Long Untroubled Poems

The first soft snow: 
leaves of the awed jonquil 
bow low
—Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch

Come, investigate loneliness! 
a solitary leaf
clings to the Kiri tree
—Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch

The cheerful-chirping cricket
contends gray...

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Dusk-gliding swallow, 
please spare my small friends
flitting among the flowers! 
—Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch

A bee emerging
from deep within the peony's hairy recesses
flies off, sated
—Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch

That dying cricket,...

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Limericks I - Relatives and Relativity

The Cosmological Constant
by Michael R. Burch

Einstein, the frizzy-haired,
said E equals MC squared.
Thus all mass decreases
as activity ceases?
Not my mass, my a$$ declared!


A$$-tronomical
by Michael R. Burch

Relativity, the theorists’ creed,
says mass increases...

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Poems about Children II



On Looking into Curious George’s Mirrors
by Michael R. Burch

for Maya McManmon, granddaughter of the poet Jim McManmon

Maya was made in the image of God;
may the reflections she sees in those curious mirrors
always...

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Thanksgiving, 1971,
a parachute pilgrim approaches Northwest Flight 305
as Dan Cooper, anonymous businessman,  anarchist airborne, 
black suit, black sunglasses, a black tie
and a black briefcase broaching black motives,
Portland to Seattle, prison or criminal pantheon, 
before...

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'Twas the night before Christmas and all were asleep,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a sheep.
The cattle were snoozing, the pigs were at rest
And the chickens were settled asleep on the nest.

Apart from some...

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Crackling leaves, amber and gold
Crunch beneath my feet, silencing the cold
Vibrant hues in grace arising, twisting
My thoughts, reflecting each memory, each
Blessing… 

Crisp laughter – oaks chuckling, pines whispering
Amused by the hilarity of a cool September...

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Grab Bag Poems and Epigrams

POEMS

Less Heroic Couplets: Dark Cloud, Silver Lining, Dupes
from “Love in the Time of the Coronavirus”
by Michael R. Burch

Every corona has a silver lining:
I’m too far away to hear your whining,
and despite...

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Children's Poems VII

These are poems for children and poems about children and their mothers, fathers, grandmother, grandfathers and extended families. 



Sailing to My Grandfather, for George Hurt
by Michael R. Burch

This distance between us
—this vast sea
of...

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Odyssey from Africa, Chapter 12 (d) The fireflower (cont.)

Dominated by one hilltop 
Round in form, it’s summit hidden
In the whiteness of a cloud base
There they saw their destination 

Now they climbed by steepening gradient
Through a...

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Odyssey from Africa 15b (Southland)

“Like an antelope in stature 
Yet they hopped along like sparrows!
On big hind limbs like a rabbit’s
With a rat-like tail behind them
 
“At the sight of such strange wonders
I was wakened...

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Sitting by the bay during a weekday watching the water I thought a manatee I observed
Just beneath the surface, it came up for just a few seconds and didn’t reemerge. 
I followed it with my...

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Francis saw the lights and heard the approaching sound of the Harley.She was at the entrance when Suzanne and Arlis pulled up .He slumped behind Suzanne leaning upon her as she maneuvered the bike to...

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They could hear the mighty felines
Running in a line behind them
Han and Kwona and the children 
Knew that they were being herded
 
These great sabre-tooth cat hunters
Were the rulers of the forest;
Now they are no longer with...

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My only companions are my dreams
my only friends Who call out for me
their voices a melody for me to fallow
save me my friends from this Dark World

Wolfs teach me to be loyal and to...

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We celebrate Guy Fawkes although he did not quite make the grade

I know and understand rebellion threatens thus he met his fate

Could have been worse he could have blown of his incendiary hand

Less body parts...

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TEMPEST

Twin limestone tors thrust up through valley floor
Like isles or icebergs in a calm flat sea
Deep green save where shear rock can hold no spore
To spawn in fecund niche a vine or tree

Midday and all...

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I’ve been hard and I’ve been soft
My heart has known love
And my heart has known disgust
I’ve been strong and I’ve been weak
My heart has known hope
And my heart has known despair
I’ve been warm and I’ve...

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“On the day that you were born, the angels got together and decided to create a dream come true, so they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold and starlight in your eyes of...

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The Wonder Boys
by Michael R. Burch
 
(for Leslie Mellichamp, the late editor of The Lyric,
who was a friend and mentor to many poets, and
a fine poet in his own right)
 
The stars were always there,...

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Apparently in time and space, the dark "House of the Empire of [Utter] Chaos" duly falls: Weakened injurious walls tumble into ruination and leave an untroubled, celebratory, sprawling horizon laughing all around.  There's no...

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On the precipice it stands,
loose-limbed with a sinewy grace,
body taut with an implied swagger,
face, grinning, a sun-dappled gold. 
Unclouded by the cataract of cynicism, 
its eyes survey a horizon heat-hazed with 
a thousand promises. 

As...

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The Camarilla  *part 1

She forgets every meaning of untroubled silence and fantasy
Joyful and full of spirit, indulgent ways to live a life in existence
Her unity, filled with haven never again the craven
Allowing to never...

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small trumpeter waves wash ashore
the sea grins with ease
children scamper on the beach 
                     ...

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Good Will, my happy friend by Kant intoxicated:
Why do some people make living so complicated?
I want to visit him, but he was left and let his key
My poor house is open forever,  for friends...

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