Long Scratches 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...

Read More

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...

Read More

Skin of Terror
- Daniel Henry Rodgers

(The stage lights come up slowly on Michael's face, which is crisscrossed with wrinkles from his fuming anxiety. He peers out into the gloominess at the wheel and tightly clutches...

Read More

DJ and  the Damian squad rushed
The house. "Dad we're gonna 
Play CRUEL BALL!"  Amadeus 
Gave notice. Damian said, "Oh
Yeah." He put his hands on both
His sons shoulders and said.
"Fellows first of all it's...

Read More

It's been four years since I've seen so much as an insignificant mountain creek. Been overburdened with comfort, now frantic with nature withdrawals, having to settle for photos found on Google Images: emerald pine trees,...

Read More

Continues the translation of the great Dante's poem written 700 years ago,
 probably the most important poetry ever written in the human story

When my mind returned back, after the stop
Due to pity for two brothers...

Read More

It's been four years since I've seen so much as an insignificant mountain creek. I've been overburdened with comfort, now frantic with nature withdrawals and having to settle for photos found on Google Images: emerald...

Read More

I crept into the pit of hell all alone. Contingent upon my lifestyle I knew this could be my last day alive…

She haunted me in my dreams. She terrorized me in the sunlight but through...

Read More

My bike and I go everywhere,                             ...

Read More

Elder Darwin swims in ethology.
He rolls in his deep grave ecology.
He itches and scratches his dissonance
that survival of most fitted and dense
implies manifest destiny for those YangStrong
while Darwin's Cross and his own eyes
clearly disguised
camouflaged ectosymbiotic...

Read More

Sitting on the beach,
As dusk falls upon the end of shore,
I look at the lighthouse,
As I see a faint figure,
Looking beyond the sea.
She holds her chest,
As if she is holding a necklace.
She waits for her...

Read More

This is my modern English translation of Paul Valéry's poem “Le cimetière marin” (“The graveyard by the sea”). Valéry was buried in the seaside cemetery evoked in his best-known poem. From the vantage of the...

Read More

[Non-Fictional Preface: Fictional Old Folks Home/Apparition] "This is the story of two friends, both considered themselves start-up writers, whereas, one who was a bit more of an upstart, was merely known as, Robert Frost. Frost's...

Read More

The table is old and worn
nicks and scratches 
its red plastic tablecloth left over from a forgotten Christmas
its holiday pattern worn and forlorn
many a Thanksgiving dinner was hosted
the plump turkey as dry as yesterday

many wars...

Read More

A country of dreams has burst its rainbow at all ragged seams

In a state of affairs illusion of fusion and widespread delusion

The constitution hallucinates as night settles scores of deceit

Bereavement takes its toll in anger...

Read More

Black Iraqi Woman
Written by Faleeha Hassan
Translated from the Arabic by William Hutchins
Shortly before my father died, he whispered to me longingly: “Daughter, treasure this, because it authenticates your heritage to our kinsfolk!” When I accepted...

Read More

"Robert Frosts', friend, Edward Thomas was an indecisive fellow, until that one day they took the other road Edward wanted, and of course, Robert's piece was not Edward's choice to say the least, so when...

Read More

There was a time 
In the not distant past
When farmers would sell their wares
Of fruits and vegetables they had planted
To feed the town folks, and balance a budget
In exchange, for clothes, sundries and junket
For the...

Read More

weird as it sounds when my thoughts wield their all mighty hold

cast inflictions twist meaning and imply the truth of whats told


I resorted to reason which seems to be a contradiction of terms

of engagement with...

Read More

GROGGY BEDHEAD NO COFFEE SHUT THE BLINDS .... PRESIDENTIAL NO GOOD CHOICES TELIVISION SIGNAL GLITCH SMEAR ART CAMPAIGN... LATE NIGHT REHEATED RERUN RETWEEKED RETWEETED MORNING NEWS?....
MORE RAIN TOO HOT BROKEN LEFT WINDSHIELD WIPER.... SAME OLD...

Read More

The worst of the bright-cracks have passed.
The tumultiest of the bucketiest of the rains have proved not to last.
The cat has chirp-purred his way into a damp-fur snuggle.
    It’s Price is Right...

Read More

Inside A ‘72 Econoline

This old green van has a musty smell to it,
Like a pair of sweaty rancid socks
Mixed with half-empty beer cans.
It’s a banged up thing, this ’72 Econoline.
Scratches and mysterious dents 
Cover its...

Read More

America
I´m here to bring you
What you don´t need
Another heartfelt poem
Another heartsick plea
Worth less than
Chewed gum
America I’m tapping
At your window
At 3 am
With a bag full of
Sour wine
And a shopping list
Of grievances
America wake up
It´s me and I...

Read More

One Step from the Fire

Martha lounges in her rocking chair book in knotted hand in her studio

On the wall a poster of Chipperfield Circus whom she had wanted to join

Just above a small marble statue...

Read More

In the twilight of my mind, where shadows dance with sorrowful grace,
I ponder the ideal mind, the brain, a vampire in this modern space,
Sucking the rich essence of life, leaving us empty and drained,
Where original...

Read More