Long Shallows Poems

Come Down
by Michael R. Burch

for Harold Bloom

Come down, O, come down
from your high mountain tower.
How coldly the wind blows,
how late this chill hour ...

and I cannot wait
for a meteor shower
to show you the time
must be...

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What Good Are Our Tears?
by Michael R. Burch

What good are our tears?
They will not spare the dying their anguish.
What good is our concern
to a child sick of living, waiting to perish?

What good, the warm benevolence...

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Juvenilia: Early Poems VIII

These are early poems of mine, written in my teens as a high school and college student. 

Moon Lake
by Michael R. Burch

Starlit recorder of summer nights,
what magic spell bewitches you?
They say that...

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"Years” and “Distance”, phantoms of the dark that do their evil
in the quietude of the everyday, coming and going without so
much as a footprint or a whisper, and taking the most valuable
possessions of the heart,...

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"Skinwalker"


That one’s mind 
is like a scene from Chagall
dreams flow like blood bleeds
across the cortex page curtain call
an audience with the silent speakeasy 
cerebellum with its swift
matter-of-factness 
logically guides the fingers 
to dance across keys...

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Submitted to the "Gone Fishin" contest
------------------------------------------------
Trollin’ the islands at Texoma,
It was April, 1964.
New rod and reel in hand,
I’d NEVER been fishing before.

A Garcia 2510T casting rod.
The reel, a Mitchell 301,
Plus hand-selected worms and lures…
I was...

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each of us gives in from a faithful friend,
Watch through the beaten tower
We give in way to soon...
This Newest piece, "The utmost for his highest."

covers all known bases to fuel the fan in
look deeper in...

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"Tell Me Something Beautiful"



You could write me 
something beautiful
to leave me 
when you are not here

Someone told me 
the dead don’t speak 
they just listen 
I am reading you

I am always 
Here

I am front and...

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Glory to the Ukranian Freedom Fighters
 
Democracy and freedom are under attack
Beaurocracy and greed man,
Don’t let this war criminal come back
Putin is lootin’ the streets of Ukraine
His crimes against humanity are bordering on insane
His unprovoked aggression...

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Every summer Mother’s folks would take us to their cabin. ‘Twas neither big nor fancy. Had no furnace. No TV! 
The cistern pump beside the sink was all there was for plumbing. So primitive…and yet...

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"Soul Surfer" 



I bought some sea shell beads 
today, 
stood by the ocean 
while the half sharp winter wind 
washed 
through 
me 
and 
whispered stinging sticatto 
cold licks next to my ear, so sincerely -...

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One fine blustering autumn day an old man puts on his boots pulls up his trousers off he goes,
If anyone wondered where he was going it was to a forest a good long walk it...

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XIAO LING
CHINA LIGHT 

Xiao Ling, did bring light into the shadows
of my days, days living in the shallows
of a love I could never get to know,
for the one I loved so, could never show
for more...

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~ So when before I was brought to know such 
a day as this ... yes-once it weighed heavily 
on me the thought; will it ever-come ... 
yes and my pain, will it never-end? ~



~ While in the instance of my depression 
I was unable to see the love of God well 
within the waters, kind reflection; but 
now; now through Him I have come to 
behold and live to tell of the treasure 
therein contained and abounding. Within 
this joyous and ever humbling-divine day 
for me of revelation, and so now; now-my-
joy-has-been-sustained. For when I am to 
ponder the simple nature of His love in all 
of its purity, and patient delights; visions 
of these they skip across my mind from 
time to time. As my eager-hand ... the 
open-gesture, it moves to lay ahold 
of the promise of another. ~ 



~ As this intention that I've picked up I carry 
now and cast-briskly ... into the darkness of 
the moist liquids, to land. As the-ripples gentle 
gliding they come to move in freedom across 
the vivid reflection, of this glassy-sheen, while 
slowly they are brought to roll along evenly 
with me-and-onward to-lay in peace-beside 
the stillness; of the open-shores. As-swiftly my-
thoughts of God-and-life they move and-dance, 
upon the-humble shallows deeper and-ever deeper 
into the heart, of the waters ... and so my heart 
here stands-in view of-this-and feeling fonder. ~ 



~ For-the tender ... thoughtful-kisses I give each 
place here in my heart that abide-amid the presence 
of Gods' supreme love, and-perfect-goodness; given-now-
for the many blessings that I see. Amid the glory of-His 
many-other-wonders; I give my-heart again this-day; more-
time ... for the nature of their-open-beauty; to-ponder. ~ 
 
 
because-
ethereal-
elegance-love,
veracious-forever-
enchanting. ~
~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~
~ Truth, ~
e'er aware-
~ evolving, ~
~ evermore. ~
~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~ Time tender ~~
~ terry's to-and-fro, ~
~ their finger running ~
~~~ through its hair. ~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joy ... runs, embraces-
~~~~ itself! ~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~

~ Love lost, the aching-
desire, burning-within, frail, 
though; will I rise, greater-
before days; because 
promised, hope-
chance; verity 
my faith these 
gentle-whispers-
echo-the-opportunity,
and so it is to them-I-
answer, fall before. For this; 
God; I-know would never negate. ~
 Patience-holds the-hand-of-grace.
 Wisdom embracing-knowing-love, 
peace ... holds-the-hand-of-truth, 
will-together all-discern ... !...

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Musings at Giza
by Michael R. Burch

In deepening pools of shadows lies
the Sphinx, and men still fear his eyes.
Though centuries have passed, he waits.
Egyptians gather at the gates.

Great pyramids, the looted tombs
—how still and desolate their...

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Liberal, simplified and abridged translation for speedy daily practice. 

Released into Public Domain. 

The Bodhisattva of Boundless Will arose from his seat, bared his right 
shoulder, turned towards the Buddha with joined palms and asked:...

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"Let's Make America Great Again!" *Sigh*
Great catch phrase! But...It's a ruse!...It's a lie!
Let's put the cards on the table! Shall we...Why?
(Your Brothers and Sisters will probably die!)
The words are the shallows of a deeper intent
Meant...

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His heart is with the winds
that set his spirit free,
enduring breeze that sets the sails
and guides him out to sea.

Sea rover fair with eyes as blue
as ocean’s deepest depth,
he hails the morning mist
and keenly sets...

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"Soul Surfer" 


I bought some sea shell beads 
today, 
stood by the ocean 
while the half sharp winter wind 
washed 
through 
me 
and 
whispered stinging sticatto 
cold licks next to my ear, so sincerely -...

Read More

The Bodhisattva of Boundless Will then asked in verse:
“O World Honored One of wondrous countenance, 
I now seek once more the origins of the One Who Hears 
And Heeds the Sounds of the World!” 

And...

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CHAPTER 9c

Swift a sand shark spiraled nearer
Baring teeth it eyed them coldly
Han spun full about and kicked it
In the center of its body
 
But at this the sand shark merely 
Shrugged and moved off several...

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Chapter 11c (The Island Kingdom, continued...)

Every member of the party
Had their fill of roasted sea-flesh
All the dogs and Rosy also 
Wolfed down all that they could swallow 
 
Then they rose up and departed
Heading north...

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Chapter 1 THE FISHERMAN

At the dawn of humankind in
Africa's great land of sunlight
This adventure of survival 
Of a family's arduous journey 
 
One of exile and betrayal
And of hopeful brave endurance 
Happened long before all...

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Statements

With hesitation, trepidation, caution, I dance softly
to the music, the sounds of interrelationships, step lightly
upon the dance floor of  relationships, of commitment,
- that dance of souls to different drummers that doth rent –
as we...

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https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Africa-adventures-Phil-Salmon/dp/197392479X


Chapter 14c

Warriors of mighty stature
Armed with blades of shining metal
Fire-wrought bronze, a work of wonder,
Walked beside a bright-robed figure

Slight of build and short in stature 
Whitening hair around his temples 
Now the warriors introduced him
As...

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