Meter Poems

Bang! Bang! Bang! 
The sound of gun shots echoing in the air
Shattering windows and, smashing glasses 
Sending people pouring out in the street
Gun shots penetrating the clouds 
With a message that is very loud

People are running and screaming around
 confused...Read More

She is brighter than dawn
by Michael R. Burch

for Beth

There’s a light about her
like the moon through a mist:
a starry candescence
with which she is blessed

and my heart to her light
like the tide now is pulled ...
she is fair, O, and bright
like...Read More

pure elation
as I embrace you with 
sonnets that kindle the fire
between us

a constant balm that will
hold you tightly in the night
and caress your fears
with a diamante of desire

our heartbeats gradually increase
by iambs to a meter uncharted
unmeasured 
unspoken 

the rhyme and...Read More

A WISH FOR ALL FISH

Washed up on shores around the world
Already dead, a whale, a dolphin a shark, 
All marine life is suffering, the situation
Has become absurd, 
The facts real and stark!
My Fairy God mother in my poem
Yes about a...Read More

Let all that ‘I AM,’ yes, my pulp, seed, and cover,
From dreams long misplaced to the fears, I’m resisting
(Though friends think them offal). My eye’s tears from mote
(That makes sparks when all stars hide), bound pain tied with sunbeams,
Mind’s clouds...Read More

I saw it lying there curdle up
It’s little body trembling, its tail shaking 
And it appear as if its hind leg is broken
I put it to stand up but it fall to the ground
And cry out in great pain
It lay...Read More

In sandy Egypt lived three men
In ancient days when pharaohs reigned
The kingdom of the pyramids,
Osiris and that Isis’ den,
Whom everyone worships and heeds,
Or at least doing so they feigned,
And those gods too blessed them and deigned.
But these three men round...Read More

There is a song within the heart
made of a glowing trusting faith.
Its melody sweet dulcet sounds
and with each word delight imparts
deep down inside where is resounds
is lovely music it can make
more than one human heart can take.
Sometimes the songs are...Read More

Hill now gone, a soul deflated
The wicked winds began to cry
Every fiber of his being
Motionless and now abated
Uttered pleadings quickly fleeing
Such phantom hands upon his cloak
Whose tightened grasp his spirit broke
Her sullen plea did heavy weigh
When earth below then gave...Read More

How soft and sweet the breath of May
          So warms to brace the swallow's wing
               Through unseen...Read More

He’s tired of seeing everyday
the rise and set of crimson sun,
decides to capture time, thinking
as butterfly it flies away
beyond deep horizon sinking.
So, on daybreak he starts to run,
his butterfly chase has begun
to hold time within his control,
to decide when sun’ll...Read More

In four and sixty syllables
He strains to squeeze some thoughts profound
Into unyielding manacles
Of 8x8 form, tightly-bound.
He seeks to hand-pick words that sound
Unforced by metric obstacles
That sing and sensibly expound -
In short, do verbal miracles!
...Read More

Waste the freed, born you a just throne,
Tis, not plain, goodness, be all yours,
Death in the night, dark comes the day,
Throughout the realm, soon be your own,
Set thy  bow, claim me that you slay,
We campaign on peace at our...Read More

Brevity’s
my cup of tea
in poetry—
usually.

I relish rhyme. 
Meter’s sublime.
To me, they’re prime—
most of the time.

On second thought, I’d rather have blank verse.
Express your thoughts sans rhyming patterns, please,
while making sure your meter is sustained.
Just iambic pentameter will do.
If you compose...Read More

I have come for you, mortal one
the way that I have come each time
for anyone! Such is your fate.
As surely as you see the sun
each day as you stand by your gate
to watch the new sun start to climb
to sky,...Read More

As still as night, her heart aghast,
she pondered of her fellow's fairing,
for word had spread of his capture.
She dreamt of blooming meadows past,
as butterfly spies enrapture
lunch baskets and laughter sharing.
Alas, now shadows are glaring.
A fugitive, she never knew,
throughout each lovely...Read More

DISCLAIMER: This is a tongue-in-cheek, sardonic critique 
of my own poetry from the perspective of a fictitious non poetry 
lover. This is not aimed at any of you wonderful Soup poets... 
please do not be offended! ~ John


Tell me who...Read More

Pack the horror away and store it deep inside
   Bury the diary in the backyard half a meter deep
Shred every single photo; cast them to the wind
   Set fire to your memories; never let them see...Read More

In the chapel wherein he laid
His final moments here on earth,
Mirrored image of one’s boyhood
Stands he to claim his scabbard blade,
The chance to prove his manhood.
His mother chides him of his birth
Begs her the need to prove his worth,
His load...Read More

I

From thirsting shoots, the timelines grew
to stubborn stems that clasped the strings
of magnetism, space, decay
and gravity. The paths they knew
were constant, straight; they stretched away,
unbreakable yet formless things 
defying turmoil’s beckonings,
each one with its own tale to tell -
alternative, yet...Read More

In silence, we can hear wisdom imparted;
the strident bell of argument departed.
Because we cannot hear when we clamour, speak:
When we become sentient in our quest to seek
the value in others and their true motif,
hidden from themselves in a layer of...Read More

Upon a great white steed he rode
Astride his back he pranced with pride
His valiant soldier's war behold
The hope of all he served be known

Into the strife of chaos shown
They rode with vengeance high and wide
Taking lives from death's cold bride
For...Read More

He should have bought that land back then
- a brownfield site for sixty pound.
That price is off the cards today
He'll never get that Chance again
despite what other 'players' say.
Our anti-hero, London bound
had little cash, so moved around.
'Sacrificing love for power'
he...Read More

around the time your eyes met mine
  i ran in fields of those unclean-
  i saw you stand with feet so sore
  awaiting stars that shall align
  for you’re the one that i adore-
  your...Read More

Then, he came
Moving ahead
With his cane in hand
Striking the street
He boldly walked.

He wore his smile
A meter wide,
His pearly teeth
Glowing bright 
Between his lips.

As he neared
He broke his stride
And casually said -
‘Show me the way
To where you been.’

I did not speak....Read More