Long Tercet Poems

Instruction
by Michael R. Burch

Toss this poem aside
to the filigreed and the wild tide
of sunset.

Strike my name,
and still it is all the same.
The onset

of night is in the despairing skies;
each hut shuts its bright bewildered eyes.
The...

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"The Book of Changes"

Thoughts arrived before words,
1000s of years before
the crossing of curves

always seen to be 
swimming upstream 
against the current

thoughts … and feelings,
in the flow, always arrive 
before words, they are cast 

in the...

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A king entered in a robe,
Clothed in a raiment of
Multitudous colors:
Vast and enormous is he,
Occupying matters of matters,
Spaces of Spaces.
His presence accomodates no vacuum.
Before him was raident throne,
Swathed in light and graced
With fire of sulphur...

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Telling tales or stories is a favourable pasttime;
But using pictures to tell stories of past and present,
Yours remind me of days back in time,
Would not be all very  recent,
Last ones of grateful recline
To golden...

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A Progressive Shadow

A series of real challenges and troubling world events 
In our twenty-first century give us a definite reason and
An urgency to pause and reflect on mankind’s situation.

Our world today—more than at any other...

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What are words other than coffin nails be?
Who does it belong to when it rails me?
An empty vessel at best that bails thee.

Lend me your ear and draw your heart near;
my words might seer, but...

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The root word for religion is not kind – 
Latin verb that means to tie or to bind – 
as it tends to play tricks on anyone’s mind. 

For some, the edicts lash; they mercilessly...

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A rising sun sheds light, Bright
from darkness. To you I turn, our eyes
meet for the first time today. Inspiring, tempting,
I want to ravage you. Reveal your mysteries,
talk to you, a conversation. Enter your mind,
a vocal...

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That Ancient Darkside of All Hallows’ Eve Past

As in the fabled medieval times of centuries in the deep past,
It’s time once again to celebrate the hidden ugly horror that
Seeks to infest and devour all human...

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Entering the Dark Side of a Moonbeam
 
Entering the dark side of a moonbeam is always very risky
since the cold and howling bitterness of the night escapes,
as a moaning, devilish agony of selfishness devours the...

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Entering the Dark Side of a Moonbeam
 
Entering the dark side of a moonbeam is always very risky
since the cold and howling bitterness of the night escapes,
as a moaning, devilish agony of selfishness devours the...

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Twelve is the number of months we journey through;
time sprints by, it's true

Eleven sounds for the first line - I reckoned
five for the second

Ten is the count of either fingers or toes;
do cool things with...

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As in the fabled medieval times of centuries in the deep past,
It’s time once again to celebrate the hidden ugly horror that
Seeks to infest and devour all human souls in this new century. 

Be warned...

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The Walk of Love    			

With you now entering this heart enchanting with rose petals
You’re the sweetest flower dancing tunes inside one’s mind
Once upon a fairy tale dream adoring you my loving princess

You...

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Entering the dark side of a moonbeam is always very risky
since the cold and howling bitterness of the night escapes,
as a moaning, devilish agony of selfishness devours the good.

As the human heart fills with air,...

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Entering the dark side of a moonbeam is always very risky
since the cold and howling bitterness of the night escapes,
as a moaning, devilish agony of selfishness devours the good.

As the human heart fills with air,...

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The mellifluous musical tones of the village bells

Echoing chimes over the cold snowcapped mountains

Both finding their way to people in the valley below

Christmas songs — let your spirit sing freely and loudly

Welcoming the Birth of...

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Peace, Love, and God’s Greatest Gift

The mellifluous musical tones of the village bells
Echoing chimes over the cold snowcapped mountains
Both finding their way to people in the valley below

Christmas songs—let your spirit sing freely and loudly
Welcoming...

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The Wind and Sea


The mighty wind unleashed its gusty song 
     across the tranquil, undulating sea,
and stirred her body with his breath-filled kiss.

Set out to resurrect the dormant wave,
  ...

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The mellifluous musical tones of the village bells
Echoing chimes over the cold snowcapped mountains
Both finding their way to people in the valley below

Christmas songs—let your spirit sing freely and loudly
Welcoming the Birth of Our Savior...

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Diamonds forever sparkle deeply as a treasured jewel
Dawning and revealing pure in a fresh breath of light 
Shining on warm gentle bonds inside one’s very heart

Tears just beating drums with sounds splashing gently
Young and beautiful...

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Diamonds forever sparkle deeply as a treasured jewel
Dawning and revealing pure in a fresh breath of light 
Shining on warm gentle bonds inside one’s very heart

Tears just beating drums with sounds splashing gently
Young and beautiful...

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Reclining within spring's bouquet
she thought,” Please stay, don't rush away,
I so enjoy, these blooms of May."

This maiden who boldly proclaimed
wished only for sweet azure sky
upon which white clouds could be framed
without knowing the reasons why.

Yet,...

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Haikus by René Etiemble, with commentaries,  Translated by T. Wignesan 

(Taken from Etiemble’s only collection of poems (out of thousands which he burned in a fit of rage against the university in 1983): le...

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We live today in a world of great tumult
And of rising uncertainty and anxiety 
Which pervade the world stage like a cancer

Despite soaring technological advances
Our environment and our home Earth
Are bearing an unimaginable burden

People are...

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