Son Villanelle Poems

Villanelle: Remembering Not to Call
by Michael R. Burch

(a villanelle permitting mourning, for my mother, Christine Ena Burch)

The hardest thing of all,
after telling her everything,
is remembering...

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Sunlight gleams through the branches of the trees,
Running feet rumbling the soft ground,
Clusters of red among the green leaves.

Children laughing, being chased by bees,
Snapping off...

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our angel who sleeps so peacefully there
the foundation that supports all our lives
no momma' didn't die; she moved upstairs

hands that can play Amazing Grace with...

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Enter your grave, as though a pilgrim, full of smile,
Within satin muslin decked coffin, sleep peaceful,
May death, the deathless (?), feel ashamed of his sly...

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I took a random shot I must confess
A wager made, the wheel of fortune spun
That may be how I got into this mess

A desperado's last...

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Distant sounds are calling from yesteryear
Messages now cold from long, long ago,
Important voices I often refused to hear.

I shut out many of them because of...

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Tears leave dusty trails down a cheek
Unhindered by Papa's stern admonition,
Says boys do not cry; makes a man weak.

Sometimes conscience feels a tweak
Where do broken...

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As in the Days of Noah

Hearts of men have grown cold. Self-loves sow a
Bitterroot of hate, malice, neglect...lust
Just as it was in the days of...

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Every year, max-out your I.R.A.,
So that you’ll be wealthy in times of need.
Start putting money aside.  Now!  Today!

Learn to live within your means....

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Hopeless cries from faraway Africa are heard 
Searing sands of Ethiopia cry for sustainable water 
Children are dying, never having spoken a word. 

Desperate fathers...

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On this night, Christmas Eve, Jesus was born
Bringing eternal life to you and me, this Son
Of the One who created the light in the morn

He...

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Great indeed is Saviour’s love story!*
The Gospel of utmost compassion grace
Bringing heaven’s joy… wondrous victory!

Such precious deed shows Almighty’s glory
Marvelous mercy of sacrifice brace…
Great indeed...

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The Dwarf King and Queen are announcing the
Birth of their son Prince Oliver who came in to
This world weighing seven pounds.
We are very blest.
He keeps...

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Villanelle : Five Yin lines on November 6th overcome the top Yang line

(Bo, Hexagram 23 (November 6 to December 6): The mountain falls down on...

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I caught him high, but I was high
as we passed each other with mutual dread
he caught me high, but he was high

smoked some of his...

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