Long Withdraws Poems

Come, You
by Rainer Maria Rilke
loose translation by Michael R. Burch

This was Rilke’s last poem, written ten days before his death. He died open-eyed in the arms of his doctor on December 29, 1926, in the...

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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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Archaic Torso of Apollo
by Rainer Maria Rilke
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

We cannot know the beheaded god
nor his eyes' forfeited visions. But still
the figure's trunk glows with the strange vitality
of a lamp lit from within,...

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Dream-worker 
delves deeply into my dream;

vibrations fondle anticipation
foreplay wakes wide-eyed 
swells of liquid libido quake the rendezvous edge -
a primordial being in his prime
a masculine ego quest for affaire d’amour;
her night-loving body 
c h a...

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The Panther
by Rainer Maria Rilke
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

His weary vision's so overwhelmed by iron bars,
his exhausted eyes see only blank Oblivion.
His world is not our world. It has no stars.
No light. Ten thousand...

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This is my translation of the first of Rilke’s Duino Elegies. Rilke began the first Duino Elegy in 1912, as a guest of Princess Marie von Thurn und Taxis, at Duino Castle, near Trieste on...

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.                          NOW

Well, GI Jack is welcome back, he left his...

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Then I saw thousand grim faces because
Cold distorted; thus I get much disgust
And always is so, any frost pond does.

And while we went to the middle just
Where any heavy fault and pain is found,
And in...

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Casualties of the aftermath...A Terrorist message, "Not in words"
We 'will' be continually eliminated.  Humans nature; Consistent
Disturbs!    
Why are we a target?    Propaganda...Can deceive
What is it, they 'really' want?...

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The hectic world is like a giant ocean.
Every day we wake up and dive in.
We dive into our work, activities, or 
errands we must do inside this great big world of blue!

Our friends and family,...

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The Flower and the Butterfly

In the subtle softness of dawn’s embrace,
A tender flower reclines upon her garden bed,
Enshrouded in the veil of morning mist,
Which caress her form like the softest lace, 

As golden rays of...

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Harumph To Holiday Hoopla – Phish Pshaw!

Relieved of fatherhood Saint
Nick schtick found me
to relinquish ratty outfit, and stow away zee bras
like padding and "FAKE flowing beard,
ah...don't remind me,
those well worn faux paws

of each dear deer...

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Unlikely Mike
by Michael R. Burch

I married someone else’s fantasy;
she admired me despite my mutilations.

I loved her for her heart’s sake, and for mine.
I hid my face and changed its connotations.

And in the dark I danced—slight,...

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A child passes by 
So full of joy
Life
A friend by his side
Broad smiles smothered all over their faces, a veil over childhood ignorance
Together they play, tumbling in the grass of the gardens of youth
But before...

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Written: April 12, 2024

Rumi Quote: "I am an ark in the swift flood of time, and my companions, a fellowship. Who throws in with us sails into light"
1st place contest winner

    ...

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Trespassers will be shot


I Survive not as a man but as a human being
I' am level but bent elements of life cast in a mutant haze
to come close to satisfaction my only compromise
brought up in...

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Haunted...
glowing foot falls on the dusted wooden planks cross the bridge
following them 
I swing around enormous trees 
skirt quickly...trying to catch up

were we holding hands as we walked
...did we hold hands?
I can't recall
but the muster...

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LONG AGO LAGGER

I slipped in through the back door
It was the middle of the night
I didn't want them seeing me
My demeanor just wasn't right

I went out to have some fun
It got in a bit late,...

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A hank of damp hair hangs limply on her forehead.  With the back of a work reddened hand she brushes it from her face.  From the galvanized tub before her, she withdraws a...

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Part One

GOU - Hexagram 44: One powerful Yin encounters or comes to meet the Yang in the Sixth month of the Gregorian Calendar, on the Sixth of June onwards – having associated with five (meaning...

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When I appear there Nature seems to 
Dance and dance and dance, 
When I disappear she is prone to 
Weep and weep and weep. 

Withdraws all clouds from sky to set a 
Splendid scenery, 
So...

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He lives between two worlds.
 
One that an average, or sane person, finds him or herself living day to day,
and that of a fictional writer, who allows his creative side to pull him into the...

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I
Anchored on a sun filtered shore 
Upon rocks which lay the days of yore 
In swirling pristine aquas of alluring calm 
Let it serenade heal my bruised palm

To chronicle tales of my hearts longings 
And...

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It's quiet here - quiet in a way that catches me off guard. The tranquility is almost tangible, something I can touch and hold and wrap around myself. I can hear the pulse of faraway...

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Sometimes, better to dig it up
Right from the root
And expose it to daylight
Cos' it's not good for a man to sleep all day
And not wake up to his responsibilities

It's not normal
If he pushes his wife...

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