Long Keepsake Poems

Poem revised Memorial Day May 30th, 2022 at 1500 hours

Flagrante delict adulterous sordid behavior 
automatically linkedin with Lothario;
an unscrupulous seducer of women, 
based upon a character 
in The Impertinent Curious Man, 
a story within a...

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Rejection Slips 2

The Shape of Mourning
by Michael R. Burch
 
The shape of mourning
is an oiled creel
shining with unuse,
 
the bolt of cold steel
on a locker
shielding memory,

the monthly penance
of flowers,
the annual wake,
 
the face in the...

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Salvation of a Formalist, an Ode to Entropy
by Michael R. Burch

Entropy?
God's universal decree
That I get to be
Disorderly?
Suddenly
My erstwhile boxed-in verse is free?
Wheeeeee!



Eternal Currents
by Michael R. Burch

How can I write and not be true
to the rhythm...

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In the heart where your naivety resides
you wonder what haunts the sun
and why pain enjoys your childhood eyes,
when you see warm blood run
then you know that death can color
and like you, death loves a dramatic...

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I’m on my way, I’ve got to go
(the reasons why you’ll never know),
whisked away in winter’s winds, your sleeping sighs remind me.
And I’ll ramble where I please,
sometimes slipping to my knees,
phantom memories a’ chasing close...

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I was wiping the dust off an old snow globe in the upstairs attic, when a mop of honey-blonde hair suddenly appeared through the wooden flooring.
     "I thought I'd find you...

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By George (burn hing* hard), I Shaw tried to be a stinking playwright

offers his unsolicited tidbits 
as scene courtesy 
the following virtually 
staged philosophical insight.

Arch back like 
a professional ballet dancer 
to stand out from...

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Excerpt from “fake” encomium given years ago... 
at Lake Wobegone High School (my alma mater), 

and recently discovered ridiculous rough draft
amidst plethora of junk emails
while practice reading some lines 
regarding Midsummer Night's Dream 
upcoming performance.

Arch...

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By George (burning hard), I Shaw tried to playwright

offers his unsolicited tidbits 
as scene courtesy 
the following virtually 
staged philosophical insight.

Arch back like 
a professional ballet dancer 
to stand out from other pedestrian applicants 
seeking...

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Sexually explicit meme more real day

originally written May 31st, 202_
humorously, posthumously, 
and tempestuously expressing woes
from the top of my talking head 
to gnarly nails of 
(this little piggy fame) toes
in sore need and want 
of...

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_ _ _ _While walking one day in crisp autumn air, 
On the edge of the sidewalk,  I saw it so clearly_ _ _ _

         ...

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silently wailing analogy to Moby Dick 
regarding how yesterdays 
prurient laced introductions 
to rhyme in retrospect embarrassingly blows.

Herewith to enliven anecdote ever further,
I inject humorous tidbit
just gimme moment to unload and reach
into psychological metaphorical knapsack
particularly...

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"Symposium"



where do you go 
when you try to 
dream your place

in my life 

gone now 
from your 
quicksand shores

once I rolled over 
placed my mouth 
against your throat

what used to be

as if you 
could transfer
some...

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Black Iraqi Woman
Written by Faleeha Hassan
Translated from the Arabic by William Hutchins
Shortly before my father died, he whispered to me longingly: “Daughter, treasure this, because it authenticates your heritage to our kinsfolk!” When I accepted...

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*Image of Until We Meet Again by MVid.

A Heavenly Christmas List

An endearing Christmas list too precious to reserve
as a blessed season occasions its heartfelt deserve;

My older brother was the firstborn,
he was well-skilled, seemingly self-born,
a cunning...

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As a writer of fiction novels, I positively basked in my work,
Story ideas lived in my head, as blue stars at twilight lurk.

Yes, I was a successful writer, and had many zealous readers,
As vee shaped...

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SPRINGTIME MEMORIES



Mountain sentinels
By ancient town;
Clear waters cascade


Cobblestone streets
Winding pavements;
Trade offerings buzz


Fertile plains
Crystal clear waters;
Shady trees guard


Treasure-hunting stroll...
Through Lijiang Old Town;
Curiosity detours


So many things to see
Pleasant fare tempting;
Buying spree bargains


Artisans at work
Township flings open trade;
Silver metal...

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When in a jam, I try to preserve meditative trance

Synonymous with light hypnotic mode
inhaling and exhaling diffusing anger
lest mine noggin would explode
rhythmic breaths flowed
sustained me red nose (think Rudolph) glowed.

Holistic approach to derive peace of...

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Alfredo always abhorred angry approaches
After an amigo accosted after an argument
And, afterward, Alfredo abstained arguing,

Because blackening bruises betrayed blather
Berniccio blindly behaved better, bravely
Becoming brotherly before blasting bullies!

Carefully commandeering calmer Carlos,
Claiming cool comradeship courageously
Communicated clever candid...

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Are you the butterfly
while in my dreams
I flit after Soshi?
—Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

It's not at all anxious to bloom,
the plum tree at my gate.
—Kobayashi Issa, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

The red...

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Do you hear them?

Woodland creature amidst the thicket, drawn, oblivious to indifference beneath 
heavenly luminescence.
And I, baring admiration in acknowledgement, plea to the awakening of your 
fellow ear as companion.
Fields breathe life of their expulsion.
Shall...

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that's how they do it you know
come into your community
into your loving arms
find a small part of your city to overtake
put up their businesses
take away yours
offers of early retirement
subtle ways of letting you know your...

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A Family home stands empty
dust has gathered where once the surfaces gleamed 
silence, no voices and laughter
now greet as in times now gone. 

The day has arrived, dreaded, put off for so long
Parents passed within...

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I cherish every precious lock of my hair as a keepsake

Twas partly on account
of yours truly being incarnation of Samson;
spouse and I wed
please fate, don't say alopecia didst tread;
though atheist to higher power
yours truly pled
heart...

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Her soft blond hair, a delicate dance upon my skin,
Whispering secrets with its feather-light touch,
Teasing my senses, enticing me to surrender
To the allure of its tender caress.

The salty ocean breeze, a messenger of enchantment,
Carries her...

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