Long Interviews Poems

I met a proper woman in a proper pub on a Monday in Peoria. It was noon, time for lunch, and we were sitting stool to stool over very large burgers at a long mahogany...

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Back Door Side Door Front Door : Which door might a Confucian take
 
..................for René ETIEMBLE (Jan. 26, 1909 – Jan. 7, 2002)*

In homage - dedicated to the Chair Professor of Comparative Literature
.................at the prestigious...

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I am sorry
about my judgmental,
sadly disdainful,
tone
in earlier messages.

Even worse,
I remain embarrassed
for spreading it out
for key staff
and leaders
to well-positioned see
and hear
and feel,
touched by wounded toxicity.

My training 
and experience
includes victimized by homophobia
and healing through community mediation.

Within this...

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The Story
by Kamal Nasser
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

I will tell you a story ...
a story that lived in the dreams of my people,
a story that comes from the world of tents.
It is a story...

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This situation has no basis in reality; in fact, it is ludicrously unreal. However, the likes and dislikes shown of its author are completely true!

Scene: A comfortable office where Andrea Dietrich is finishing up with...

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YOU ARRIVED ON CUE I SUPPOSE RIGHT AFTER THE CHRISTMAS DAY ARSONS MURDERS PROCLAIMING MY LIFE WAS IN GRAVE DANGER WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ARSON MURDER 8 ELDERLY PERSONS PARISHES PROCLAIMED MY EX HUSBAND...

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Fox News  reported the following:

The news media was having a blast with Fear. He was saying he was the greatest attorney, the most respected lawyer in the nation. He stated he helped the judge...

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Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Mary ll
Her seemingly eternal monarch--God has now beckoned
Balmoral Castle, reigned over the United Kingdom
"God Save The Queen" The British national anthem
21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022

“We are all visitors to this...

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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...

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May   2051

Damali was preparing for the big event
Beginning today "12:30 bright and
Early like my Dad said". Damali 
Was thinking. DJ was on video phone 
Now. "Hey Damali! You know who'll 
Be here today...

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Family. Love. BOOSTER


                                ...

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I cannot stop laughing at the soldier acting
I cannot stop laughing at the soldier gasping
Every time I turned around he is looking on the ground
Hiding under the communist cap with the features of a pussycat
If...

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These are poems about Ann Rutledge and her romantic relationship with Abraham Lincoln. 

Winter Thoughts of Ann Rutledge
by Michael R. Burch

Winter was not easy,
nor would the spring return.
I knew you by your absence,
as men are...

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The crime is snowed over, Translation of Pierre Emmanuel’s  Il neige sur le crime

Are we buried under snow holding our silence
in what immense Cimmerian (collision) of terror ?
The mouth kept open in the shriek...

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In my New England town
our local Democratic Party runs everything.

Some would argue these local celebrities
and self-promoting treasures
to posterity
rather over-run everything,
and surely we could find some truth
in this way of seeing,
but we are learning a spirit...

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YouthGroup interviews WiseElder lunch crowd

Notes:

(1) What do you recommend for improving our long-term health prospects?

Question met with quiet,
not smug,
possibly embarrassed?
amusement.


Honey,
I'm eighty years old.
My goal is to continue gracefully accepting my future losses.
I'm not sure that...

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Elvis Aaron Presley, Elvis, came from poor beginnings
born in Tupelo, Mississippi to Vernon and Gladys
this boy loved the gospel music in church . . . . 
at thirteen his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee 
when...

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I had a long argument today...
Whilst sitting by the 
surcharging charging airport port,
shouldertoshoulder with this pastor.

Delayed flight and low juice
kept us there, squared off;
shoulder to shoulder.

He with his Righteousness,
me with my Right View.
He with all...

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May  2051

Dear diary I think I'll try for a part
Time job which I just know beyond
Anything I'm gonna hate! So I'll work
It out um. Without a doubt. I just
Don't wanna sit at home to...

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          Corpus

                     in words 
designs 
...

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DISORIENTATION 

                
              Me always disoriented both...

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Growing up I was never the favorite
Never the good kid
Never given a chance
 
My outbursts were shut down
I was told to
Sit down
Shut up
Keep it together
 
My parents struggled to keep me in school
They never had...

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Learning disabled, hopelessly unemployed
Troy can't write the address for his next interview.
Warehouse stock, 331 Tiffany Street, in the Bronx.
His girlfriend, Trinity, also unemployed,
with one child by Troy. She's more resourceful
but doesn't realize it. For one...

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Crawl out of your peeping hole 
and face me like a man
You have been hiding for years
and paying people to do your sordid scam
For years you have taunted me
without showing any mercy
invading my privacy
monitoring my...

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Eric Clapton (born March 30, 1945, in Ripley, Surrey, England)
British guitarist who influenced rock.
Later became a famous singer-songwriter.
Clapton was born to a teen mom and a Canadian WWII soldier in England.
His grandparents mostly raised him.
He...

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