Long Hisses Poems

the Horror
by Michael R. Burch

the Horror lurks inside our closets
the Horror hides beneath our beds
the Horror hisses ancient curses
the Horror whispers in our heads

the Horror tells us Death is coming
the Horror tells us there’s no...

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These are prophetic poems and apocalyptic poems ...






Beast 666
by Michael R. Burch

“... what rough beast ... slouches toward Bethlehem to be born?”?W. B. Yeats

Brutality is a cross
wooden, blood-stained,
gas hissing, sibilant,
lungs gilled, deveined,
red flecks on a...

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Sonnets XLII-LI

Distances
by Michael R. Burch

Moonbeams on water?
the reflected light
of a halcyon star
now drowning in night...
So your memories are.

Footprints on beaches
now flooding with water;
the small, broken ribcage
of some primitive slaughter...
So near, yet so far.



A Surfeit of...

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A Vain Word
by Michael R. Burch

Oleanders at dawn preen extravagant whorls
as I read in leaves’ Sanskrit brief moments remaining
till sunset implodes, till the moon strands grey pearls
under moss-stubbled oaks, full of whispers, complaining
to the darkening...

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Sneaking into the museum to avoid the sudden rain
Raisin said, “I don’t want to get soaked right through again,
It was bad enough when that truck through that puddle dashed
And you and me - but mainly...

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Completing the Pattern
by Michael R. Burch

Walk with me now, among the transfixed dead
who kept life’s compact and who thus endure
harsh sentence here?among pink-petaled beds
and manicured green lawns. The sky’s azure,
pale blue once like their eyes,...

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MODERN SONNETS II

I prefer the original definition of the sonnet as a “little song” of indeterminate form and length. These modern sonnets vary from more-or-less traditional to free verse.



In Praise of Meter
by Michael R. Burch

The...

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Just a view on the inner critic. Every time I read what I wrote I see a different angle. This person never even opened their eyes. Some day you can't.

The day had begun. Simple. It...

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You’ll be a man tomorrow, child, yes,
If you respect animals and pristine nature,
If you don’t kill elephants for ivory,
If you don’t kill the whales for soap,

You’ll be a man if you can stop time
If you...

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Dave the host gives his TV audience his best gigantic I-am-Dave Smile.  “Today’s topic is guns.  Do you love them? Do you have them? Do we need more?  Do we absolutely love...

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My hair has always 
had a mind of its own
Stays doing whatever
it wants whenever 
it pleases
Just never bothers to do 
any of it, at my convenience
Will take its sweet time 
to grow 
When I'm most...

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Darkness swells from the depth of the sea,
waves crashes against waves,
the mad sea roars and vomits vengeance, 
it belches and yawns at the sound of her name.

They have been drifting for many days,
entranced with panic,...

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11. They came to devour and sin.
I was briefed by a cornucopia of beings:
From Torchwood, ARGUS, SHIELD and their kin;
The Talamasca, The Shop and MiB Greens;
A BPRD agent who was burning in Hell;
The Syndicate, Consortium,...

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Dear me, 
  I breathe you
in the pulse of erased promises ~ 
I'm a shadow in your space 
and not any voice which can be heard
    above restless mists, 
so, when...

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“When Hell Freezes Over”



He said, “One last kiss for my soul?”
as he lay supine life spilling onto his Last Sunset Road.

The sun had set long long ago.
She lent down, whispered in his ear
Cherry Ripe Red...

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.....Mommy walks and Jamie toddles inside the BIGGEST plane. 
Jamie thought he was inside its belly. The storm roars outside. 
The thunder is loud inside the metal beastie. They sit. Lightening flashes. 
Jamie screams “No!”...

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Around that lonely house by the hill
The stray cat prowls through
His eyes glowing like meteors in the dark
And his fur's fawn rough
The stray cat strolls to the casement
Meowing for succour
The owner-occupier sneaks with a rod
Ready...

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The witches ball,

Halloween is drawing near
As the leaves begin to fall,
They`re flying in from everywhere
For the annual witches ball.

Toothless hags from north to south
And crones from west to east,
They gather on all hallows eve
To share...

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I've always loved lizards, which explains a lot, 
My youth spent exploring what others would not. 
Our days at the park would find me in pursuit
Of speedy blue bellies (in long dry swim suit.)	
A butterfly...

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Her silhouette was the kitchen green
Of her grandmother's house wanting clean
Her eyes dim the overcast soul within
Little Alice had not a single ghostly friend
Moonlit shadows dancing of grays and soft black
Mocked the little soul in...

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would you ever walk into a hospital and make your presence known 
by storming into rooms and looking the patients in the eye
"your pain isn't real" and "just fix it yourself"
 falls out of your...

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They’re cute, little opossums; riding on Mama’s back; 
her tail rail, secures precious brood.  
They’ll grow to be lethal rats; 
they’ll try to eat your dog or cat and they will probably win their...

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T'is the time of year when things do go bump in the night
a time when witches come back to life ready to snatch a child
to boil up in their evil cauldron that walks and even...

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My fury and outrage remain unabated , it seethes like magma
and spreads itself throughout my being , it is barely contained
I shield it to keep the damage within , so it does not consume me
or...

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Darkness settles around the heart
Of one whose light trembles on the air
As the sadness pours over the soul
Who knows a loved one has gone away
The struggle, the grief, is like a soft rain
Never letting up,...

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