Long Securely Poems

Medieval Poems



Deor's Lament (Anglo Saxon poem, circa 10th century AD)
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Weland knew the agony of exile.
That indomitable smith was wracked by grief.
He endured countless troubles:
sorrows were his only companions
in his frozen...

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Sweet Rose of Virtue
by William Dunbar (c. 1460-1530)
loose translation/modernization/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

after William Dunbar

Sweet rose of virtue and of gentleness,
delightful lily of youthful wantonness,
richest in bounty and in beauty clear
and in every virtue that...

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"Christmas in the Cathedral of the Forest Deep"




The silent heart is found 
embedded in the 
Cathedral of 
The Forest Deep

The lost jewel
shines in the dark
see the reflection of emerald eyes
endless hazel woods scried

On Christmas Eve
when...

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anxiety, intense -
but I am not frightened ...
my heart races ... I want to flee
my blood heats and lies to
my senses ...
'get out! go now! dear gawd, fool, run!!'
for you are formidable -
eighty inches tall,...

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We have been observing the expanse of the parched land for many years, a land that stood the test of time and captivated by myriad dreams unfolding through the footsteps of the ages thus penetrating...

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This is the 2nd Half - sorry, this is the only way to get my long pieces posted - an full length audio version is also posted 


“Every single person, and the minister agreed…and just...

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Far beyond the horizon we gazed at sunlit skies 
glowing from gigantic mountains, thick blue clouds
hang peacefully over our heads, painting hopes and 
aspirations as we journey relentlessly to recapture
our dreams.

We have been climbing this...

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A bug upon a green leaf sat
Cautiously eyeing up a cat
Who, unaware of the bug's intentions
Continued with its cruel conventions:
Of catching a mouse then setting it free
Then leaping up it once more with glee
Until the...

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Strategically placed when raised 
Upwards
By your masterful and well 
Practiced hand.
To mingle with ever changing 
Skylines 
That frown down with arrogant 
Scowls
Upon the indigenous populous of 
This just and tolerant island.
To study and pontificate upon...

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Lament for the Makaris ("Lament for the Makers/Poets")
by William Dunbar [c. 1460-1530]
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
 
i who enjoyed good health and gladness
am overwhelmed now by life’s terrible sickness
and enfeebled with infirmity ...
how the...

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Shallow-pitched tiled rooftops sparkle vividly
 When lavishly sprinkled with needle-shaped grains  
Of shattered mutton-fat nephrite; 
    There, clinging forlornly against the hanging grey   
  Smoke, tinged with barely...

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’Twas early on the first day of the week
that Mary Magdalene set out in gloom;
The prospects for the morn were rather bleak,
anoint her master's body in the tomb.

While she was yet far off, she saw...

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Free association comprises ratiocination...

Bonafide catatonic doggedness,
nevertheless this stubborn stoic poet writ
afore and another feeble effort courtesy
exhaustive mental effort
he brewed den - brought about divine visit
analogously to solve mystery pinpointing
within suspense unveiling whodunnit.

Whereat your true
plane vanilla...

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We Call Him “Tommy”

We have a lovely Tom cat
He lives most out of doors
I wondered if they kick him out
Because he loudly snores

If I had a lovely “Snowshoe”
I wouldn’t let him out to roam
He would...

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Voting day at long last has arrived.
Scrambling through closet,
a cavernous space in accumulation.
In the deepest darkest corner, 
purpose achieved, 
garnering my three by five inch American flag,
glorious yet demure.

This my opportunity to come out of...

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Recherché poetic themes stock in trade of yours truly

No surprise, rhyme nor reason,
I tease out extraordinary threads,
sometimes deliberately writing
about current calendar day or season

for instance today July 28th, 2020
another hazy, hot, and humid summer day
and...

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Lay down your old ink pen...
Rise from the table...
Push back your chair.
Gather them all up...
Put them out of sight now...
Place them safely in the cupboard 
Bare.
Wrapped in stiff brown paper,
Strung tightly together
With thin white string;
Turn...

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Smoking Sun Steam! Smoking Sun Steam!

Pull the loquacious liquid love trigger!
Let conflict come to a head
Bring forth your golden lead

Arise the fires of desires
Of the lovers to build an empire
Please Archangels chant the communion choir
For...

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I’m a stodgy old lady with suddenly too much time on her hands.
I was always too work worn to make big Halloween plans...

But as I walked thru Walgreen’s to get my latest meds…
I came up...

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Under a tall cottonwood tree that grows along the curb...
  two burly men stand next to a giant truck, and smoke one last cigarette...
          ...

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Years ago my wife and I decided that we would like to keep tropical fish, so off to the local aquatic centre, on entering, 
my wife spied an Octopus and fell in love with this...

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Come travel to the town of Bethlehem with me
Let’s observe the venue, reflect upon what we see

I see a place where politics is harsh and shrewd
Where feeling forgotten, people have a vile mood 

I see...

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detangling figurative philosophical,
     (i.e. ineffable) thread tightly bound
most likely requires a greater capacity
     (than mine) to expound,
considerably superior than
this feeble intellectual attempt,
     nonetheless...

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O God You only know where I would be without You!
There is no one else in my life who can ever replace
You! No matter how hard I try I would never be happy!
No matter how...

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WinWin Balloon EcoPolitics
for growing community health,
said the EarthBalloon economist,
is most effectively improved
by focusing on the bottom
of Earth's sacred communal balloon,
accepting shared responsibility
for those stuck in ground floor economies
of chronic survival issues,
perpetually repeating despairing depressed circles,

Rather...

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