Long Perfuming Poems

The first soft snow: 
leaves of the awed jonquil 
bow low
—Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch

Come, investigate loneliness! 
a solitary leaf
clings to the Kiri tree
—Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch

The cheerful-chirping cricket
contends gray...

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Dusk-gliding swallow, 
please spare my small friends
flitting among the flowers! 
—Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch

A bee emerging
from deep within the peony's hairy recesses
flies off, sated
—Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch

That dying cricket,...

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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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My spirit has been calling to get up and go to the sea
My spirit has been telling me that there is something for me to see
My spirit is calling me to fly over the big...

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Something prolific pulled me from my bed
It dragged me through the battered door  
and land me on the main road
I wasn't dreaming or sleep walking
I wasn't having an outer body experience
I was literally walking...

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Such sweet fragrance
though solitary bloom
abiding dreams in ruin
of unapt hopes to be hewn 

Through soil cracked 
and parched by thirst
reluctant tears fell harder
upon a seed of lingering hurt

Yet hope like sunlight warmed
under canopy of night
an...

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She here elbowed past me stomping, pausing not (although me whomping
With her wildly swinging handbag – five kilograms, if not more).
Cackling brusquely in a lather, that I should her baggage gather,
She then made a beeline...

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Dark clouds gather in the sky
                             ...

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I beckon nature to play her Symphony of Spring
when everything comes alive, revived once more.
When resident avian will have a chorus as backup, 
perched along limbs and branches of aged oaks,
arrayed in dresses the hue...

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Ah... already the summer 
approaches closing time,
but yours truly can squeeze 
one more rhyme 
before September first,
thus the following lines after...

Brainstorming, concentrating
panning... for poem
idea shattered brew
tilly by deafening seasonal
greensward cutting crew
contracted throughout summer to mow
leaves...

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Springtime

Cascades of dainty Narcissus smile with golden faces
Drinking up the sun as morning warmth embraces.

2-12-22

YOUR BEST RHYMING COUPLET, #4 Poetry Contest~7th place out of 10 winners~
Sponsored by: L MILTON HANKINS |

Taken From:

The Wealth of Spring

Assorted...

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Enchanted was I with a cloying scent...
whiffs of wild magnolia
mingled with the woodsy tang
of her lemon verbena perfuming the air
Like Samson's strength, the sun's threads of gold
were clipped by silver shears 
of an ascending pearlescent...

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Brainstorming, concentrating
panning... for poem
idea shattered brew
tilly by deafening seasonal
greensward cutting crew
contracted throughout summer to mow

leaves of grass
every Tuesday, which drew
attention toward fragrant aroma
seeping into nostrils
of me - match hew,
heavily negated true

quiescence courtesy ear splitting
soundcloud of...

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The Wealth of Spring

Assorted spring flowers, naked, rise in morning sun
Breaking through a thin blanket of snow, earth spun.
Cascades of dainty Narcissus smile with golden faces
Drinking up the sun as morning warmth embraces.
Enjoy the heavenly...

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Shadow Muse
              by Odin Roark

What’s a scrappy old ghost to do
Whose graveyard fantasy
Has long passed?

I wander streets and alleys now
Still a companion...

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Wealth of Spring

Assorted spring flowers, naked, rise in morning sun
Breaking through a thin blanket of snow, earth spun.
Cascades of dainty narcissus smile with golden faces
Drinking up the sun as morning warmth embraces.
Enjoy the heavenly floral...

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Driving in Atlanta past pear trees, struck
with spring lightning, I rolled down my window 
as if breathing deeply might anchor their passing, 
perfect beauty. Paula, with whom we share
in her meditation class, (she, of the...

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When sun's last ray falls
A golden leaf on the tongue of the sea
Go not far from hearth and walls
Go not into the dusk O prodigy
And if you dare yield to lure
Of day shut up in...

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In my summer meadow

Lavender colored milkweeds, growing between dark  purple butterfly peas, are 
perfuming the warm air. 
The color combination is especially pleasing to me; I love purple.
Perfectly round globes of milkweed are a...

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Splendid mango flowers perfuming fine,
Present the best hues with Koel’s tune.
Riding their flight over the dry grey cloud,
In forest, spring finds shelter greenish gold.
Near the river, emerald hill paints better best,
Gets an amazing glimpse when...

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Just one short portage and the park is ours,
Canoe laden down for a one week stay.
At the site in just a matter of hours.
It has been too long since we got away.

The next morning calm,...

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After a soft spring shower last night, the air was washed clean
And saturated mother earth brings to life nature's bounty
Wisteria, Jasmine, and Azeala's scent wafts perfuming the cleansed air

Last night's accompanying thunder and lightning
Brought nitrogen...

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The One

Lilies were lifting
white faces up to the sun.
I gazed up at him
as he leaned down to kiss me. . . 
He - a white knight - was the one.

White - A Love Story

White was...

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I’ve relished the view from mountains so high 
that I could have touched the crest of a cloud.
I’ve measured His stars while I wondered why
no earth bound splendor was burnished as proud.

I’ve been accosted by...

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