Long Mowing Poems

Poems about Fathers and Grandfathers I

I translated the first six Native American poems for my father when he chose to enter hospice and end his life by not taking dialysis …


Cherokee Travelers' Blessing I
loose translation/interpretation...

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Salat Days
by Michael R. Burch 

(dedicated to my grandfather, Paul Ray Burch Sr.)

I remember how my grandfather used to pick poke salat ...
though first, usually, he’d stretch back in the front porch swing,
dangling his long...

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Poems about Children IV

Salat Days
by Michael R. Burch

Dedicated to the memory of my grandfather, Paul Ray Burch, Sr.

I remember how my grandfather used to pick poke salat ...
though first, usually, he’d stretch back in the...

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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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It was the weekend, and I was sleeping late that day,
Alone with the morning, while savoring marvels of May.

As I drowsed luxuriantly, at the outskirts of dreams,
I heard a strange sound, while soaking in gay...

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Raid versus woe

Black flag(s) show up
on social media platforms
when potential homicidal maniac(s)
communicate(s) intent to strike
with ambush and ready
read - able, eager, and willing
to embark upon murderous rampage.

Prospective killer armed to the teeth
usually a young bucking...

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Let the drums beat until it release the number sheet
Let the drums beat until it rip out my heart's seat
Let the drums beat until blood spill in the street
Let the drums beat until justice is...

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You narrators from far, from my chamber I call. Take the story that I've told & may you tell it to all...

& so it began, that this poor little man
Took off through the bog with...

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I retired a couple years ago
and decided to take a gardening class
because otherwise I probably would starve
even with food stamps,
given my retirement plan
was mainly to live off my still-freeloading adult perpetual-children.

This gardening class cost more...

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Here's a penny for your thoughts
Maybe a nickel or a dime for your thoughts
Maybe even a quarter or dollar bills for your thoughts 

Perhaps, you don't care enough to be around me tonight
Moreover, I'll be...

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I had for long been impoverished, as is often the case with writers,
Though I worked most diligently, at times even pulling all-nighters.

Rosy dreams kept me going, although times were frequently rough,
As black night fuels its...

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Memorial Day – 2024... origin of holiday

Strong and brave men and women 
gave their level best
crème de la crème 
strongest and bravest
leaving grieving significant others 
with emotional agony 
within treasured chest
o'er the redoubt  
the...

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November second two thousand twenty two...
abuzz with Autumnal thrum

Approximately six weeks since August sum
er re: lazy dog days witnessed lolling about 
sipping cocktails, whose primary ingredient rum
pulled and sated esophageal tract nsync 
with thirstily quaffing...

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Reservations are made years in advance of the event.
Provisions from suppliers worldwide are globally sent. 
Sponsors enthusiastically devote their resources spent. 
Attendees eager to share stories of when they went.

Seeing the epic golf rivalry as...

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How many people with foreboding palpitations
have I seen slip from middle age and slide into old age?
They slither into their last refuge, the dirt hole,
and ignorantly nestle into the forever unknown life stream

The ones who...

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The best sports poems by Michael R. Burch, Part IV

King Henry the Great
by Michael R. Burch

Long live the King! 
Send him victorious, 
happy and glorious, 
long to reign over us: 
Long live the King! 

Long...

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October twenty third two thousand twenty one...02:44:06 PM
Eastern Standard Time abuzz auld Durin 
(ya know whit I'm Tolkien about 
Elder days long regarding) Autumnal thrum –

The perfect balm to avoid feeling glum
supine upon greensward 
I...

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How few people know in this world, 
That the ones who are beaten
Find ways to take rage out on others,
All frequently fruit of one tree!

But just for this reason I chose
To forgo my own children
Preferring...

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Heard my grandchildren the other day,
“We’re bored to death” is all they could say,
There just isn’t anything for us to do.
That got me to thinking about how,
the troubles that these youngsters have now,
would go away...

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I am quite content with my little mowing machine; it does the job for me.
But not my crazy neighbors whom I used to call my friends, briefly…
Now they’ve become competitive, crazed out, monsters looking for...

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I’ll tell you all a story, about when I was just a lad,
And me Mum and Dad were battling with the little that we had.
Dad was working at Yallourn and would travel there each day,...

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Every year it was brought down from the garage rafters.  Green metal frame and 
springs, green canvas with white fringe and a little green pillow.  It was laid out, hosed 
off and erected....

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Silver lining sought amidst coronavirus COVID-19 onslaught

Two hundred and forty six plus months
into twenty first century celeb
and anonymous folks alike
gripped courtesy pestilence re: deb
buckle fishtailed, looped, roughed up...
wreaks/wrought havoc across world wide web.

As a secular...

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I miss...

taking care of you.
making your meals and snacks for you.
telling you " Good morning ", each and every day.
taking you to school and wishing you both a blessed day.
picking you up from school, 
asking...

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SURSUM CORDA 

(for Ruth and Clement Mc Cormack, 
Bridgton, Maine)

“Come see us, we’ll talk about the job."

you were convalescent, generous, 
and anxious to get your hands moving
into the garden among the buds and birdsong 
ready...

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