Long Ledges Poems

I want to tell you the story of my life.  I was born in a barn at dawn.  There
were eight of us but I was the only one with spots.  I was...

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I went again today ... to that place, the allurement overwhelming ... the one
we called "ours" so tritely, "mine" before you, "mine" again now, (tho' others
have doubtless staked claimed - ages before and since). I...

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Chinese Poets: English Translations

These are modern English translations of poems by some of the greatest Chinese poets of all time, including Du Fu, Huang O, Li Bai, Li Ching-jau, Li Qingzhao, Po Chu-I, Tzu Yeh,...

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Nylon waste is often akin to a brushed out stable, manger, or stall. But brushing the carpet is often a resemblance of a swirling cloud of dust and tobacco shards and tobacco shards are not...

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Tell her you saw me ...

Tell her I was out on the bluff at the Cape
during a gale, much too close to the rocks.
Tell her the surf was tormenting the ledges,
its roar far too loud...

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tell her you saw me ...

tell her I was out on the bluff at the Cape during a gale, much too close to the rocks … tell her the surf was tormenting the ledges, its...

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I saw you …

high …
atop the promontory
spinning with manic madness
pirouettes et fouetté
lost in yourself -
in movement …
your upper back split, low
and, I swear -
feathers … peeking …
tucked under your shoulder blades
splayed and black as black
(obsidian...

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Himalayas

Eons ago in the planet’s evolution,
During tectonic plate movement: 1
The Indian Island Ma moved northward
Crashing into the Eurasian continent,
To form the Himalayan mountains. 2

Out of the chaos, towering peaks arose,
Piercing heavenly soft, white cotton clouds,
Bursting...

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I can see
All the way from in here

That the fate of the world is on a precarious knife-edge

The black-robed vultures
Are gathering 

In secret covens and lodges
For their Great Cull

Carefully planned and patiently waiting

On their gilded...

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Jazz man of the mill suffering atomic verse
Born of the waves, air-raids of sound 
Moons  to profile the edge of weather 
And sun to light the way 
Inside the cliffs and black holes beyond...

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Across the ridges, flats and ranges, in print, on radio and stages,
you may hear this tale wherever you may go.
Sometimes a stranger may confide, about that famous ride,
in the rodeo at Mildura's annual show.

For a...

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[Capitalized words are titles of some delightful poems by Sam
Kauffman, each followed by a line from that poem]


How Can This Be - a thousand pieces of brokenness, fit perfectly again
Agapanthus - the season's sweet love...

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Carpet spoke. "It is only Tuesday and already I am covered in pieces and all that straw and occasional crisp. I have no mouth. I cannot possibly devour it. Where are my friends the hoovering...

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Breaking down in the heart and mind.
With all regrets that are truly not kind.
Shocked at people are, so painful to see.
Abused with hated and ecstasy.
Violated and directed with torments
Lost of words or comments.
Hatred gushing out...

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I move slowly to the edge of the boat
Holding on, trying to maintain balance
against the waves and weight of equipment
A final check in preparation for the dive
I close my eyes and step off the boat...

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Where is the light in this dark world?

I can't find it.

Is the trench I've dug really that deep?

So deep that I can't get out?

 

My hands are torn from climbing these walls

My wrists bloodied from...

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You came home from Quebec,
you were never alone; 
              
            ...

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I am water,
I flow single mindedly in search of the sea,
I am a fast moving torrent of rage,
As I rumble over the shallow rapids,
I am a slow and lazy pool of the darkest, still depths,
I...

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The world is
                                ...

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The mountain stream chisels a valley
As narrow as the neck of a swan
The water dancing down in musical cascades
Crashing on the rocky ledges
Splashes silvery drops spiraling high.
They carry the expression 
The stream proffers to the...

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The mountain stream chisels a valley
As narrow as the neck of a swan
In the rocks as strong as steel.
The water dancing down in musical cascades
And crashing on the rocky ledges
Splashes silvery drops reaching the sky.
They...

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There was once a little girl everyone called an "old soul"
This little girl had far too much self control
All the time she wanted to beg and cry
To be let out of this life, to be...

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A lap dancing molecule is dressed in a monocle. Such dainty prowess but naked no dress. No suit could taste an acrylic sheet as sheer fabric is often moving unseen across oceans,beams, and many window...

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when someone leaves
it is so loud 
      so personal 
                so silent

a deafening emptiness 

with...

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