Long Dovetail Poems

Radiance
by Michael R. Burch

for Dylan Thomas

The poet delves earth’s detritus—hard toil—
for raw-edged nouns, barbed verbs, vowels’ lush bouquet;
each syllable his pen excretes—dense soil,
dark images impacted, rooted clay.

The poet sees the sea but feels its meaning—
the...

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These are poems about Dylan Thomas, as well as poems "for" and "after" Dylan Thomas. Dylan Thomas was one of my favorite poets from my early teens and has remained so over the years. I...

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Myth, after Dylan Thomas
by Michael R. Burch

Here the recalcitrant wind
sighs with grievance and remorse
over fields of wayward gorse
and thistle-throttled lanes.

And she is the myth of the scythed wheat
hewn and sighing, complete,
waiting, lain in a low...

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Was this a bold  endeavour or worst-case high risk plot?
 In one sense I was caught between two poles apart  concerns.
One must never underestimate indeed trivialise a devilish 
difficult decision.
A decision that may...

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I am home ...

oh, my heart
      pray, hush its cadence
         for the sacred sake of unsated thirst
   beg its thrums...

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My coping method fraught with utmost futility thus...

My professional treatment plan
predicated upon duress in extremis
hence Electroconvulsive therapy,
a last ditch effort I avail
and surrender self qua
to shock the monkey (me)
one (twenty first century)
obstinate bipedal hominid turncoat
optioned,...

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Written: September 18, 2023
Unwritten Absence Poetry Contest              Sponsored by: Ink Empress
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In the absence of ink—in a nexus of poetic dreams,
Anathematized by disconsolate...

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Gratitude suffuses me today
at prospect to plumb the depths
of a fledgling friendship
(respecting fidelity to wife)
even one bound 
within the parameters of cyberspace,
I feel courtesy your amazing grace
figuratively stitching omnipotent binding
with virtual satin and lace
proceeding cautiously...

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Electroconvulsive therapy,
     a last ditch avail
able effort optioned, aye bewail
as desperation if standard
     psychological measures peter

     out leave ving paul tree
(paltry) choice, and...

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Night and day, a thrashing
     like an invisible whiptail
surge van hail,
doth swell me bosom
     excruciatingly, doggedly blackmail
capriciously be-numbingly,
     aggravatingly assail
mine conscience in

 ...

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While we dwell to this dreidel,
I seek to know before a sear,
Even in the most ineluctable dandle,
The fruit to which may indeed bear;
In the imbue oblivion, I tell a riddle,
Most morass yet merely in fear,
For...

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Despite emotional, financial, grammatical...
any woe that doth assail
whereat early in the 
morning until late at night tub bail
sinking craft, not possible 
(essentially 24/7), I bewail,

where the fickle finger 
of fate stationed me in life,
as if...

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Written: January 06, 2024 
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Shimmering swaths
of cerulean sea
ionize comely light
purple-tinged sand
strewn with tattered shells
during low tide,
summon imperial thrones,
tartly lovely youth
amid sparkling Tyrian swells,
whilst peering...

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And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art
situate at the entry of the sea, which
art a merchant of the people for many
isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O Tyrus,
thou hast said, I am of perfect...

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Assuming in a nutshell this house of ours here 
    in Africa 
  like so many things are falling apart 
   and then like this kind of  love...

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In a realm of dreams and wonders untold,
A goddess adorned with a crown of gold
Glimmering orbs grace her celestial brow.
Drawing all eyes, mesmerizing somehow.

We gather in awe, astounded, and amazed.
Omnipotent! Just such that, I was...

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I suppose that nearly every town has its share of self-appointed snobs,
A few old crabs and the usual crowd of ordinary Bills, Jills and Bobs.
In our fair village there's a character whose name is "Squire"...

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Urban jungle roosters,
born-again scarecrow,
to untutored city eyes,
tawny pipit stonewall  nester,
jet black Inca dove bereft,
of dovetail on a croque monsieur,
idle bone grub crawl,
mother hen to sandy brown,
and velvet bill gazer,
from an nearby creak,
recent rural migrant...

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Assumptio

Taken as a given
Connection pivots upon pure affection
A dovetail, mortis and pin
The keyhole to secret chambers		
Let these words testify 
Of the role you played
While life rehearsed my fate
Moments spent were not perceived
As just wasted time
Thoughts...

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Their intimacy is gloved,
moments dovetail
in a tea-room.
I color-in implied gestures,
listen to the ambience
of undertones.

They enter a confessional space
lips linger over shared visions,
oracles only they can read.

Lipstick on China cups,
the twirled edge of a napkin,
the unclasped...

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*Image of Winners of Connecting by Pixabay

Close Encounters of the Best Kind

Anon celebrations plumb us adjusts,
preceding months were more compatible,
familial presence friends superfluous,
plain chat wheedles a bit less fragmental,
pooled consciousness markup valuable,
fruitful homily affect harmony,
ripes...

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By the soul, and That which shaped it and inspired it
[with the capacity to distinguish between] lewdness and God-fearing,
prosperous is he who purifies it, and failed has he who seduces it. 
(The Holy Quran 91:7-10)...

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Sand dunes are licking wounds desert looms through veil
Kites are awry from faster lane and clouds are in dovetail
Gods are playing wobble doable morning glory go
Bodies swoosh a push a rush, a sash falls in...

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my fingertips
touch ...
tender, but with melodic intent
you tremble
just SO ...
and sigh sweetly
the delightful answer
to my questioning hands
a gentle press ...
your supple curves against me
fitting me like dovetail
your quivers ...
soft-thrumming my flesh
matching your moans
the hushing pulse...

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Utterances people could like garments wear,
Except that they look the more naked;
Voiced ideas their hearers could bear
But much like the cruel whip of the wicked,
Their glad receivers betray a 'mental slackness
And are fetched a thickening...

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