Long Overseas Poems

World War II Poems and Holocaust Poems V - Ber Horvitz, Yitzkhak Viner, Franta Bass

Der Himmel
"The Heavens"
by Ber Horvitz
loose translation by Michael R. Burch

These skies
are leaden, heavy, gray...
I long for a pair
of deep blue eyes....

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Sixty some odd years ago, when I was just a kid, our home was on the very edge of town.
The man that lived next door to us - a Mr. - O. M. Crabb -...

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(A somnambulistic drama in four acts)

Actors:

Jean-Paul Marat; 
Charles Barbarou;
Charlotte Corday;
1st Philosopher;
2nd Philosopher;
The Commentator’s Voice.

Act 1. A tavern. Two philosopher sit at the table; 
Marat sits at the other, some distance away.

1st Philosopher 

…or even worse:...

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How I Got Richer and What I Did Next



I struck a sly deal with some Wall Street investors.
I shorted 'em stocks that didn't exist!
But they got me back (those post-empty-nesters)
by making fake deals I couldn't...

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I met with some bankers in fine textured suits.
I struck a deal quick. (I had such a knack.)
I offered rare cacti and tropical fruits – 
a cure-all for things that ail your back.

I served 'em...

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Everything here is true
Just as stated
because it's already happened
or - it has yet to occur - 
but it's very soon to occur
and I have such strong feeling
that the future will be as I see it
as...

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" Good evening gentlemen, at last we meet.
I am so honored to bask in the presence of your company.
Meeting all of you global bankers has always been my fantasy,
so seeing you all before me now...

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Written: 21 July 2023 
Submitted to No. 1231 New Poem Only Poetry Contest 
Sponsored by Brian Strand 

Bridging the Unbridgeable Chasm*

As rises the wealth of nations,
As grows the limb of a township
So declines the flowers...

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Raisin gave the globe a tap to make it slowly spin
“Rum,” she said, “it’s quite a big wide world we’re living in.”
Rum looked up from lapping milk and wiped some from his face,
“Use your nose...

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Angles of Mercy
By
Kevin L Fairbrother

There is not to many of us that can say that the owe their existence on this earth to a Native in a Foreign country, in my case I can say...

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2017 - year zero

They loaned to the poor, who cannot repay.
They stole from the old, who cannot recover.
They sold our future, for better or worse
and made our children pay.
They schooled arithmetic to be feared.
They tutored...

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“Wha’da-ya’ s’pose he’s thinkin’ about,” I heard a nurse inquire, “he sits there almost every day just gazin’ at the pond?”
“Hard to say,” a laundry gal replied, “but chances are...if you could, somehow, read his...

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Under the midnight moon, romance waited
its true heart and beauty, with love baited
for dawning gleam across powdered snow
and she her handsome soldier to soon show
for his appearance was far overdue
she could hear his parting words,"...

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I'm on my way, to save the day;
On a bus, then on a plane I'm on my way;
to a war to defend an unknown territory
to defend them children, women and men;
fighting for rights and freedoms
while...

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With Eternal Sent Bliss Two Hearts Reborn - a collaboration with Susan Ashley


Under the midnight moon, romance waited
its true heart and beauty, with love baited
for dawning gleam across powdered snow
and she her handsome soldier to...

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My New Parents Are Monsters!
By Johana Britt

My new parents are monsters! 
They're creepy and weird. 
I don't understand their monster ways, 
But they love me very dear.
	
I remember the day we met one another. 
It...

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I was seven years old when began World War Two
And eleven became by the time it was through.
I have vague recollections of things when that small,
But events during wartime I clearly recall.

Since there was no...

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When I was just a teenage lad, and growing up out west
I never wore a cowboy hat or fancy leather vests,
never put on cowboy boots or western shirts with snaps,
never wore tooled leather belts, much...

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Dad an’ I were tryin’ hard to land a pan o’ Redeye just outside o’ Huntsville 
off a dock on Mouzon Lake,
When I got all but hypnotized trackin’ outside ripples emanating outward 
from the breaches...

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I am looking forward to the coming days when the earth will flourish again, the plants will grow, fresh air will flow and visitors will flock to our shores. Our beaches are white and clean...

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This is Nigeria where every thief is honest;
Where every politicians are good yet, they are probe.
This is Nigeria where every students are wise.
This is Nigeria where every He-Goats smell not.
This is Nigeria where every eyes...

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I was once an idealistic young soldier, who was very new to the occupation,
Trying to preserve freedom, and way of life, like the golden sun, at creation.

Yet, the times were very troubled, because an unhappy...

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Victorian Poverty In London.
.
Slumming it in adverse poverty
In Victorian London’s  
Limehouse White Chapel and Bethnal Green 
Dingy doss houses packed to the brim
Narrow dirty streets with cobbles
And loud cartwheel din
.
Large families sharing one room
Overcrowded...

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I was a creative choreographer, for superb Broadway musicals and plays,
As musical winds choreograph motions, throughout any of our rosy days.

I lived for charms of elegant dance, for its beauty will forever be with us,
As...

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I am standing here looking in the corner of despair as the little town braced for what is moving around. My dry cracked hands with malnourished fingers and cracked up finger nails reminds me that...

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