Long Reprimands Poems

State of the Art (IV)

These are my "ars poetica" poems about the art and craft of writing poetry. 



Hearthside
by Michael R. Burch

“When you are old and grey and full of sleep...”  — W. ...

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Poems about Poems VI

The Board
by Michael R. Burch

Accessible rhyme is never good.
The penalty is understood?
soft titters from dark board rooms where
the businessmen paste on their hair
and, Walter Mitties, woo the Muse
with reprimands of Dr. Seuss.

The...

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Doggerel II: Doggerel about Doggerel, or, More Nonsense Verse

The Board
by Michael R. Burch

Accessible rhyme is never good.
The penalty is understood:
soft titters from dark board rooms where
the businessmen paste on their hair
and, Walter Mitties, woo the...

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The Rosy Lay*

Ready for a kiss did sun rise, 
gleaming, shimmering in the April sky, 
had set to bloom bouquets of love, 
a rose among them caught my eye... 

And made me notice for the...

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A heedless world implodes beneath the weight
and all the West lies smoldering in flames.
And nay a soul finds shelter from the hate
as dire evil seeks intended aims.
The despot waves of fire and iron roll
upon whomever...

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Speechless at Auschwitz
by Ko Un
loose translation by Michael R. Burch

At Auschwitz
piles of glasses
mountains of shoes ...
returning, we stared out different windows.

Ko Un speaks for all of us, by not knowing what to say about the...

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PROFESSOR POETS

These are poems about professor poets and other “intellectuals” who miss the main point of poetry, which is to connect with readers via pleasing sounds and the communication of emotion as well as meaning.



Professor...

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when Animal Farm is not a feeding manual

and Clockwork Orange strikes at midnight

Dali’s time piece warps under face value

and an eagle-eyed-cuckoo flies over its nest


beneath the cover of cotton candy clouds

she relieves herself into Magritte’s...

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I am a dare-dreamer, a mask wearer
a soul bare-r (but not always my own); a word-weaver. 
I pull at thoughts like strings. Strings of cobwebs
and cirrus, frayed dungarees and threadbare memories 
until I warp and...

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Life is a dangerous struggle 
Full of inconsistencies, challenges and pains
Life is not fair even to the fair skinned 
The dark skinned are not faring better either 
In everyone's backyard a little rain must drop...

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Through the night's veil, in whispers, I moved my steps along,
Somewhere, a light within the darkness, sparked a straight and fiery throng,
The secret of time, always hidden beneath pointless reprimands,
A rebirth of hopes destroyed by...

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Fragile

She seems so fragile.
I imgaine you with her, touching her gently,
as she lets her slender fingers linger on your skin -
those fingers with the long polished nails
she must spend hours on each week to maintain...

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THE SUNDAY MORNING PLEA

Sunbeams gently pierce my sleepy eyes,
Waking me up, whispering, “Arise! Arise!
Gather your tools, prepare your vision,
The children await your joyful mission.”

Ah, another day for learning’s delight,
A Sunday of teaching, shining bright.
Little ones...

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I am from the midnight sunset
dreamt on by angels
From a cut in half oak tree
residing on a corner
I am from the machine made earthquake
that rocks the beds
and frightens the children inside their heads
I am from...

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Easy Practitioners of Another Voodoo

While I was counting the cost of steak
And while depressed about her over weight
He was counting grains of rice
She was forced into a life of vice

And while the self righteous contemplate
Judgement...

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He was only 4 months old 
When he was placed in my arms
He was abused, sad and only a puppy
Give him a good home is all he said
I cried when he handed me that sad...

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When Cradle Fails


This is a piece of scandalous news, bound to ruffle  more than just feathers..
A breaking story such as this, human interest and sympathy are very much raised…
With a damning picture of a...

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An infant's cry a child smiles.
The laughter comes after.
This is God. The people of 
Populations across all nations 
Man and woman of families.
He has many sons. This is God!
God is. HE exists. From the 
Simplest...

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smoked crack with many of the mayors friends
art of seduction
some of the grossest men
Need some clarity edmonton
someone crazy enough to get information
easy enough
and i'm a civilian
how your staff is unaware of your situation is mind...

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the Pit of Hell
I had dream
a broken thoughts
Of strange nightmares
darkened my dark

Lighted by thick darkness
no rules no responsibility no order
beautified by darkness melody by wailings
Coloured by horrors,
horrors you have never never seen

In the fragility of...

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Ready for a kiss the sun did rise
Warming the heart of April, it set
Love blooming in Spring's trembling bouquet
Yet, a single red rose caught my eyes.

Much paler were voluptuous blooms
Of Angoora Van's* garden's carnage, 
Heart's...

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Justifications fall

from your mouth like shrapnel

truer to yourself than any other cares to be

because inside you know

they lack the power to truly see

see you as you are

not a person, not a punching bag

in silence listen...

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Pampered with gracious blessings of kindness
Moved by the Lord’s compassion-earnestness
Our orphanage, propped through prayer fitness
Lavishes children --- bountiful goodness.

Despite attacks of human nature pain
Caused by selfishness and arrogance stain
We seek for blest peace of forgiveness...

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We live in a world 
Where all things are moving
Where nothing halts
Where nothing turns back
Where all that it is is noise

We live in a world
Broken souls grace the streets
Hopeless lives is all that it is
Drive...

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You say you want to start a revolution?
Well let's start with the revolution of your heart
Where u stand front line and I play a relative part
We get together in an alliance not just to integrate
But...

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