Long Unguent Poems

THIS WORLD OF DEW

This world? 
Moonlit dew
flicked from a crane's bill.
—Eihei Dogen Kigen, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Seventy-one?
How long
can a dewdrop last? 
—Eihei Dogen Kigen, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Dewdrops beading grass-blades
die before...

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The Dance of Salome
Herod bellowed out the night's festive orders..
"Bring the torches, bring the tables..
more wine, that we may rejoice,  
for tonight we revel in kindred friendship."
Herod strolled onto the terrace, nearly stumbled in...

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Brownian motion writ large...
within small medium 
as light brainstorm doth 
hail forth the following poem.

Across the realm of gray matter
slowly percolating within tissue
composed of neuronal, glial 
and endothelial cells, and although 
there must be biological...

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FREE VERSE VI

Reason Without Rhyme
by Michael R. Burch

I used to be averse
to free verse,
but now I admit
YOUR rhyming is WORSE!

But alas, in the end,
it’s all the same:
all verse is unpaid
and a crying shame.



What the Poet...

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Advice to Young Poets
by Nicanor Parra Sandoval
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Youngsters,
write however you will
in your preferred style.
Too much blood flowed under the bridge
for me to believe
there’s just one acceptable path.
In poetry everything’s permitted.

Originally published...

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1. A satellite on me is so superfluous
b’cos even without it, you’ll see my flaws
my new adulthood on your eyes is a sty
as my every late night makes you pray and cry
anytime my rebellion faces...

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Me and the missus live in decent
sturdy accommodations (formerly 
Schwenksville Elementary School
ofttimes referred to as prison,
and manager as the de facto warden),
albeit not so shabby nor chic low income 
quite modest (rather unmatchable cost wise)...

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We (me and the missus)
live in a decent
accommodations low income
quite modest rent,
which facility lacks no shortage
of gossip mongers

with mail delivery the major event
many old people smelling of unguent
faux superman thumping chests nsync
with hooking thumbs around
suspenders...

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A euphemism! I? That I do decry!
Why the very word does imply
That I would ignore, omit, pervert…
If only to prevent some hurt.

Well, let me speak out forthright:
Search thoroughly my ways as I might
I truly must...

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There’s a streetlamp outside my bedroom window
A yellow halo suspended in the ebon night
An eerie glow like an alien moon
That seems slightly awry
Somewhat out of tune
In the black velvet of the night
A comforting constant
In the...

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Your curiosity pulled
the poisoned dirk of loneliness
from the deepest chamber 
of my quaking heart.
With steady hand 
pressed to the open wound,
the healing process began
as wonder turned to love.

After washing away 
festering insecurities
then wrapping me 
in...

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      Tune perdendosi purple evening ebbs decipher
      Out blotted skies swaddle boats’ cosy slumber
     ...

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BF’s Girl

Man is identified by behavior.
I say man and she demands an
Accounting.  The definitive correlative
Can not be spoken.  The constant common
Can not be held in union.  I must discourse
All caveats else no...

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MOTHER’S LITTLE KILLERS

She hates them, the unguent power
Which sticks her fairy wings together
Making impossible the ivory tower
Of disinterested passion, the if and whether

Of generic names, the ultimate aloneness.
The honest answer is to unstick
The loathsome epithets...

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