Long Yong Poems

Rejection
a roundel by Geoffrey Chaucer
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Your beauty from your heart has so erased
Pity, that it's useless to complain;
For Pride now holds your mercy by a chain.

I'm guiltless, yet my sentence has...

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Oasis
by Michael R. Burch 
 
for Beth
 
I want tears to form again
in the shriveled glands of these eyes
dried all these long years
by too much heated knowing.
 
I want tears to course down
these parched cheeks,...

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To a Mouse
by Robert Burns
translation/modernization/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Sleek, tiny, timorous, cowering beast,
Why’s such panic in your breast?
Why dash away, so quick, so rash,
In a frenzied flash
When I would be loath to run after you
With...

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I wrote and read this poem at my grandmothers funeral.


While growing up, Toni; Steven and I
saw our Grandparents sacrifice,
so much of their own lives, without a fuss.
Along with our Mother, they did it just for...

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BOING..?!#! Its off at boeing..' the wheels and doors have
Gone..planes just; over-drive the runways, they're rivalling
Sann-yong..They're rolling in inclusions, like its for a dare!!
People choosing flights right now, for boeing they don't care.' Thery're checking...

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Kung sasariwain ko sa 'king isip
Ang nangagdaang mga kapanahunan,
Liban kay Jessang lubhang pinintakasi,
Ikaw'y naroon 'di ko maikukubli!

Sa koliheyo kata'y nagkakilala,
Katoto kita sa 'sang asignatura,
Sa unang tagpo'y 'di ko maikakaila
May paghanga ako sa iyong nadama.

Aywan ko...

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A LOVELY BABY BOY
(For Supei, Yong Chye, Hock San
and all family and friends)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



A special day for all to know:
A baby boy in early hours,
A lovely way to shine and show,
A time for joy both yours...

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Kasiyahang ‘di ko lubusang mawari; 
At kislap nang nag-uumapaw na ngiti
Sadyang bakas sa nanging'nig na mga labi
Noong tayo ay tahasang magkatabi.

Paghihirap na ‘di bakas… nililihim…
Pagkat kahit ipilit may ‘la sa piling, 
Kahit kalipunan ng ‘king...

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Ikwintas mo sa iyong leeg ang tali, 
Itanim mo rin ito sa iyong puso, 
Panghawakan mo sa lahat ng sandali, 
Huwag mong bitawan nang dahil sa tukso, 
Ito ang sa iyo ay magkakandili, 
Kahit ano...

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is a mass hysteria
induced by the sound 
of Indies short-tailed crickets mating, 
not, as conspiracy would have it,
the result of a sonic weapon,
a microwave attack,
or malfunctioning eavesdropping equipment.

Likewise, the Sausalito Hum 
was not a snooping...

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You just have a way that when i see you, you mak me so happy when i with you.
Evey time i see you i get this great feeling when im around you. I guess they...

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We'll miss your presence, Connie dear
the special kindness you have shown-
and now we're feeling quite alone.

We'll miss your poems, that is clear-
the time you took to reading ours-
your comments rating full five stars!

Your thoughtful words...

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I Have a Yong Suster
(anonymous Medieval English riddle-poem, circa 1430)
translation by Michael R. Burch

I have a young sister
Far beyond the sea;
Many are the keepsakes
That she sent me.

She sent me the cherry
Without any stone;
And also the...

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(Dedication: For my nephew 
Yong Chye and his wife Su Pei)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Wonder finds joy in love most true,
Explore each day the path of cheer.
Thrill funds new ploys in happy cues,
We find nice ways to make life...

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I.
Matapos ang pagsabog ng 'yong alindog,
Mayro'ng ingay'ng sa paarala'y pumutok,
Walang anu- ano, ang laya' y nasugpo.
Silid nati'y nagkakulay at napuno.
II.
"Dito sa bandang hilaga ng likuran,
Sa layo'y patayo kitang tinutunghan,
Tahimik 'kong puso mo'y sinusumpaan
Ng pagmamahal ."...

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Kaluluwa ko’y muling sinasariwa
Ang nangagngulatding-talulot ng tuwa
Na bibihira na lamang nadadalaw’t
Nadidiligan nitong abang gunita.

Dito ngayon sa ‘king pagbabalik-sulyap
Sa kahapong tila ‘di malip’rang-uwak;
Kaluluwa ko ay nasubsob sa dawag
Ng damuhan ng gun’tang nasawimpalad.

Dito ay aking pamuling namamalas
Ang...

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Mabuti't inaari mong kalayaan
Ang namamayani sa mahal kong bayan! 
Mabuti't iyo paring nalalasahan
Ang bunga ng pagkakabuwal ni Rizal! 

Ngunit bamuti ba ‘yong nakikita? 
Siguro nga ganap na tayong ‘timawa, 
Subalit imulat mo ang mga mata
Pakpak...

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When Little Miss Muffet 
first visited buffets,
she’d choose just cheese entrees,
macaroni...

Until one day in line
a grand gourmand spied her.
He advised some cider
and egg foo yong.

Now I'm the frightened one;
ev'ry night of the week
new gourmet food...

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Remember 

Ding dong ying yong 
Funny days before the 
Festival comes sweets 
Of fruits dress of Rose 
Dishes of fortune like 
Heaven forbid to think 
When you get enjoy the 
White flowers in your hands...

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