Long Revenues 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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It's hard to say where and when our town's People of Faith Cooperative started.

After all,
we have all emerged together,
and are still emerging
people of TaoGod,
right?

Our faith includes defining our still humanizing species
as among those not capable...

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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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I was speaking with my good friend
Donald John
the Evangelist for AntiChrist
the other day.

And I had to ask,
Donald John,
Why are you so against health care
for all our not yet slaughtered
and otherwise dead already?

Except perhaps health services...

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It is in our fragile, nearly broken, exposure
that we are most available for love
and remedial gratitude,
rather than the louder applause
of our full-blown ballistic glory.

While exercising restrained patience breeds tolerance,
giving pregnant reign to co-empathy compels timeless...

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Yesterday I heard a happy Republican
crediting President Trump's self-proclaimed successes
to his training and experience with consumer-driven accountability;
meaning,
I presume,
his for-profit experience with market-driven consumerism.

Now I realize this for-profit wealth of experience
outside Washington,
untainted by prior government experience,
appears...

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Honey. 
A question.

One?

For now.
Subject to chain-reaction change.

As long as we're clear
about our lack of restraining rules.

Quite so, dear.
I'm wondering about that line
"Jesus is the reason
for the Season."
What was the reason
before JesusSeason?

I mean,
Joseph and Mary
and their...

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Ecologists seem more aware
than economic and political scientists
and capital and democracy leaders of state investments,
of the remarkable multi-functionality of natural systems,
like trees,
and river valleys
and their forests
with canopies of shade
enlightened from above by sun,
glimmered by moon...

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I was listening to our Commissioner
of Economic and Community Development
speak of how happy she is
our State and Federal tax revenues
now subsidize two,
possibly even three, submarines
per year
rather than the mere one per year
of the bad old...

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feeling his vitamin injection a new adventure begins
a slapstick epic of unfathomable implication here unfolds
as the rat gnawed curtain rises at Ye Bone and Gristle
among the clattering of wooden pints of bitter ale
the floor show...

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We the old and broken, have become the pawns
in the grand game of politics. We are as in the game 
of chess of the lowest esteem, expendable 
if not worse unwanted, a barganing chip.
For three...

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WHO DROPPED THE LOVE BOMB?

Who dropped the love bomb?
   Yes, I confess
it was I-
       Who let it fall from the sky.

I flew over the battle-
  ...

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Streets come alive in neon pink at night
Sidewalks drink up rains remains
In alley ways in covered shadows
Tall buildings stand too close for comfort

The cracks between the swallowed light
Hold their sins together in a somber prayer

Concrete...

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Rappelez-Vous
(English translation below original French)

Rappelez-vous les petits fils 
Qui ecoutaient leurs grand-peres
Raconter des histoires d’ infanteries 
Et de battailles de la premiere guerre.

Rappelez-vous des braves garcons 
Qui s’imaginaient etre des soldats,
Qui plus tard servaient le...

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The deputy of this small town
enjoys flashing his police car lights
down main street, 
in the evening, on Saturday nights
Like a one car parade on Easter Sunday
He loves Boss hogging people around;
being a big shot rural...

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Hello, please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Sudan and I represent the Khemet Political Science Party, the party mission; RESCUE THE FUTURE OF BLACK AMERICA. The Khemet Political Science Party is introducing...

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June 15 Scripture Meditations Based on Proverbs 8

Key Verse – Proverbs 8:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. 

MY GOD, THANK YOU FOR FILLING...

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Let someone's light shine everywhere,
darkness must not prevail when hope becomes
the candle that flickers waiting to die,
but somewhere a rising voice sings 
and makes pretty roses bloom and butterflies fly:
come out of your hiding and...

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Chilin in my Nannies basement
No money for rent
Right now that only ok
Because on top of that
We can’t live together either
But I want you to know I’m trying the best I can
Seems right now to me
You...

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Just the other day in this tiny somewhat corrupted
As polluted want to be so much more, tempered town
In tinseled dreams formulated by their minute elite ? Borne
Longings passed onward by father's gold rush these, railroad...

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Men and men are torn apart like withered roses cut from its gut,
Twain against each other to destroy and defend for yesterday's memory and 
tommorrow's dream,
Sanguine fluids on sodden hands suits the vehemence of their...

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Ah, faith! Golly gosh, life in the city!
Hustle and bustle n' a big metro wander
Exhaustion, life, anger and pretty gritty
Misty, grimy lights loudly grab a beggar

The sidewalk shops like a cold surround
Hot action, big ole'...

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Dreams continue as he pursues and fits into those new life shoes/
Steams of old morose songs singing sad blues in dark venues/
Has his hold paddling multiple life canoes/
His eyes mold maddening views of how not...

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Unseen but ubiquitous,
Savage and surreal,
If not curated but contagious,
Annihilative and aerial,

Then lurking, now loose,
You are the silent stone sepulchre,
Tangling, tormenting; transient truce,
An asphyxiating, aggravating and apocalyptic aperture,

You might among countless thriving throng induce fear,
Cause bountiful...

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