Long Torpedo Poems

Epigrams by Michael R. Burch



Negligibles
by Michael R. Burch
 
Show me your most intimate items of apparel:
begin with the hem of your quicksilver slip ...



Negotiables
by Michael R. Burch

Love should be more than the sum of its...

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I, A. Robbie - Ham guilty for gobbledygook...
and ruffling turkey feathers!

An innocent A1 miss steak kin kith
once, a former main lion resident 
living social where Tigress and Euphrates 
converge and pool into Lake Wobegone ...

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MV WILHELM GUSTLOFF

This was the worst ship disaster, with the greatest loss of life at sea
A German ship that was overloaded, with over 10.600, war refugees

Sank on the 30 January 1945 by a Soviet submarine...

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The Hammer and the sickle were emblazoned on its tower
This underwater enemy would demonstrate its power
The submarine, in covert mode, torpedoes at the ready
The crosshairs on the monitor were holding nice and steady

The captain said,...

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Dragon took his penguins aloft to view the eclipse on that fine day.
They were careful to use the special viewing glasses as their mainstay.
The penguins were so excited and Dragon was always eager to please.
But...

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Today was my dad’s birthday.
I do not hate this day.
He loved this day.
So,I do not hate it?
I put out flags,for him.
I am unsure why my pain levels rise at night.
Torpedo speed.
Bent on destruction.
Is that the...

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The Rebel(1922).

Original Bangla : Kazi Nazrul Islam, Translation : Sajed kamal


Proclaim, Hero,
proclaim:  I raise my head high!
             Before me bows down the...

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AND THE MOTHERS WEEP
                               ...

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Born in 1915 at Birkenhead by the Port River Inlet 
A son of Port Adelaide  as one of the best youd get
In the days before bridges he would row
Across the river to training and...

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  Captain Waller  & Perth

The Japanese navy they came south,
Invaded Indonesia, in 1942
Cruiser Perth of 6 inch guns,
Captain Hector Waller was to choose her,  

De Ruyter, Java , Perth and the ...

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I seem to of late to live between an inner life of double doubt and life aberrant that relates to a coincintude that female hate is alive and well, as it subjigates its tentacles around...

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War came. How could it not? Bringing many things especially death. They wanted to knock Turkey out of the war. One ally less for Germany. 
Many events happened. Some were firsts. All included death. It...

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Flaming steaks and ice cold drinks
you thought good food had become extinct
until you ate here and gave us a nod and a wink.

Appetizers galore with soft stringy cheese sticks, artichoke hearts deep fried
with a taste...

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Salmon Run

A flurry of reds emerges distorted from the river;
As the Sockeye Salmon return from the ocean,
Following the scent of their home stream water,
Swimming upstream to the place of their birth,
In this, their final act...

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Sprawling green gardens super 
Brilliant, breezy cool weather 
Bustling busy night life 
Clubbing culture that does strike 
Thriving tech talent pool 
With culture uniquely cool 
Fastest growing tech hub 
City of many clubs and pub...

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The Flag of the British Merchant Navy 

The Battle of the Atlantic

We’ve heard of the famous Mighty Hood that was sunk by a Bismarck shell
We know how many men were lost and the Skippers name...

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"I would get so high that I couldn’t breathe. My mind is so intent on making others 
comfortable, on guessing where the comfort level is in others, that I, at times, tend to fry up.

This...

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Merciful Deceased Mother - Father T'will See Thee Anon

Atheism underscores bedrock
schema Holy Toledo
encompassing mine secular humanistic credo
simultaneously tricking elusive illusion, sans
supernal radiant quintessence

blasting damn ming the torpedo
didst alight kindle linkedin skepticism,
asper this son kissed faith...

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I ham quill tee for gobbledygook...
and ruffling tail feathers!

An innocent miss steak kin...
once former main lion den cha hoard servant,
resident iz cow herd vegetarian boar
hoof faux whatever reason iz explore

ring bing foo fighting beastie boy,...

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Yet upon another reflexive routine dash
skipping to Waterloo, I got emboldened
with idea praising basic vital functions
aware requisite elimination of liquid
and/or solid waste any obstruction
disallowing body to expel toxins would

prove fatal, thus gratitude toward
regular unpicturized, unhindered,...

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Hey! Look at this… It’s a ‘Dragon Spy’, we have lurking about.
Truly I must say, 007 has nothing on our 003 & one half. 
Yep! A secret agent is lurking inside, Dragon, at our house.
He’s...

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Young Eyes
The ten year old child sat by the water. They saw what was happening and it wasn't good. Affecting them greatly, bringing nightmares and nasty flashbacks. Things their young mind struggled to comprehend. Seeing...

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I ham guilty for  gobbledygook...
and ruffling turkey feathers!

An innocent miss steak kin...
once former main lion,
resident iz cow herd vegetarian boar

ring beastie boy, who doth
newt practice, what he preaches your
truly battens down chicken
coop hatches so......

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So Far From Home
Under a curving shimmering blue fish bowl sky the small Patrol Torpedo boat cruises gentle summer swells in the distant Pacific, under summer skies torn apart by brutal bitter total war. 
Small...

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Yamaguchi Seishi haiku modern English translations

Grasses wilt:
the braking locomotive
grinds to a halt.
—Yamaguchi Seishi, loose translation by Michael R. Burch

Ceaseless chaos—
ice floes clash
in the Soya straits.
—Yamaguchi Seishi, loose translation by Michael R. Burch

Having crossed the sea,
winter...

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