Long Seaside Poems

Myth, after Dylan Thomas
by Michael R. Burch

Here the recalcitrant wind
sighs with grievance and remorse
over fields of wayward gorse
and thistle-throttled lanes.

And she is the myth of the scythed wheat
hewn and sighing, complete,
waiting, lain in a low...

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Back in the height
of our pre-millennial military-industrial
post-revolutionary days
of competing excess...

No, love,
Stick with
Once upon our Sacred Times...

Once upon a time
here in the US of Northern Americas
we used a Reservation Model
to dispose of hopelessly disabled aboriginals,
too RightBrain...

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Will you, won’t you join the dance,
We like to dance here every night,
Moving slowly at the speed of light.
Won’t you give yourself half a chance,
Even two left feet are alright.

The Bipolar Coaster is an excellent...

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Road Trip

The country, people, and the village,
All equal, as if, for the first time, 
All of that gave a fresher image,
Nay, 'tis but a relative vantage.
Save fresh road, to its left bears a sign.

"A few...

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The country, people, and the village,
All equal, as if, for the first time, 
All of that gave a fresher image,
Nay, 'tis but a relative vantage.
Save fresh road, to its left bears a sign.

"A few more...

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In this life of what's to be,
we define life as what we see.
The thoughts of love and life we see,
are the driving force of what we believe.

Of the twins alive in me,
one is blind and...

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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...

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And I begin my own steep climb into 
The Chalkland Downs                        ...

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Ah the lovely seasdie
Ah the lovely seaside

Childhood scents
Salt air, Salty bitter memories

Jacques had turned just seven
He dreamed to walk along the seashore
He dreamed to see the seagulls sore overhead
He most of all dreamed to leave...

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Life for a child at this seaside Village, wild and free
A band of misfits come together, boys and girls
They Gathered overlooking the village, a day of adventures waited
Through grassland over boulders, passing fisherman’s cottages
Clothing colours...

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Dear friiends those who first read my poem i left an important line out in the donkey story

The first dance after our wedding,
Was absolutely exciting, intoxicating,
My darling whispered in my ear,
My wedding present to you...

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[An Autumn kitchen a crucible of y e a s t and y e a r n i n g]

Samantha kneads dough with determined hands, she hears
    Hank's cry—"Vi vi an"—a phantom...

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Ha! A Princess in ancient times - my first name XXXXXXXX!
     Imagine, in a male-dominated society, how blessed was I to be thus
         ...

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The sun rises high over the tropical trees
White patchy clouds survey the blue sky,
Time drifts slowly into the clouded breeze
With the colors red, green and gold passing by.

Jamaica play a key role bringing out the...

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Wouldn't it be wonderful to wake up one morning
To find you were still a child
So much energy jumping up and down upon your bed
So many wonders and thoughts swirling through your bed
No responsibilities
Just fun and...

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Candy floss, seaside rock, smoothies, and flags sporting
Union Jacks
Replace the old traditions of striped deckchairs 
And Kiss-Me-Quick hats.
Chipwicks for our salt and vinegar fries
And their pole-and-line freshly caught local Cod;
The Vintners Parrot: For thick sizzling...

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It's too hot and humid for September!
Even dust specks descending in the room's sunlight
are beads of sweat running down my sides.
I bring pencil, crossword and ice tea 
to this chair and table, these angled shutters,...

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STEALING FROM A GODDESS

   At Dawn
   I wait
   Beside the sea
   Under the tree
   Behind the dunes
   For his arms.

   ...

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Picture a man’s solitary stroll on a sandy seaside,
Early time of day, just a short time after low tide,
Water almost calm, gentle waves lapping the shore,
Early morning sun brilliantly blazing the horizon.
Feel the wonderful breeze…smell...

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in the light, bruising shadows shun
the moon and stars,
the wind who blows,
the nightly wishes – rivers of hope
seaside moments, poured out on the sand
remembering the silence
of yesterday’s sin – her secrets
no longer mute, but hesitant...

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Paradise Has Two Sides

So many think
- If there at all -
Paradise is someplace further away
Than their first thought on being born,
Than the thought that will ride out
On their last breath, 
More distant than the last...

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These were letters written in tablets of blood
We wrote the pains of yesterday today wittily 
On this seaside of swaying embargo of tablets

She was the song swept in pity and cruelty 
Daring the concubines that...

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King Ptolemy the Second (cont.)

Sleek of line for speedy sailing 
It was rugged in construction 
Several layers of well cured timber
Lined the hull and bridge and gunwales 
 
There were four great masts with mainsails
Han...

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CHAPTER 10b, Hiatus, continued

Till a pebble thrown by Matto
Struck the creature on its forehead 
And it hissed in indignation 
Slinking off into the darkness 
 
When the morning sun resurfaced 
In a spectral ocean sunrise...

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PAUL VALERY TRANSLATION: “SECRET ODE”

“Secret Ode” is a poem by the French poet Paul Valéry about collapsing after a vigorous dance, watching the sun set, and seeing the immensity of the night sky as the...

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