Long Millers Poems

Poems about Poems (II)

Kin
by Michael R. Burch

for Richard Moore

1.
Shrill gulls,
how like my thoughts
you, struggling, rise
to distant bliss?
the weightless blue of skies
that are not blue
in any atmosphere,
but closest here...

2.
You seek an air
so clear,
so rarified
the effort leaves...

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State of the Art (III)

These are my "ars poetica" poems: the ones about the art and craft of writing poetry in a modern world that doesn't always recognize the artists or their work. 



Come Down
by...

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"5" 

benevolence and favour
seemed to be absent
in the world 

grace, a name 
whispered before 
a meal shared

5 fingers 
on each hand
steeples, hiding people 

games played
in reverence
as a child

war paint 
bleeding 
signs

in the footprints
the number of...

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Burn, burn does fables fire, as an impish figure dances,
Around the wild flames of greed, guess, guess my
Uncommon name, by the devil’s hang nailed toe,
Your never guess it mortal woman, and so your
Royal child will...

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  On white lines on valiant wheels
I head north leaving behind the City of Sails
       with its humourless streets,
    its casino steel and glass Sky...

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beMUSEd
by Michael R. Burch

Perhaps at three
you'll come to tea,
to have a cuppa here?

You'll just stop in
to sip dry gin?
I only have a beer.

To name the "greats":
Pope, Dryden, mates?
The whole world knows their names.

Discuss the "songs"
of...

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Poems about Poets IV



The Princess and the Pauper
by Michael R. Burch

for June Kraeft

Here was a woman bright, intent on life,
who did not flinch from Death, but caught his eye
and drew him, powerless, into her spell
of...

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I moved up on the outside to pass Bold Eclipse 
when this poncy young jockey bloke puckered his lips. 
Well I kicked well away and I picked up the pace 
and a divot of turf...

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UNSUPPORTED CODE Wailing nature UNSUPPORTED CODE 
        Sorrowful, tired and hopeless I sit, watching the cruel sun setting
        Looking at the...

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Imagine the amount of love
it takes to hate so profoundly.
How hot the "Brutus" kiss must burn 
to reduce that bridge to ash.
The most brilliant star.
Grace of the horizon.
Torn down like so many
tawdry Christmas ornaments.
The keeper...

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Priscilla of Titillating Courage 

With smidgens of cereal we may choose to grind traces from

Grains of life truth sadness vagaries and the circle of being

Separate the wheat from the chaff only to find out we...

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JACK DANIELS met JIM BEAM at the CANADIAN CLUB
to discuss their upcoming trip on the CUTTY SARK.
They were planning a vacation to a Caribbean cove
to get some SOUTHERN COMFORT.

JOHNNY WALKER, who had a disagreement with
them...

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Heroes, every one.
They came in a trickle and then a flood,
To enlist in the forces to do some good.
They were turned from ordinary men,
Into frightening fighting machines.
Farmers, millers, tailors of clothes
Butchers, bakers, they came in...

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ANNA MILLER’S TAKANAWA-SHOP

Merriam-Webster defines chili as a thick sauce of meat and chilies.

His coworker hungers
for American food - pizza, burgers;
no sushi, please.

Home away from home in the belly
of Tokyo, my husband orders —

“I’ll have the...

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The narrow lane led to an awful place
With its own page in the annals of history,
Where once was committed a murder most foul
It’s perpetrator to date still a mystery

Thirteen, Millers Court in Spitalfields
Was the abode...

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April showers coax angelonias
Bromeliads and red begonias
Corn flowers of purple and blue
Dusty millers with yellow hues 
Elderflowers in a living bouquet
Fairy wigs thrown in the array
Geraniums, a bloody red and
Horned violets, lead down, to the...

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Tuning William Blake's Whistle
by Michael R. Burch

a musical prophecy, after William Blake

I.

Many a sun
and many a moon
I walked the earth
and whistled a tune.

I did not whistle
as I worked:
the whistle was my work.
I shirked

nothing I saw
and...

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My hands are tied
My legs are wobbling
My eyes blood red because of what you’ve said
My heart beats rapidly
My emotions are muddled

You with your red tape and bureaucracy
Had stifled my dreams…
You punch me in the heart...

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Abrasive pillars. A millers grin. 1700 loaves of bread. In a straight line though please. Now thankyou that will do nicely. It is often incredible to think that from sacks in cellars arrive many an...

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Orpheus
by Michael R. Burch
 
after William Blake

I.
Many a sun
and many a moon
I walked the earth
and whistled a tune.
 
I did not whistle
as I worked:
the whistle was my work.
I shirked
 
nothing I saw
and made a rhyme
to...

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MY MATE BERT 
 
I have a very special mate 
A flea whose name is Bert. 
He lives upon my old dog's ear, 
With his dear wife named Gert. 
 
My Bert is such an...

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Sandy surprised her mother with a pretty office make-over.
It was marvelous, there was a new bed for her Corgi, Rover.
In the corner was a monarch butterfly garden full of caterpillars.
This is what you needed said...

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