Long Stripping Poems

It may have been the devil himself who prompted the kids in my schoolyard back in 1947 to chant "Patsy Foley's roly-poly from eating too much ravioli."

At first, no one could remember who started the...

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Perhat Tursun

Perhat Tursun (1969-) is one of the foremost living Uyghur language poets, if he is still alive. Born and raised in Atush, a city in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Tursun began writing poetry...

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I got up this morning in a good mood 
searching for solitude in the distant skies
And watching the clouds rolling by
I stopped and listened to the sounds around me
While contemplating my sacred destiny
Barking dogs and...

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The night sky was dark but for the beam of light that glared through the trees before them as they walked into the woods.  Joulupukki and Lumi were careful not to get to close...

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{Poet’s Note : I wrote this poem for the passing of my very dear friend & comrade, Cecyl Esau, Umkhonto we Sizwe Commander in 2021, as a contribution to his memorial service. Cecyl was given...

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Saturday, September 23, 2023  

Coincides with first day of fall
and Autumnal equinox for said year,
where colorful splash kindled like tinder.

After I riff flecked about thee August
Autumn Equinox 2023,
this seasonal polymath teached you 
fall Equinox...

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Two, perhaps three miles out to sea, beyond the reef to Zapatillas,
Bocas’ dual sand-edged footprint jewels with jungle centre trees, 
Francesco’s outboard boat heads out to Caribbean’s deeper blue.

Where sun burns softer gringo skin, but...

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Day 2

OK, guys, gather round. We’ll just share the thoughts on what you did last night, before we get onto the tasks at hand.
George, would you like to start?
Last night, I was reading the book...

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Hannah, I haven't seen or heard you cry
not in the gray of winter day
or in the cold silence of our prisoner nights,
the others can hardly keep up with you on the marches
your face is changeless...

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“What's this then,” he asked him as Sprinteren poked his head through the stable door.
     “Umm, we're guarding the back door to make sure no one tries to get in or...

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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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Several days passed when Joulupukki finally had a chance to meet with the council.
     “Seileach,” Joulupukki nodded to the Elder as he entered the council chamber convening once again on the...

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Damian Sr. spent two nights in
Saint Michael's Medical Center 
With his wife and his new 
Beautiful baby boy.
They were welcomed home by
Damian's friends Sébastien 
Shakespeare Malcolm Justin 
And Shannon.  Delilah came
down stairs to Present...

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"With every fiber of my being, my eyes glimpse at my whole life gone avail and unjust; the sacrifice mother had made before birth was certainly not enough, wish I had gone through the flames...

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“Now, let's see about the elf at the door.”  Pulling himself up to his full height and stretching his shoulders to make himself look as large and fierce as possible, Joulupukki grabbed the door...

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The finis sing touches touché

Knead dull brows knitted; 
belief system I cogitate 
gearing thee ordinary bipedal hominid 
acquiesces to deck the halls 
of the mountain (dew) king with boughs 
of sister golden haired 
sprinkling angel...

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{"We brought it to our lips and inhaled the wavering smokiness that was stoning and exotic. Filled our senses with a manuscript of what life could be like with a fog surrounding your cranium, not...

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(a university-life vignette)

It’s Saturday morning at about 9am. I’m in the chemistry lab, a sterile looking room with 12 workstations that are like multi level kitchen islands with sinks and various lab gear. It’s the...

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Stripping away at truth                               ...

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Their love affair 
Was coming to an end
He'd felt the shadow 
Of it
For a while now

It started
With subtle 
Changes 
In her ways with him
Then ones so drastic
And harsh
He wondered 
If their love
Had ever even really...

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Fifty stars
and
thirteen stripes
Wavy patriotic mathematician
do the math ... 
Subtraction or addition,
what will the numbers be,
37 or 63?
Slavery took away my parents’ human rights,
and their children’s dignity
I got 59 stripes to show 
	what was done to...

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Only bold , italics , 

The stench of power

  There’s a common smell of bull*****been spreading through this land 
Blair and Brown once had the power to spend spend spend out of hand
The banks...

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si tu t'appelles melancolie - oui
if your name is melancholy,
the scant tidbits I know of French.

perfect cold day to down
a cup of hot chocolate, java or joe
in tandem with an intelligent conversation
that easily doth flow
twould...

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Whichever Man

Beyond the window there is a stripping of the mind to the other side. Lost to the lost-world of pain, it gives way to blasphemy then begging.

It's not a touching side as yet but...

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Prejudice

You say…You are different, I don’t like you
You skins color effects my view
Get behind me what are you think you’re doing
This is not approved, you’re not approved

   I say…Do not judge me you...

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