Long Sleepyheads Poems

These are modern English translations of haiku and tanka by Takaha Shugyo...

ochitsubaki ware naraba kyuryu e otsu

Oh, fallen camellias,
if I were you,
I'd leap into the torrent!
—Takaha Shugyo, loose translation by Michael R. Burch

dôkefuku nugazu tentômushi...

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Am I really this old,
so many ghosts
beckoning?
—Michael R. Burch

Sleepyheads!
I recite my haiku
to the inattentive lilies.
—Michael R. Burch

Stillness:
the sound of petals
drifting down softly together...
—Miura Chora, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

The sky tries to assume
your eyes’...

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These are my modern English translations of Takaha Shugyo haiku and tanka...

hatogata horarete ichiju haya mebuku

A single tree
with a heart carved into its trunk
blossoms prematurely
—Takaha Shugyo, loose translation by Michael R. Burch

dôkefuku nugazu tentômushi no...

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These are original haiku by Michael R. Burch and his translations of haiku by the Japanese masters Matsuo Basho, Yosa Buson, Masaoka Shiki, and others. 

Am I really this old,
so many ghosts
beckoning?
—Michael R. Burch

Sleepyheads!
I recite...

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Forecasts

 
'...the burnt-out end of smoky days'

                            T.S....

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Grab a wooden spoon, and choose a mixing bowl
A breakfast that is piping hot is worth its weight in gold!
You can make them by the dozens, or one or two will do
Make them for your...

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'...the burnt-out end of smoky days'



                    T.S. Eliot


 

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The evening rumbles in 

and grumbles, tea...

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l 

The evening rumbles in 
and grumbles, tea is served, the kettle 
whistles, bread 
is buttered, weary workers settle, 
nibble, drink their tea and chatter, 
as the platter's 
passed around and cakes are proffered 
in...

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Grandma, The Farm And The Silent Young Cat

Before soft golden rays the roses slept
Night, its slumbers had not yet bid adieu
From its barn perch the young, silent cat leapt
Upon the old farmer's empty brown shoe
And...

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Beachfront condos shrouded in the early mist 
of morning. Seagulls hanging on the breeze, 
their screeching waking sleepyheads 
before their coffee, it's July the 4th, 
the holiday is here! 

Sailboats daubed in milky opalescence 
growing...

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Beachfront condos shrouded in the early mist 
of morning. Seagulls hanging on the breeze,
their loud screeching waking sleepyheads 
before their coffee, it's July the 4th, 
the holiday is here!

Sailboats daubed in milky opalescence
growing clear, as...

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Beachfront condos shrouded in the early mist 
of morning. Seagulls hanging on the breeze,
their screeching waking sleepyheads 
before their coffee, it's July the 4th, 
the holiday is here!

Sailboats daubed in milky opalescence
growing clear, as sunlight...

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'...the burnt out end of smoky days' - T.S. Eliot


l

The evening rumbles in 
and grumbles, tea is served, the kettle
whistles, bread 
is buttered, weary workers settle,
nibble, drink their tea and chatter,
as the platter's 
passed around...

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...inspired by T.S. Eliot

          ******
l

The evening rumbles in 
and grumbles, tea is served, the kettle
whistles, bread 
is buttered, weary workers settle,
nibble, drink their tea and chatter,
as...

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'...the burnt out end of smoky days' - T.S. Eliot


l

The evening rumbles in 
and grumbles, tea is served, the kettle
whistles, bread 
is buttered, weary workers settle,
nibble, drink their tea and chatter,
as the platter's 
passed around...

Read More

l 

The evening rumbles in 
and grumbles, tea is served, the kettle 
whistles, bread 
is buttered, weary workers settle, 
nibble, drink their tea and chatter, 
as the platter's 
passed around and cakes are proffered 
in...

Read More

l

The evening rumbles in 
and grumbles, tea is served, the kettle
whistles, bread 
is buttered, weary workers settle,
nibble, drink their tea and chatter,
as the platter's 
passed around and cakes are proffered
in the cozy parlour, lamp-lit,
rum is...

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Yellow pines swaying at base camp,
early October morn greets the avid hunters
with its autumnal briskness, waking any
sleepyheads who are stirring under covers,
generators humming away at varying speeds,
smell of frying bacon and sizzling eggs,
add to the...

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I hand you an apple, and you are off
on a delightful spin of possibilities.
The first thought is identification,
the next, perhaps, one of degree.
Do you wish to eat it now , or might it better
adorn the...

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Mistleaneous
			
			Children waiting, contemplating;			
			tree lightings; reindeer sightings;			
			decorations; toy donations; 
			food galore; help feed the poor;		
			evergreen; Nativity scene;
			cookies baking; baby's waking;
	    		Church at midnight; candles bright;
		 	presents wrapped; wallet's tapped!
			Lights out; Santa's about;
			each door...

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I wrote about the love thats in your eyes,
The love I hold for you in each smile
And then, I feel the sting of your hand,
And the cut of your words,
That slices me like a knife...

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Once upon a time when I was a little girl
I knew the sun fairy quite intimately
It SEEMS SO LONG AGO since I was UP EARLY
For day breaks first kiss of sunlight
I bathed in the sparkling...

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When you hear the whippoorwill
and cricket on the window sill.
When tree frogs chirp their merry song
you know then it wont be long
until the fairies play

When sunlight fades to softest hue, 
and flowers bathe in dew,
and...

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