Long Lodge Poems

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...

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Today, catching sight of the mallards
crying over Lake Iware:
Must I too vanish into the clouds?
—Prince Otsu translation by Michael R. Burch  

This world—
to what may we compare it?
To autumn fields
lying darkening at dusk
illuminated by...

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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...

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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...

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Here's the deal, folks...
   This is, as indicated, the 2nd HALF of this fairly lengthy poem. Due to Poetry Soup's file-size limitations, this piece had to be posted in 2 parts. 
 ...

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,Once upon a time, there was a castle made of pure ivory. Pillars pale and barren holding a surface of grace and elegance. This castle was the home of a mighty unicorn named Stardust. She...

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Legend has it that six hundred years ago, lived a creature of the wild. His name was Talos. He held the strength of a bear yet wore the coat of a fox. He was deep...

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Will you, won’t you join the dance,
We like to dance here every night,
Moving slowly at the speed of light.
Won’t you give yourself half a chance,
Even two left feet are alright.

The Bipolar Coaster is an excellent...

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Ghosts of the Sun Dance

1. The Path

A quest dating back through our history
Surpassing the flesh, a spiritual path
Human endurance, road to mystery
Dark trail winding through the gardens of wrath

It echoes through me, this deep ambition
Half...

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In 1958 Elmer's was the only high school in his county that had been integrated. Basketball was the big sport. People in the little town filled the gym every Tuesday and Friday. They roared when...

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The weather was fine today so I decide to go outside and play
I didn't have a plan but I was consistent with the weather man
I stepped out of the house and walked down the empty...

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Here I am waiting, 
Still waiting to cross over
Here I am waiting with hope in my hand
And listening to the people singing a new song
My heart is a little heavy 
And I am not happy...

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Awesome to witness this extraordinary phenomena 
The famous  rare' Ring of Fire' right over Africa!!
Today the sun's a terrific ruby ring in Tanzania
A fiery stunning cerise circumference, special effects, credits Creator Allah
As the luminous moon...

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Their mere weapon was their forbidden courage, hands barren with  no armaments, no ammunitions, marching towards the proud valley of death, dedication born from their sempiternal dreams of a free land. 

Their bare weapon...

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Sam the dog and Pearl the cat
Were sitting on the wall
They do it every day
So it isn't strange at all
They have little conversations
Which only they can understand
They talk about their little quirks
And none of them...

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That mourning. 



The incident that took place in our lodge still held everyone in awe. The lodge had been unusually calm and gloomy for three days since the incident happened and everyone had been alone...

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HERE. ONCE STOOD OUR HOME

I can't forget in a hurry,
Here once stood our ancestral home,
As was told my great- great- great- grand father
Who told my great-great-grand father,
Who told my great grand father and who 
In...

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Horn Combined Not Maligned Haiku

Cat is not a pain
Over house has a free rein
Which is domain.

I did discover,
To interrupt is corrupt;
Always done abrupt.

Is agitator
Also manipulator;
Even a traitor.

Between is schism;
Nationalist populism;
Read in catechism.

Was on Morning show...

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(Note: Dedicated to the memory of Michael Jackson,
the legendary music artiste who impacted all who knew
his musical accomplishments, and who love his songs.)
-------------------------------------------------------------


There once lived a man who made hip music:
MJ made dance grand with...

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IF EVER I HAD A COUNTRY : LX - LXI

The Yijing says : " If the common folk commit crimes, the fault for them shall reside with this one person (i.e., the Sovereign) himself… "...

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IF EVER I HAD A COUNTRY : LXIV - LXV


NOTE (facts to bear in mind while reading) : Under the French Penal Code, harm done to the infirm, minors and seniors (i.e. over 65) is...

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We briefly meet the Mandan Chief Big White
in the village center where the animals are sacraficed,
couples wed, and disputes are dealt with,
he is a massive, and portly man
and is wearing a headdress that spreads to...

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1.	Abolish Mints
2.	Abut Mints
3.	Accomplish Mints
4.	Accouter Mints
5.	Acknowledge Mints
6.	Ada Mints
7.	Adjust Mints
8.	Admonish Mints
9.	Adorn Mints
10.	Advance Mints
11.	Advertise Mints
12.	Agree Mints
13.	Ail Mints
14.	Align Mints
15.	Announce Mints
16.	Annul Mints
17.	Apart Mints
18.	Appease Mints 
19.	Appoint Mints
20.	Arma Mints
21.	Argu Mints
22.	Arrange Mints
23.	Assess Mints
24.	Astonish Mints
25.	Atone Mints
26.	Attain Mints
27.	Banish Mints
28.	Battle Mints
29.	Befuddle Mints
30.	Bereve Mints
31.	Better Mints
32.	Bewilder Mints
33.	Blandish Mints
34.	Command...

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The ladder is cold steel and past its days, dulled to a natural grey
Yet its rungs still stand strong, stretched over the battered frame
See over time, a ravished age, the world has grasped the ladders...

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Smoke wafted across the village,
The swack,swack, swack, sound
Of a helicopter inbound, 
was heard,
Grass and dust churned and curled,
As it landed, 
Amidst the carnage caused,
By it’s crew now disbanded,
The horrors of war, 
are but dreams when...

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