Long Indictments Poems

Native American Translations

Cherokee Travelers' Blessing I
loose translation by Michael R. Burch

I will extract the thorns from your feet.
For yet a little while, we will walk life's sunlit paths together.
I will love you like my own...

Read More

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...

Read More

Salat Days
by Michael R. Burch 

(dedicated to my grandfather, Paul Ray Burch Sr.)

I remember how my grandfather used to pick poke salat ...
though first, usually, he’d stretch back in the front porch swing,
dangling his long...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

You have stained stars in your eyes tonight,
a gold glitter asunder as vast as any Past
stuck fast on this moon light sight,
give me softly the sultry sigh of a woman's strong age,
I am not passing...

Read More

This is a contest no ordinary
As you can judge it is about judges extraordinary
Especially the ones who overly judge
About nothing, in particular, nothing at all
They judge simply for the sake of judging
An expertise they have...

Read More

a life
sized to daily care
which does not occur
regularly nor properly

they don't care

It's just a mere fulfillment of
inflicted patterns
pushing you
to die through those papers

(don't sign them)

they've inserted your heart
in a metal cage
and corrosion imprinted soul
making words...

Read More

though she tells herself she trusts him
the minute he is out the door for an extended trip of business
she finds her way to his desk &
with suspicious fingers, she rummages through his things
looking for evidence...

Read More

When I dare return to the pages of my past

Turning each one with embarrassment and shame

With regret, remorse and self incrimination

I finally come to you

Like purifying balms you came to me

Luring me gently with a...

Read More

Black Magic Potions
                                ...

Read More

I'm on the path to a massive collapse like the NASDAQ
I never asked for your lack of compassion so you can have it back
and love is just a mask that we wear when we act...

Read More

Oh! The lighting bugs they light up with cry.
Tis a bright light, Oh! What an excitement;
A monster sails up in the dark night sky!

Its big and cheesy, just like a cheese tie. 
This beast has...

Read More

Mongrel Dreams
by Michael R. Burch

for Thomas Raine Crowe

...These nights bring dreams of Cherokee shamans
whose names are bright verbs and impacted dark nouns,
whose memories are indictments of my pallid flesh...
and I hear, as from a great...

Read More

You can lie in Wyoming,
they don’t care in Arizona,
you can mislead them in Mississippi
but don’t mess with Georgia.

You thought us “hicks from the sticks”
but we were wise to your tricks,
we just recorded your words,
now you’ll...

Read More

Keep the Lid On
There is no reason to throw away years of progress for a momentary,
    fit of anger,
        you will not obtain a profit...

Read More

So, I’m a Nazi poet because I promote wearing a mask,
Why do people write such ridiculous indictments, I ask?
‘Tis no problem if you believe differently than I do, friend,
But how many of the unvaxxed have...

Read More