Long Nibbles Poems

These are translations of some of the oldest Japanese waka, which evolved into tanka, renga and haiku. 

While you decline to cry,
high on the mountainside
a single stalk of plumegrass wilts.
—O no Yasumaro (circa 711), translation...

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Grasses wilt:
the braking locomotive
grinds to a halt
—Yamaguchi Seishi, translation by Michael R. Burch

Oh, fallen camellias,
if I were you,
I'd leap into the torrent!
—Takaha Shugyo, translation by Michael R. Burch

The first soft snow:
leaves of the awed jonquil
bow...

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Saul’s twinkling eyes took it all in – the platinum hair framing a first-class face, the silvery sheath dress wrapped around a figure that was out of sight, but in plain view. She was definitely...

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* This poem was written for a contest originally, but was used by Professor Anne-Marie Thornton of Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey, to teach her WAR POETRY class in the spring semester of 2017. My...

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Her small angelic face ...

Once a place where broad smiles bloomed like butterflies on marigolds,
is streaked with the furrows that countless tears have etched into the
layers of dust and dirt and explosive residue that now...

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The sign actually said ‘Universal Disposal’ but the haggard squalid creature 

Had no time for such ephemeral discourse he could just about spell his name

Kanja meaning water born and his parents had hoped he would...

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Sweet and sassy me
I am on the floor,
  won't you come baby, come.

I love to tease, I love to kiss.
   Hush... hush... 
I love to tease, I love to please.
  ...

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She said that this man, my grandfather,
held her head under the black pool water,
while up above, a German man leaned
out of his window, against the moss and brick
to scream violently: "Don't hurt that woman!
She is...

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A rose-a rose,                                ...

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Forking River Dam, Illinois

Forking River 
 
CharlaXFabels 
 
Forking Dam 
 
Forking,Ill. 
 
189 

John M went camping and took his friend Timmy. Off they went to the Forking River Dam. They 
went to the...

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They say just there beyond the valley, that
there lived inside a house, a little cat
who never went outside to run and play;
she had to spend her time indoors each day.

Beside the window, curled up on...

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Troll Lake was slowly filling, after the dam and bridge were finally built.
But, it was close to the city, and kids were coming nightly, without relent!
Bad things were going to happen, if we didn’t stop...

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Who will cry for the little boy,

Whose wails are heard resounding inside the man.

The man whose ever unhealing wounds are clothed in pride,

These mortal scars he wears beneath his flesh

To him are medals of honour

testimonies...

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ALL OF                                 ...

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Someone who longs to feel wanted.
Someone who destroys the lines of safety,
That have been painted around her.
The lines that have kept her coloring page pretty,
Her smile pearly white,
And her feelings locked inside.
Those feelings that scream...

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A cold, cold autumn wind,
Tickles my edges to the frills.
Making me wave to the people,
And starts to give me the chills.

Now a stronger gust,
Lifts my silken body free.
My shiny red skin shimmers,
For all the world...

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"The Pure in Simplicity"

the love thieves
all in syncronicity
shoot silver kisses 

like bullets

penetrating
the pure 
in simplicity

pretenders 
sit at your table
feast on your losses

never your wins
now...
acrostics..

they swallow,
whole heartedly
it's kind of like medicine,

your everything, 
your sons 
and your...

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Between soft brush of breeze and shower spray of sunshine
Between bubbly blooms of bulbs to nectarine nibbles blast
Between chanting chirps of birds to orchestrated strums and thumps
Between the struggle of knowing less and knowing more
Between...

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Temptations allure influenced only by the physical.  Then further made curious by a simple comment of “you smell good” or an undeniable look of “I want you”! 
With that your voice seems to change...

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My brain is pounding
My head is aching
Thoughts exploding
Pulse beating
Heart racing
Anger steering
Jesus are you hearing.

Tears are flowing
Pain growing
No one's listening
Fear calling 
Death knocking
Salvation are you waiting.

Satan's laughing
No one's watching
War approaching
Hatered escalating
Jesus are you whispering.

I am listening
Faith...

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For the break.fast at hand,
So that I'll understand,
He makes me a sloppy jo.
... ug. So over I rolled.


She nibbles at JO,
waves g’morning to MO…

Mmmm.
A tasty treat, made so sweet,
I’m glad, one of us can cook…
First...

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They say, just there beyond the valley, that
there lived inside a house a little cat
who never went outside to run and play;
she chose to spend her time indoors each day.

They named her Hairless Cat. ...

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Beachfront condos shrouded in the early mist 
of morning. Seagulls hanging on the breeze, 
their screeching waking sleepyheads 
before their coffee, it's July the 4th, 
the holiday is here! 

Sailboats daubed in milky opalescence 
growing...

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Beachfront condos shrouded in the early mist 
of morning. Seagulls hanging on the breeze,
their loud screeching waking sleepyheads 
before their coffee, it's July the 4th, 
the holiday is here!

Sailboats daubed in milky opalescence
growing clear, as...

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Beachfront condos shrouded in the early mist 
of morning. Seagulls hanging on the breeze,
their screeching waking sleepyheads 
before their coffee, it's July the 4th, 
the holiday is here!

Sailboats daubed in milky opalescence
growing clear, as sunlight...

Read More