Long Kiri Poems

Poems about the Coronavirus I


yet another iffy coronavirus haiku #1
by michael r. burch

plagued by the Plague
i plague the goldfish
with my verse



yet another iffy coronavirus haiku #2
by michael r. burch

sunflowers
hang their heads
embarrassed by their coronas

I wrote...

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The first soft snow: 
leaves of the awed jonquil 
bow low
—Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch

Come, investigate loneliness! 
a solitary leaf
clings to the Kiri tree
—Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch

The cheerful-chirping cricket
contends gray...

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Dusk-gliding swallow, 
please spare my small friends
flitting among the flowers! 
—Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch

A bee emerging
from deep within the peony's hairy recesses
flies off, sated
—Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch

That dying cricket,...

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My most popular poems on the Internet (II)

A number of my poems and translations have gone viral, according to Google, and some have been copied onto hundreds to thousands of web pages. That’s a lot...

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These are translations of some of the oldest Japanese waka, which evolved into tanka, renga and haiku. 

While you decline to cry,
high on the mountainside
a single stalk of plumegrass wilts.
—O no Yasumaro (circa 711), translation...

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Grasses wilt:
the braking locomotive
grinds to a halt
—Yamaguchi Seishi, translation by Michael R. Burch

Oh, fallen camellias,
if I were you,
I'd leap into the torrent!
—Takaha Shugyo, translation by Michael R. Burch

The first soft snow:
leaves of the awed jonquil
bow...

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Poems about Poets I


The Wonder Boys
by Michael R. Burch

for Leslie Mellichamp

The stars were always there, too-bright cliches:
scintillant truths the jaded world outgrew
as baffled poets winged keyed kites—amazed,
in dream of shocks that suddenly came true ...

but...

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yet another iffy coronavirus haiku #1
by michael r. burch

plagued by the Plague
i plague the goldfish
with my verse



yet another iffy coronavirus haiku #2
by michael r. burch

sunflowers
hang their heads
embarrassed by their coronas

I wrote this poem after having...

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ZEN DEATH HAIKU IV

These are my modern English translations of Japanese Zen Death Haiku. 

The moon
hovering above the snow-capped mountains
rained down hailstones
—Sekitei Hara, loose translation by Michael R. Burch

Oh, dreamlike winter butterfly: 
a puff of...

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IRONY

My joy that I wasn't born a Nigerian
Is that my parents are Yorubas
I would have been limited to Naira

Mo dúpé pé mo lókó nílé (All thanks, I have a hoe)
Mo láyò pé omo alápatà sá...

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I was a woke shrink, I sadly write this verse.
My patients came in bad shape, ended up worse.

Today there was Cohen, who thought he was French.
I told him either way, his privilege gave a stench.
I...

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There is a thought to create something new,
There is a wish to achieve grand heights;
To alleviate the pain of separation,
Find antidotes for great plights.

You surprise the creator,
You challenge your fate;
You fight for those dreams,
You keep...

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Your arms held to the branch
While I clung to you
You swung from tree to tree
Till my little palms let go you free
I fell into the water 
Making a splash
You disappeared from my eyes 
With the...

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I was-
suicidal    when my baby died-
possessed with death
          when my love left 

a name    engraved    buried deep

and...

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This summer breeze
upon my menacing blade,
no kaishakunin, only emptiness,
empty mindedness,
unafraid

The Hokkaido seas
restless like a school child,
stir within my cup of tea
empty mindedness,
beguiled

Mountains of Sakura
fill me, nor here nor there,
a million of my memories
empty mindedness,
despair

Bushido, my...

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      Mad macha 

Take your seat belt tight open the 
Seal of your engine oil now starting the rapid rain of tension,
U know friends I kept loosening my memory for...

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I find you in an old silent pond,
The imagery you've left will outlive all,
With nature,your immortal bond
You will stand like a kiri tree tall.

You, the gem of haiku,
Your name be echoed in Fuji's peak,
Mogami river...

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Enemies won't spare those brave; by
opting seppuku, chose to die
never bothered.

Seppuku was not to commit,
‘twas to perform, ought to befit
ever honoured.

Event was part of more detail
ritual done outdoor; great tale
for rest to learn.

Performed before viewer...

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