Long Hopkins Poems

Epitaph for a Palestinian Child
by Michael R. Burch

I lived as best I could, and then I died.
Be careful where you step: the grave is wide.



Autumn Conundrum
by Michael R. Burch

It's not that every leaf must finally...

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Juvenilia: Early Poems XI

Myth
by Michael R. Burch

after the sprung rhythm of Dylan Thomas

Here the recalcitrant wind
sighs with grievance and remorse
over fields of wayward gorse
and thistle-throttled lanes.

And she is the myth of the scythed wheat
hewn and...

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Radiance
by Michael R. Burch

for Dylan Thomas

The poet delves earth’s detritus—hard toil—
for raw-edged nouns, barbed verbs, vowels’ lush bouquet;
each syllable his pen excretes—dense soil,
dark images impacted, rooted clay.

The poet sees the sea but feels its meaning—
the...

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These are poems about Dylan Thomas, as well as poems "for" and "after" Dylan Thomas. Dylan Thomas was one of my favorite poets from my early teens and has remained so over the years. I...

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Myth, after Dylan Thomas
by Michael R. Burch

Here the recalcitrant wind
sighs with grievance and remorse
over fields of wayward gorse
and thistle-throttled lanes.

And she is the myth of the scythed wheat
hewn and sighing, complete,
waiting, lain in a low...

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JUSTICE DEPARTMENT MEDICAL RELEASE MEDICATION LIST MEDICAL CARE FOR A CONFIDENTIAL HUMAN SOURCE INFORMANT FOR THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 

PTSD RESULTING FROM WEARING WIRES PREGNANT FOR THE FBI MEDICATION KLONOPIN BUSPRIONE LEXAPRO 20 MG...

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*last winter break*

I woke up abruptly, my chest gripped and tight. My face felt hot but my arms stung as if frostbitten. I gasped for air that wouldn’t come, as if I had a plastic...

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Lisa and I went to a reception, yesterday evening, for students who’d landed summer fellowships at a particular hospital in Boston. (Yeah us!) It wasn’t formal, so I wore a crimson cropped sweater, a beige...

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The forgotten god
 
Whose rage should burn hotter
than mine; melt the noon day sun,
dry up all thy rivers, scorch the earth, that
thy crops may burn to ashes before
thine eyes, and the heat from the
very earth...

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The music more or less acts as a sequel to the poem. 
Please click onto the music when cued in the poem and continue enjoying it. 

The Girl
She looks down at her shoes, they’re nice
An...

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Dedicated to Valerie Haper, actress and John Denver, singer!
Who were just wo, of hundreds who launched  the Hunger Project,
In 1976!
Original title was a Salute to Valerie Haper. But it was not
adequate. It was more...

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The school year’s ending.  ‘Spring Fling’ is tonight (Saturday) the biggest event (concert) of the year, and next week - final exams. It’s hard to believe that I’ll be a senior in about 2...

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What will I pack for lunch at work?
I gather healthful foods in the morning:
Nuts? Dark chocolate? A salad with croutons?
Perhaps organic crackers with cheese
or maybe a nice sandwich -
tuna, egg salad, or a BLT.
Driving home,...

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beMUSEd
by Michael R. Burch

Perhaps at three
you'll come to tea,
to have a cuppa here?

You'll just stop in
to sip dry gin?
I only have a beer.

To name the "greats":
Pope, Dryden, mates?
The whole world knows their names.

Discuss the "songs"
of...

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Poems about Poets VI

beMused
Michael R Burch

Perhaps at three
you'll come to tea,
to have a cuppa here?

You'll just stop in
to sip dry gin?
I only have a beer.

To name the greats:
Pope, Dryden, mates?
The whole world knows their names.

Discuss...

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(1.) First poem
In Our Feasts, We Both Drank Lover's Wine
Second poets tribute series third poet Gerard Manley Hopkins

Blood that entices with its red-glow appeal
Its bright warmth into a wanton soul seeks
She that drove passion, ate...

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Bud Rowder grew up in wind-swept Kansas,
lived a farming life until the age of nine,
when Arapaho raiders charged on in,
poor Bud was the only one to survive.

He’d hidden behind a large, flat rock,
in the rushing...

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The Cottonmouth King

I, The Cottonmouth King creep 
out from under my rock; 
I penetrate the depth of your soul 
Blood runs on damp streets 
claiming another life
Drama tastes of bitter swallows, 
escaping from guillotine’s wrath,...

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In Our Feasts, We Both Drank Lover's Wine,
Second poets tribute series, third poet Gerard Manley Hopkins

Blood that entices with its red-glow appeal
Its bright warmth into a wanton soul seeks
She that drove passion, ate my youthful...

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I.
Bob Harney was riding upon the evening stage,
worried they’d not reach Pelltown before light did fade,
he hoped they didn’t have to spend the night camping out,
they’d heard the Arapahos were raiding around.

The others in the...

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Watching Beth interact with her Kindergarten class mates was precious to watch. Beth was a lovely little girl with big brown eyes, who was very affectionate.
 One afternoon, the school principal, called Beth's mom and...

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MOTHER AND CHILD  
      
  Behind each person there is a woman who raises up the being,   
   gets child acquainted with world, the...

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Bud’s eyes went wide, and he tried to speak,
But the older man’s stare shut him down.
“Let me tell you, vagrant with no folks,
the words that I hear whispered in town…”

He scowled. “They talk of a...

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let every old woman with a wrinkled face,
she should be aware,she lives in disgrace,
a furrowed brow,hairy lip and single tooth,
know me well,i'll get the truth.
a squinty eye and scolding tongue,
the squeaky voice she's had from...

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WHERE TO BEGIN I LOVE MAN  BECAUSE GOD MADE ME FILLED WITH DESIRE FOR MAN A GIFT TO MAN THERE WAS JOHN TERRY ALFRED HENRY CIRO LARRY ANTHONY CHARLES RETIRED SHERIFF THERE WAS DON...

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