Long Planks Poems

Currents
by Michael R. Burch

How can I write and not be true
to the rhythm that wells within?
How can the ocean not be blue,
not buck with the clapboard slap of tide,
the clockwork shock of wave on rock,
the...

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Various Heresies 3

Breakings
by Michael R. Burch

I did it out of pity.
I did it out of love.
I did it not to break the heart of a tender, wounded dove.

But gods without compassion
ordained: Frail things must break!
Now...

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It’s heading for our planet at ten thousand miles an hour
To stop it all the experts say we haven’t got the power
All the nukes in all the world won’t constitute a plan
So someone said, ‘All...

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R.I.P.
by Michael R. Burch

When I am lain to rest
and my soul is no longer intact, 
but dissolving, like a sunset
diminishing to the west...

and when at last
before His throne my past
is put to test
and the demons...

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Nucleotidings
by Michael R. Burch

“We will walk taller!” said Gupta,
sorta abrupta,
hand-in-hand with his mom,
eyeing the A-bomb.

“Who needs a mahatma
in the aftermath of NAFTA?
Now, that was a disaster,”
cried glib Punjab.

“After Y2k,
time will spin out of control anyway,”
flamed...

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MODERN SONNETS I

I prefer the original definition of the sonnet as a “little song” of indeterminate form and length. These modern sonnets vary from more-or-less traditional to free verse.


Maker, Fakir, Curer
by Michael R. Burch

A poem...

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Sonnets XXV-XXXII

Archaischer Torso Apollos (“Archaic Torso of Apollo”)
by Rainer Maria Rilke
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

We cannot know the beheaded god
nor his eyes' forfeited visions. But still
the figure's trunk glows with the strange vitality
of a...

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~ The  Holy  Bible ~
 (Quatern)


 It tells the beginning of man
 How  God  created all from start
 He made the moon, stars,  earth, day, night
 It  tells of...

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The excitement mounted as we rummaged around in the attic looking through old steamer trunks for discarded clothes and props to make Halloween costumes. With an old suit and hat of Granddads, I became a...

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Within the frame a sepia scene
a dusty porch   a rickety chair   
the fabric of your dusky face creased
with ceaseless sunbaked woes
your old pair of getaway feet gives 
a different walk of...

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The Whiskey Bottle Wish

 	One late summer night outside a saloon in the mid-west, an intoxicated Dusty Rogers, stumbles out of the Bar nearly taking one of the revolving doors with him. As he flutters...

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It was the time before the celebration on Saint Peter’s day, when the noble page took a fine white scroll and was glad upon his way.
For a bird had whispered in this good page’s ear...

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Time for a road trip, my  dad, mom and us three kids all packed into our old station wagon. I guess it wasn't so old but it sure seemed that way at the time....

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I learned so much last time I went too 

The shore casino near the ocean blue  

Conjuring up honesty and words that were true  

Looking for tranquil sanctuary to think and talk ...

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Thump-thump of stiffening fish contorting
   In the bilge beneath the gunwale; 
 Lidless, bulging, reddened eyes, swivelling upwards, 
Protruding horribly from the straining sockets,
    Express stupefied amazement at inconceivable 
...

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A Friend in the Dark


A soft screeching sound over head brought me back
With Grey Bane in hand I swung quickly around
When I saw what it was I broke out in laughter
The little guy flew to...

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I'm driving through such beauty, this lush rural countryside. I find it hard to believe that my 
career has taken me to here. Being where I am is so much different to the Highlands from...

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The meeting of the "Downhill Gang" was top of Pekrul Hill,
And everyone was there with parts galore,
For they were building racing carts from planks and buggy wheels,
To challenge us and settle untold scores.

The "Pekrul Boys"...

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TIS thine bottled tat's tasked whence be thine edge
Be naught in wallows dew supine vogue cast
Youth triumphed hour as a young promised fledge
Barkeeper, be thoust days numbered--till asked
All stand 'tis proper thine talents measure
Skills they'd...

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Kalamatsch

As a kid I played with mud in pouring rain
                         ...

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              The Night Soil Man

			I

		Nothing sticks to-get-her like turds
             ...

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Run! The city is going up in flame; run! The whole world is getting insane; run!  it is not a game; grab your bag and run, leave that place and come, meet me at...

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(What have I done? This is 
all my fault. He has never left 
like that. What if he doesn't 
come back? What about Maya? 
Oh, shit! Maya!) I flew up 
throwing the chair behind me....

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We Trim the “Christian” Tree. Part 1

Christmas time brings memories, racing in my head.
However: as I’m growin’ old, it comes with greater dread.
For shortly after Halloween, Before Thanksgiving Day.
Stores will show us “X-mas” wares, to...

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3FABEL3 
3FABEL3 
 
Lynching 
 
 
Murder is an art form abused by those critters in a hurry to perform a judgement 
call and then scurry off on horses to hide from the real law....

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