Long Put through Poems

With my Uyghur poetry translations I am trying to build awareness of the plight of Uyghur poets who are being sent to Chinese "reeducation" concentration camps.

Elegy
by Perhat Tursun
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Asylum seekers, will...

Read More

Be Embarrased by Arms

The right of a person to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed upon when in a
well-regulated militia necessary for the security of a free state. In other words, if 
you...

Read More

Unquotable quotes: Tale-Carriers, Gossip-Mongers, Courrier-Pigeon Caretakers, Smoke-Signal Puffers and Tom-Tom Thumpers – XXVI

Could there be such things as political shenanigans or inter-continental warfares, even catastrophes, natural disasters, tsunamis, irruptions, conflagrations, inundations, landslides, typhoons, tornadoes, hurricanes,...

Read More

I went against my better judgment, I was flattered not appalled, the only affection that I had ever known was just affection that I didn’t want
By a man that was many years older than me,...

Read More

He sat all alone, drinking jim beam and coke

Looking out as the waves crashed ashore

He kept to himself, drinking jim beam and coke

As the storm winds would batter the door

He'd only come in when the...

Read More

I thought to please a man/boy you were to give and never take, that you use your body to make them happy, to put that smile on their face
It’s sick I know and twisted that...

Read More

There is a reason though that we met when we did in that time, and the answer to that question is what still burns in my mind
See you never showed me this version of you,...

Read More

Brumby.

A strong gale cuts its path across the snow laden mountain tops,
light and tough the timor, thoroughbred mix, leads his mob at a trot.
A day spend grazing the valley below they now ascend the range...

Read More

the other day it occurred to me
while i sat there in the back of a police cruiser
i have just been arrested for being concerned about the environmental health
of over 800 people

I then started to realise
looking...

Read More

it seems like today people shy away from what is true
so worried about the things people may say or do
but the way i am i could really care less
think I'm lying okay lets put it...

Read More

It's only been a little while, since we both said Goodbye.
The pain I felt is better, and I feel no urge to cry.
I thought my life was over when you found somebody new. 
But life...

Read More

If I was God,
I would have put the forbidden fruit a bit higher
So Eve wouldn't reach it
I wouldn't just make it forbidden, i would hire Joe Biden
With his whole army to guard it
I would have...

Read More

Once transformed into an angel of light

Bite into,
Having long viscous fangs that bite
Gone our the lost days of getting respect now in a daze
Perhaps this is the politically incorrect faze?

Politically Incorrect,
Zero tollerance for misinterpretation of...

Read More

If you approach anyone
Remember always
There is seven metres
To be safe 
From a blade

He was a violent offender 
Who beat his girlfriend often
And he broke the law 
Acts his community would always defend

He caused the Medical...

Read More

Not so long ago your heart was irreparably broken
You didn’t want to hear his name spoken
Your misery was so all-consuming -
And you were full of dooming and glooming -
That the threat of self-harm was bandied...

Read More

There is no doubt in my mind
in going to faith healers to heal
what ails me and be better faster.
Is it my faith or the faith healers?
Or both, that is the question?

However, there is no question...

Read More

Today I stood Me in front of a mirror
And invited Myself for a talk

There we all stood for a minute or two
...looking at each other... and into each other
Searching... appreciating... criticising

Hey guys, thiz wassup ......

Read More

“Loud, Louder”

(They call me, what they call me. Lonely, oh-so lonely.)

The heart is loud,
The intensity louder.
She is lost among their words,
No one has found her.

They are pushy,
They are wrong.
They are lucky,
She is strong.

They should rejoice...

Read More

IF EVER I HAD A COUNTRY - LXXXI - 81

IF ever I had a country, a country without even a single Shredding Machine

And if ever I were elected/nominated/appointed by the powers that be SPEAKER of...

Read More

Greatest magicians
Came from America been here since it's exitence
All they did was paint a picture with everything good put in our vision
Like Obama poll position
Saying this makes up from when you hung dead on poles...

Read More

Diamonds don’t glisten until they are put through the fire,
Making them precious commodities for the buyer
Butterflies don’t flutter through the air,
Until they breakthrough their fibrous tares
Life is a process just like the rest,
But after the...

Read More

Through the heavy hand of solemn quest

Chosen vestibules in relentless jest
Onto the corporate head through exploits support
Just a question of fools spoiling all the rules
Phat cats with blue hats in silver snaps

Chaps

Power of manipulation trying...

Read More

Love is torturous
Love is wise
Love is having no rhyme or reason and is never in disguise

Love is cruel
Love is true
Love is everything we've been put through

Love is hot 
Love is cold
Love is the reason I...

Read More

It's not easy becoming a Legendary  
Major League Baseball pitcher.
It never was and will never be.
You get put through the wringer
and hung out to dry.
From time to time you'll get little or no
run support.
You...

Read More

This is for all those who are trying to survive whatever traumas they've been put through. Please take care and be gentle with yourself. Healing takes time, space, compassion, forgiveness, self-care and self-love. Blessings. 

Live...

Read More