Long Helm Poems

Medieval Poems



Deor's Lament (Anglo Saxon poem, circa 10th century AD)
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Weland knew the agony of exile.
That indomitable smith was wracked by grief.
He endured countless troubles:
sorrows were his only companions
in his frozen...

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Conditions were harsh out in Kansas,
For the children and Sarah and Paul.
Neighbors and friends packed up and were gone;
Headed west they could hear fortune's call.
Never sure year to year of the harvest,
So their talents were...

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Sweet Rose of Virtue
by William Dunbar (c. 1460-1530)
loose translation/modernization/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

after William Dunbar

Sweet rose of virtue and of gentleness,
delightful lily of youthful wantonness,
richest in bounty and in beauty clear
and in every virtue that...

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The Philistine troops gathered up for war,
Between Azekah and Socoh amassed.
Israel encamped near in Elah vale
And drew a line against the number vast.
There Saul, upon one mountain, made a stand,
To face the other tribe across...

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These are prophetic poems and apocalyptic poems ...



The Vision of the Overseer’s Right Hand
by Michael R. Burch

“Dust to dust ...”

I stumbled, aghast,
into a valley of dust and bone
where all men become,
at last, the same color...

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These are prophetic poems and apocalyptic poems about the earth, climate change, global warming, extinction events, and mankind's role on an endangered world ...



Polish
by Michael R. Burch

Your fingers end in talons?
the ones you trim to...

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Placed First in:
This or That Vol 22 Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Edward Ibeh                       ...

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Date:  May  2051

Damian CJ Adonis and Kyon watched
As did family and other relatives did
Also, while quite many new players
Replaced other younger players
That needed a break. CJ  announced 
The new players on the...

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Date:  June  2046
 
Damian traveled into town to 
Observe results of the Deuces 
Bar renovation. Joshua Godfrey 
Barrington Shadir and Matthias 
We're in the gym trying to play 
A type of cruel ball...

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Date: March  2051

The next Hawaiian rendezvous:
Warm Hawaiian breeze. Wooo! This
Is LIFE!!! Holly scream for Dolly and 
Molly to hear. Molly said, "We should 
Explore as long as we're here. This place
Is full of curiosities."...

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In the silky night, dotted with mystery,
Where the moon's thread weaves shadows on the paths,
The heart, a thin garment, a flash in the ether,
Listens as the time from the hourglass seeps away,
And its rhythm, a...

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Date:   April  2050

Same day:  
Damian walked with 
Godfrey Barrington Shadir and Matthias 
Isiah the others across to the
Other side of The estate to visit Desharah 
Damali and Sedanah. Arrival was
Swift. Damali...

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Number forty seven - White House occupant against all odds...

regarding President elect 
Donald John Trump.

As a cruel joke to self,
I imagined myself as a Republican
for that one glorious day
voting for the candidate
who clinched the nomination
as...

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PART 1:          THE MEETING

Alone one night neath lantern light, I trudged a weary mile.
Forlorn, I went with shoulders bent (the storms around me howled)
until I met...

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The views and opinions herewith extemporized to spur discourse with me, or to be mindful when exercising the right to vote in the country of your existence, which expressed intimation predicated upon read reliable publications...

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                                  ...

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A rising sun in the east does appear
  from St. Augustine to St. Clair,
to loose me from sleep’s tranquil hold
  and dreams of serendipities of old -
to rise again the boy I was...

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“The ribbon is cut
 The die is cast
 The cement is dry
 Yet nothing lasts
 The brazen rewarded
 The hero a fool
 All reason outdated
 New fury the tool”

A journey presented
Your ship to go far
With...

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Isis staind 26+ years of marriage

Yes, believe me you, 
I (also considered the best karaoke singer
for the go-go's) 
putting Shabrina Leonita to shame
back in two thousand and twenty one
once flew high as the eagles 
a...

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Putin non gmo gluten free cheese on the ritz as a celiac to follow

Initially written March 18th, 2023
and revised exactly two years later
tweaking the poem here and there
courtesy adding or subtracting Nabisco  
National Biscuit...

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See as a child having a child he was my saving grace, allowing me to refocus my path to a better place, Where he could grow and flourish, So I developed him to nourish, Through...

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SOJOURN THROUGH TAROTSPACE

Let me tell you a story,
Of a deck of cards, in all its glory.
Well, some will say, what’s the big deal?
To them my humble reply, come, conquer, and heal.

The story is my take,
On...

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Orchestrated they succumb onto her board scene ~ As success thrills the ordained Queen of mean—poet

Once upon a time,  there was a Queen with a magic flute in her throat
Beknownst to all the villagers...

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Darius was the Medo-Persian king,
Which means he was in charge of everything.
One hundred twenty satraps gave account,
So he would have an up-to-date amount;
All this so that he might not suffer loss.

‘Since that’s a lot of...

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I figured this wouldn’t be read because of its length, so why not just post it and get it over with

Love is my ocean 

~

Placed on a mantle, the ship torn and tattered
Its bottle long...

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