Long Phoebe Poems

The 42 Inch Hallway

We’re stepping along the musty hallway now.
I am taking us on a fast-moving memory ride;
A mind-bending groovy slide to 1965,
When Dylan music was seeping loudly like a germ,
Down the green-carpeted hallway of...

Read More

Phoebe and her brother and sisters loved to play, like capricious wind;
And many robust children lived nearby, like green nature, an old friend.

The Clarks lived in town, like turquoise neptune, in caramel sun orbit;
And also...

Read More

Comin Thro the Rye
by Robert Burns
modern English translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
 
Oh, Jenny's all wet, poor body,
Jenny's seldom dry;
She's draggin' all her petticoats
Comin' through the rye.
 
Comin' through the rye, poor body,
Comin' through the...

Read More

To Mr. Otto Osips Ochs
My friend, the dream is exhausted
But as long as you chase it, I will follow
Mr. Dylan Thomas 
Perhaps destiny it’s self will spare us
To yours, mine, our struggle 
Their smiles
Here’s to...

Read More

Norah Lynn was ten years old, and dreamed of being a ballet dancer;
Like cherry blossoms, fluttering in breeze, whispering with no answer.

She lived with her parents and sister, Phoebe, in the house upon a hill.
Norah...

Read More

Martial Translations

Coq au vin (Cook or wine)
by Martial, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

1.
Hosts always invite you to dinner, Phoebe,
but are you merely an éclair to the greedy?

2.
Hosts always invite you to dinner, Phoebe,
but are...

Read More

It was a release of the Jewish captives 
sent back to Jerusalem
Isaiah appealed to the people 
and this is what he said to them
yes, you know God 
but do you comprehend? 
that He's the God...

Read More

I have a child;
I have some children;
And though I didn't 
Didn't co create them;
Always be there when they cry;
My children have beautiful eyes;

I choose to honor;
You to should honor;
No, not the negative behavior;
Just continually LOVE...

Read More

By the afternoon I was back-on-my-toes. 

Almost every night my roommates and I sit around a low table in the common room of our suite, crossed legged, on cushions and do our homework. It’s less...

Read More

We adults must come through, united;
We the watchers of others children, must step up to the challenge;
For all we do;
we must do, choose
Everyone is every one
Your child we share
We need to care
Tho! I didn't co-create...

Read More

In the mountains it’s our tradition to delay our morning walk
so we can listen to the morning choir that begins promptly at six-o’clock.

Yes, at six-o’clock every morning without uttering a word
as the dawn breaks over...

Read More

Proud of my red coat, that others admired,
         or was it the charm and wit I had, that they desired?
       ...

Read More

Summer is here with its extended day light
Mountains are giving up on their accumulated stock of snow piles
The river is gushing with vigor carrying fresh cold water supply
Its dancing bubbly liquid is glittering in the...

Read More

She built her nest of straw and mud,
anchored to the rocks on our entryway.
Through the glass in the front door,
we watched her as she sat up there

on her eggs, allowing babies to grow.
After they hatched,...

Read More

Here we are in the village of Morristown, New Jersey.
It is September the sixth in the year of our Lord, 1833.
French immigrant Antoine LeBlanc went on a killing spree.
He took the lives of two rather...

Read More

Pitter-Patter on my Heart

Do not believe that your size in any way
diminishes the depth of my affection for you.
Some may say you are mere eating-pooping machines
but ever since you traipsed into my life a year...

Read More

Little Miss Sure Shot Gains A Namesake

Rhinestones and rawhide
Prancing horses and the dream
Of the Old Wild West;
Dazzling the Old World crowd:
6 shots through a card tossed in the air,
Ash shot off the Kaiser's cigarette -
These...

Read More

Listen, shhh!! Quiet, there it is 
          A songbird of spring, here in January
            ...

Read More

wife of Lapidoth
              Deborah..God'appointee
              judge spiritual &
  ...

Read More

Flora lives next door to Merlin Mouse
He is best friends with Bill O'Grouse,
They were invited to come to tea 
One plus one and Miss Flora Flea.

Paw Dog and Crew Cat from number ten,
Passed Mrs Cluck...

Read More

It is written in books and for TV,
Like when Harry fought you know who,
Or when Nick Nelson told his family he was bi (actually),
Alec realising it wasn't Lydia he loved,
When Pru, Piper and Phoebe were...

Read More

I hadn’t seen a house for an hour ; talking to a social worker, is pretty short
I’m off to a new Foster home; the Courtermarshe’s, a new Big Sister; Brenda
How much longer, Mr. Hodges I...

Read More

Panagiota Acrostic

A Panagiota Cocktail.
   
          INGREDIENTS
P~Phoebe, the moon goddess

A~Aphrodite the goddess of love                 
      and beauty

N~Nike, the goddess of victory

A~ Asteria,...

Read More

Dear Buddha
It’s been a while I know
I do apologise
But stuff gets in the way
These silly complications
Books to read
And CNN
But I’m here now
And so are you
So set in stone
And pond-side contemplation
I’m sure you understand
You always do
So...

Read More

The Indecisive State of My Life
Like the rainbows of the sky,
Like the new moon before each month of Phoebe,
My life switches, dusk to dawn, dawn to dusk
I’m confused.

What is next? What coming next?
What is preset...

Read More