Long Wisest Poems

Epigrams by Michael R. Burch

If brevity is the soul of wit
then brevity and levity 
are the whole of it.
—Michael R. Burch

To write an epigram, cram.
If you lack wit, scram!
—Michael R. Burch

Conformists of a feather
flock together.
—Michael...

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What fills your goals, son?

I told you!
Need to get my car rolling [life rolling, love rolling]
yesterday,
if not today...

If I may interrupt
to process mindful resilience
for a bit...

Let me ask again:
Noticing you are concerned about long-winded
and -winding
and...

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Veronica Franco translations

Veronica Franco (1546-1591) was a Venetian courtesan who wrote literary-quality poetry and prose.

Capitolo 19: A Courtesan's Love Lyric (I) 
by Veronica Franco
loose translation by Michael R. Burch

"I resolved to make a virtue of...

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There was a little wind fairy who lived in a meadow near a small town, her name was Estella. Estella had beautiful blue hair like the sky, so her friends called her the little blue...

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The Old grizzled Bear... was now keenly aware
    as he lay in his Cave all alone.
Where his time as King... was a mere passing thing
    and must choose another...

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NOTE: THIS IS ONLY THE 1st half of this piece-- its 2nd half is posted separately due to Poetry Soup's poem-lengths-limitation. Be sure to check out the balance of this poem = "Tiny Town Events"...

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To receive care
that best meets your needs,
and also,
by the way,
everyone else's too,
we look first
to where and when we have given such care
since our original longest reborn journey
down Mom's birth canal,
prepared just in time for our...

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Here's the deal, folks...
   This is, as indicated, the 2nd HALF of this fairly lengthy poem. Due to Poetry Soup's file-size limitations, this piece had to be posted in 2 parts. 
 ...

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“I don't know anything about that.  I just do what I must.”
Bréagán's smile was sad but understanding.  He knew what it was like to be pushed to do what seemed impossible.  He...

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Here's the scoop, friends...
   This is, as indicated, the 1st HALF of this fairly lengthy poem. The 2nd half had to be posted separately due to Poetry Soup's file-size limitations. No other way...

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My TransITion began there
right there
in my woodland playground,
when I first knew
something right feels wrong to others.

I was blind to curve-balls
hurled at me.
Being "It" is not why I grow
this TransIt mind and body!

Or, is it?

Could I...

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This is, as indicated, the 1st THIRD of this lengthy poem. The 2nd and final thirds had to be posted separately due to Poetry Soup's file-size limitations. No other way I could manage to make...

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I'm feeling some civil
democratic health
neglect

To re-member
monocultural anthropocentrism
is a mental health crisis

In our U.S. Win/Lose normative
miseducational systems,

In our anti-democratic
unhealthy parenting,
self caregiving,
uncare-receiving deformative win/lose
devolutionary anti-thesis

AntiMessianic
to prophecy ReGenerative Earth's unParadise demise,
ecologically degenerative
and theologically rationalized:

Earth isn't Heaven
as Nature isn't...

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Ya' gotta feel sorry for this ding-bat - 


The clouds were drifting eastward through a cool late-evening sky, as I was barreling down a road in eastern Tennessee. 
Whipping through the traffic in a new...

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Interesting
how dominant or repressed,
predative or victimized,
winner or loser,
positive or negative,
show up in so many paradigms
of light,
beauty,
truth;

And/Or predetermined
prejudicial shadow
stories
too bipolar--

Not enough dipolar both/and
complementarity,
cause/effective co-arising nuanced circles
[not lines 
much less militaristic vanquishing bold squares]
recycling civility,
repurposing cooperative humanity,
destiny,
integrity...

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The Moon Also Rises
The Midwatch

Harry Mayer


The X.O.’s in the shower
and the Captain’s in his bed.
The Chiefs’ are playin’ poker
as we’re steamin’ to the Med.

“I’ll take that bet and raise you”
is what the Bo’sun says
from the...

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To prepare for final cosmic breath
exhaled

echoing first breath
inhaling
waiting to exhale

silent sacred pause 
for Earth's final soliloquy 

Terminating all humane
and inhumane futures,
healthy
and disturbing relationships,
elegantly excruciating ecstasy

Leaving hell
without receiving Heaven

Surrendering commitments
to health
and lack thereof

Future obligations
and past assets

Resigning...

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I I’m constantly rehearsing 
On my versing 
Never sliding or swerving
My Rhymes play
Like a wordsmith
I’m Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult
Remembering to stay humble
And claim my guilt and my fault
The Wisest Man once said what’s...

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The word "Galaxy", is derived from the Greek "galaxias", literally "milky", a reference to the Milky Way galaxy. Galaxies contain varying amounts of star systems, star clusters and types of interstellar clouds. (Nebula is Latin...

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My life was so exciting and busy, but still I was dissatisfied,
For my job was going nowhere, like blooms with noplace to hide.

I had for long had a dream, of becoming a world famous singer,
But...

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In twilight's realm, where moonbeams entwine,
Two owls engaged in a contrast of minds:
A Great Horned Owl, proud and strong,
And a Great Gray Owl, cunning and long.

Amidst the trees, their feathers shone,
"Who is the wisest?" their...

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Back with poetry vengeance,
Don’t fear this, Transcendence 
Or from the Abyss?
Elohim’s Prince,
Or a Demonic Word Smith with written myths? 
These flames destroy man’s deceitful tactics and machines,
Once seen……. 
Story Rhymes dreamt and told, 
To the...

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Have you chosen what you will become,
my son,
or will you become something yet unchosen?

Become?

How will you keep yourself gainfully occupied,
dare I speak of vocation?

Oh yes,
I will be absent.

Absent from…?

From you.
Absent from you.

My wisest son,
thank you...

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Ah, most beautiful
In this World is Music
Best language to learn.

A prime, universal Connection
To, and for, all Life and Living
From without, and within.

As authors, from the heart’s breath in each of us
Playing out our diverse humankind…

To...

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BULLETS IN THE SOUP POT
I
BEFORE THE MIRROR
Sometimes, I sit on my sofa
Pondering on why war, poverty, hatred
and anguish has become a comforting bliss.
They say life is an unending quest; is it?
They say true love lasts...

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