALL THE DAY YJAY TOWNSEND JOHNSON HENRY PLOTTED TO HAVE ME MURDERED OVER MY POETRY THE KILLERS LAY AWAITING FOR ANDREWS TAHOE TO PULL IN THEY PARKED IN FRONT...

Read More

On this day 40 years ago in 1978 my mother, Jacqueline Anne Trestrail, left this world after a relatively short battle with cancer - she was 46. Jimmy Carter was President and Annie Hall won...

Read More

“I thought about the former days, the years of long ago.” * 

If you saw something beautiful in a people, a place, a thing;
If you heard about something captivating and fantastic;
If you felt something soothing...

Read More

“I thought about the former days, the years of long ago.” Psalms 77:5 NIV

If you saw something beautiful in a people, a place, a thing;
If you heard about something captivating and fantastic;
If you felt something...

Read More

Dear Siblings Three,

I was reading a story
in which some siblings became estranged
after their parents died,
while others moved toward greater solidarity.

This is a variation on a diaspora story.
But, here growing physical distance
is seen more as a...

Read More

Let's say I am an antro-privileged terrorist.

What would we be saying? 
And is human nature supremacy
over all other less sacred nature/spirits
as monotheistically redundant
as anthro-industrious militarism?

If you are a HolySpirit panentheist,
is "religious terrorist" as oxymoronic
as using...

Read More

I am an Outlander
Who lives on a high hill
Overlooking a man-made lake
That once was a rapidly rushing river
Along whose banks the Ozarks Bluff Dwellers and the Osage and then Delaware
Hunted, fished, and created shelter
For their...

Read More

America First
speaks a RightWing monocultural intention
currently championed by Trumpians
and Republican Aristocracy of Evangelism 
Tea Partiers,
by xenophobic paranoids
and sociopathic pharisee fascists,
by economically blind
deaf
and angry 
bigoted
terrified shouters;
just the opposite of dumb,
yet not cooperatively mindful either
of our global...

Read More

Black Town Fort Myers Florida Living in hiding for many years after the fbi relocated my family to Ohio after a very long investigation in corrupt officers selling drugs in the city of North chicago...

Read More

Date:  October   2051

Back at the main house Polly became reacquainted with everybody. Mama Lucinda entered from the path door. Recall their
Cool relationship Polly played her hand carefully. 
"Hello Misses Hakim. So happy...

Read More

When the StraightWhite Patriarchal President
sent out his Praise and Thanks Message
"We love you"
to those who would cathartically enjoy beheading
VicePresident St. Peter's Pence 
loves homophobic St. Paul,

This felt like too much tolerating
an unconstitutional intolerable
absence of basic...

Read More

A situation or state of confused movement or violent turmoil. (dictionary definition #2 of Maelstrom)

Today’s opinions are so contrasting and divisive that nobody seems to know up from down!
I believe fairly strongly in what I...

Read More

Rewind
By Julia Shaw

At seventy-two my life has been so very fine,
That I'd like to push a button and just rewind.
I'd go back to my wedding day so exciting
And marry again the man I found so...

Read More

                           The wind is blowing cold tonight 

 ...

Read More

Many of you live
humbly and heartily
patriotically and industriously
nutritiously and faithfully
in Western and Southern States,

United in this time of shrinking reservoirs,
dying rivers,
hurricaned coastal residents

Displaced by floods,
invasive mold,
voracious rot and rats,

Barren top soil,
failing electrical networks,
drought,
inhumane heat,
decimated forests

Bereft...

Read More

There was a noble sadness hiding in her eyes.
She wears a smile, though elements of insecurities
Trembled in its corners...
Dignity and suffering, combating
for the control of her expression.
Hiding the battle scars of her life; 
Intending to...

Read More

Joyce Letitia Richmond-Solomon (A servant of God and a friend to man)

Every life has its seasons and God has created each individual for a purpose. Blessed and happy are those who discover their purpose and...

Read More

I was born fifty years ago on April 10th 1964
Looking back through the years I began to explore

My mama said when it was time for me to be born
I decided to come early and fast...

Read More

What are some differences
between post-millennial Trumpism
and pre-millennial Republicanism?

I know...I know!
Republicans used to be fiscal conservatives
but now support a one trillion dollar deficit
per unaffordable health and safety care year,

Expanded deficit spending 
despite taking more from not...

Read More

A LETTER TO ‘FUTURE ME’

              Dear ‘Future Me’
              ...

Read More

Mine own son
God, did bless me
sunshine that's mind
mine own heart's petals bloom 
joy i did shed while i did see thee
in mine arms wast w'rthwhile

lullabies sung as thee didst lie in thy crib 
meaningful mem'ries...

Read More