Long Manatees Poems

Villanelles

The villanelle is a poetic form based on repetition, with a double refrain. 



Villanelle: The Divide
by Michael R. Burch

The sea was not salt the first tide...
was man born to sorrow that first day, 
with the...

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Rondels, Roundels and Rondeaux

These are poetic forms similar to villanelles, with refrains (repeated lines) and sometimes double refrains.



Rondel: Merciles Beaute ("Merciless Beauty")
by Geoffrey Chaucer
loose translation/interpretation Michael R. Burch

Your eyes slay me suddenly;
their beauty I cannot...

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Now watch this video: Planet Earth: Blue Planet II
https://youtu.be/2f9SItUEtJ8







"Breath, in Blue"



Bluebottles broken scattered
shattered legions on the beach of my heart
my blue planet lungs rattle
my breath battered in the honeycomb maze
vanished all my bees belittled forgotten...

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We are hunkered down again 
as we watch the land cry 
evacuation gathering medication 
pets helping others as neighbors 
become first responders helping 
others checking on elderly residents 
rather Charlie Lisa Francis Hugo 
dean Katrina...

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The Divide
by Michael R. Burch

The sea was not salt the first tide ...
was man born to sorrow that first day
with the moon—a pale beacon across the Divide,
the brighter for longing, an object denied—
the tug at...

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Alligators, Aardvarks; Arctic fox and hare. Also Armadillos and Asses will be there!

Bobcats, Beavers, Boars; One Blue whale will do! Bovines and a Booby (maybe 2)!

Caribou & Camels; *Cavies & a *Coot; Cottontails, Chipmunks, Chinchillas...

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On the Sixth Day

On the sixth day God created the animals
Oh what fun creating the animals;
Rolled up each sleeve to create all the animals
On the sixth day.

God made cats and dogs and hogs and frogs
Elk...

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PLEASE SAVE US MANATEES
     By The Poets Listed After the Poem

Practically perfect people in speedboats tease us manatees.
Long ago, as “mermaids,” we could swim the seas free as the breeze.
Even though...

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I love a good game of peek-a-boo…it’s quite simple but it’s excitement is immense…all you need are your two hands, your face…and a baby’s innocence.

You hide your face behind your hands…you’re gone…the baby doesn’t know...

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Defenders Endangered

Citizens unite spirits; choose the better part!
Life, God given, stolen by greed’s black-heart.  
Industry progressed far beyond the pushcart.
Thus, setting some selves apart as better…smart.

The endangered protecting the endangered –
Compassion fettered by solutions...

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When one of the first settlers asked a Native American, 
“What do you call this land?”
He shrugged his shoulders and scratched his head…
“It has no name…
it’s shared by all
we call it ours.”he said. 

The other...

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Cossack Cowboys
Riding Llamas
That they dress
In pink pajamas
Teeny boppers
Blowing bubbles
Biker chicks
Causing trouble
Nuns in Habits
Punks in chains
One or two
Of the deranged
Rubbing Buddha belly
Cravers
And the band
Harvey Danger
David Bowie
Elton John
Both of them
With Spacesuits on
Vegetarians 
Eating chicken
Love it fried
Finger licking
In...

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Sailors Rusty and Oz cruise back from the steely shores of the Bahamas, underway and navigating to Key West. Tired from the ship’s routine, duties, and three long months away.  There is a full...

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The Northern Lagoon


A rare circle of cool water
Trapped between two meandering outlets
One flowing directly from the east
The other streaming from the west
Between a mighty mountain and remote rivulets
Unique and complete
Balmy, calm, and serene most times...

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Today a mountain memory that goes back to a time 
when our children were younger…more carefree
when out of Grandpa’s garden Ali picked her Sweet Potato Manatee.

We live in Florida…where many a manatee can be found…
but...

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If I were a Mermaid

If I were a Mermaid my name would be Margo and I’d live in the deepest blue sea 
 I’d swim with the dolphins, make friends with the sharks and hope...

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"I was running hard and displaced afraid in solace. Caught in prison humanity solace embrace casualties of my own sins. Forlorn  disrupted and aborted running and heard it. Run, run away from your manatees...

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The calm water of the river hitting the boat hull 
Gives me the feeling of being rocked in the
Cradle gently to sleep.
Yet, when I am excited and filled with interest
There is no rest on my...

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It was just like before riding my bicycle along the beach my tire rolls right over a star fish braising bump and scratches on my knee the gulf was thirsty for human blood this year...

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We were living the dream
Traveling the ICW water way.
It wasn't at all like the u tube videos made it seem.
We were learning how to work as a team
Through this desolate passage way.
We were living the...

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In the land of the alligators, pelicans and manatees
Florida takes prisoners from up north and throws away their keys
Once there, they never want to escape back home 
For they love the weather here, where they...

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I dreamt of blue birds
and buzzing bumble bees.
I roamed with the bison herds,
prayed with mantis on our knees,
and butterflies in the breeze.

I greeted the cheery chickadees,
dragonflies, and snowy owls.
I marveled at graceful manatees.
raucous sounds of...

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Alligators bask lazily on tree limbs overhanging the meandering rivers
Gentle manatees playfully rise above the water line to catch a breath
Such a delight to see these threatened mammals rebounding

Palms and Live Oaks stand as sentries...

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So harsh and cold, the late October wind
Oak branches sway before the orange moon
Bright leaves that filled its branches now have thinned
Just one remains to dance in autumn's tune

But I stroll to the river filled...

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Flamingos pink and perky love wading in the glades,
Lazing on white sand beaches you'll see tourists on display.
Oranges grow in groves off'ring juicy sweet splendor,
Rainy days combust into lightning flash and thunder.
Interesting marine life, such...

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