Long Presides Poems

Veronica Franco translations

Veronica Franco (1546-1591) was a Venetian courtesan who wrote literary-quality poetry and prose.

Capitolo 19: A Courtesan's Love Lyric (I) 
by Veronica Franco
loose translation by Michael R. Burch

"I resolved to make a virtue of...

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Evolution Not God

It is the case that there is no God,
He does not exist, he is not the one,
He is not there, he’s not everyone’s invisible puppet,
It is not personal, he is not the Son.

Evolution...

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In a glimpse of darkness it can all slip away .
So perfectly knit,
And so well- written.
A flawless sculpture, a masterpiece in itself.
So beautifully orchestrated, and remarkably simple.
Yet
So deep and complex in a way that perplexed,...

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Over two hundred million people sleeps and wake without a leader,

A cloned effigy in a rock called "Aso"

too old to lead or long dead to be,

demented or dead, they cannot tell,

old age has come but...

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As the moonlight reflected on a lake
Whomever you choose to be or make,
Your mind and heart can have a choice,
Add my consent if fair according voice.

Ether happiness is just a state of mind
Like joyful clouds...

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To shield ourselves from the painful truth;
Illusions of hope we often see.
But, this is not for wise men's eyes,
Engaged in a struggle for liberty.
And as for me, I wish to know,
Though anguish the spirit may...

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You’ve captured me with your words and I’ve captured you with my love, 
You are captured within the wound while I’m captured within the blood.
You’ve captured me with lies and I’ve captured you with the...

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For my blessings dear Lord I pray,
For my being dear God I say:


Thank You dear God for this new day,
Thank You dear Lord for affluent pay.


Thank You for love that floods this day,
Thank You for...

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                 But let us remember, love's symphony 
is not just sweet,
it can be vulnerable, fragile, 
with the pain it...

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Honesty presides in these fresh sonnets
Where breathing seeks to set example
For future generations on thresholds
Of honest wit staying apt and ample
Poets questioning meaning in long life
While judging and evoking honesty
They hold themselves above impending strife
And...

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I sing to the Sun with a thousand songs to atone
For her loss of strength and glow that's faded thin
And has exiled the strength of her rightful throne
To convey the sunset in the demise of...

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2,

Bourne loosely through the chill gusts,
Disordered fragments of summer's life go hurried by,
Harried to their last resting places
Into piles of brittle, browning drifts
Scattered on the stiffening ground.
A cold sun, coursing ever more briefly
Across these hard,...

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Sleepy thoughts loiter,
Dreamy images disappear...
Sun stabs sudden focus.


Subconscious thoughts come
Abrupt as light streams,
No time to think.


Senses aware one by one:
Like octopus tentacles
Twisting and curling to touch.


Edgy promontory here:
Eyes scan the cityscape fringes,
Twenty-storey window view


Far below...

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The alarm rings at 6:00 am
I'm still wrapped up in my sheets
I'm floating aimlessly in my world
A subtle world no-one can see
Let me stay
In my bed
Amid my sheets 
In my head
I'm eaten up by harmless...

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(Dedication: For Ann)


Lasting
Impressions
Discovery
Images and ideas
Profound


Lovely
Foundation
Reconstruction
Clash of vibrant feelings
Abrupt


Going
Away now
Interrupted
Creepy crawling creature
Stinging


Leaving
Emotive
Contradictions
Lingering combustion
Burnt-out


End game
No money
Confronting loss
Empowering new face
New notes


Sultry
Sensuous feel
Touch of magic
In between the odd lines
Wordplay


Sadness
Tears roll down
Streaks of wetness
Melancholia presides
Aqua


Look up
See new frames
Picture portraits
Niche random...

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The summer men are standing, alone upon a wretched stone,
Contorted, bent and torn. Dressed in paper-like ragged clothing,
The ashes of the universe, they are brother less bone,
Forming declarations from hearts made barren by their loathing.

The...

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Firm old man
Obstinate ways;
Will and testament


Lawyer consult
Due diligence;
Making a will


Retirement daze
So much to learn;
At my own pace


Human nature
To nurture;
Null and void


Means testing
Between old flames;
Wants and needs clash


Beauty greets
Truth is silent;
Love presides


Calm in chaos,
Stillness moves;
Cause and...

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Hence, I plunge into imagination to encumber suffering,
Athwart are the horizons wider than my pride,
I, one but three, such a symbolic trope, the Trinity,
A gorgeous exaltation gorged into voracity, itself.

The good is near me! The...

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Art gallery glimpses
Posters on walls;
Unfamiliar insights

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Fresh good market
Country festival;
Abundant fruits

~~~~~~~~~


Young child escorted
Proud parents each side;
Nurture greets nature

~~~~~~~~~


Roasted meat stall
Duck, chicken, BBQ pork;
Appetizing fares

~~~~~~~~~


Pay day queue
Busy ATM buzz;
Cash flow escapades

~~~~~~~~~


Sleepy moments
Heavy eyelids flutter;
Bedtime stories

~~~~~~~~~


Quizzical notions
Unanswered query;
Planning-in-progress

~~~~~~~~~


Chinese...

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We live grandeur
Such lovely times;
Gratitude speaks

~~~~~~~~~


Joy greets splendour
Smell of fresh grass;
Sighs delight

~~~~~~~~~


Touch of magic
In simple things;
Fabulous sights

~~~~~~~~~


Sense a new feel
Floating free;
A voice calling

~~~~~~~~~


New year presides
Time and tide align;
Wonder delights

~~~~~~~~~


Time for change
To craft new say;
Humbling moments

~~~~~~~~~


Joy...

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Window ledge song
Stray sparrows sing;
A choral duo

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Rain drops slide
Blurry window view;
Furious stormy night

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Not much to say
Old couple sit;
Passing people punctuate

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Coffee maker sounds
Morning makeovers;
Caffeine fix retort

~~~~~~~~~


From this penthouse
Brief promontory;
Puzzling landscapes

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Lovely couple
Youth presides;
Time will tell

~~~~~~~~~


Haiku moment
Zero metaphor;
Captured...

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Good earth styles
Fine ample grass;
A fine raiment


Sun and rain speak
Splurge fond refrain;
Rainbows echo


Dawn flings 
Shadows drowned;
Awake to birdsong


Man-made park
Forest architecture;
In the city


Journey here
Begin within;
Greet the sea shore


Waves splashing
Jetty promenade;
Fishing trip moments


Offshore boat ride
Temple pilgrimage;
Kusu Island...

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Two sparrows sing
A morning psalm;
Tender awakening

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Calm air feels cool
With dewy scent;
Green grass velvet

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A profound thought
Now comes to mind;
Succinct message

~~~~~~~~~


Morning stroll
Seeking nutrition;
Food for thought

~~~~~~~~~


Active brisk walking
Four kilometers around;
Morning mantra

~~~~~~~~~


Newspaper headlines
Another casualty;
Violence erupts

~~~~~~~~~


Sensational news
Scandals and crimes;
Dreadful persuasions

~~~~~~~~~


Here...

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Songbird acapella
Early morning hymn;
Balcony recital

~~~~~~~~~


Blurry haze
Burnt ash off-odours;
Surabaya harvest

~~~~~~~~~~


Bridge underpass
Homeless man dozes;
Happy dreams lurk

~~~~~~~~~


Chinatown brisk walk
Noodle takeaway;
Homecoming

~~~~~~~~~


Coin shop interlude
Metallic global trips;
Static travelogue

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Darling smiles
Sunset stroll;
Silence speaks loud

~~~~~~~~~


Fanfare flair
Just for today;
Death anniversary

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Wayside flowers
Mystic beauty;
Unknown aura

~~~~~~~~~


Words fail
Noisy passage;
Sense...

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The old rocker reposed by the hearth longer than I can remember.
'Twas Grandma's favorite chair, she cherished it as a family member!
From it she dispensed abounding love, wisdom and wit,
Rhythmically rocking, never minding the squeaks...

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