All Poems
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Pan
© Michael Burch
... Among the shadows of the groaning elms,
amid the darkening oaks, we fled ourselves ...... Once there were paths that led to coracles
that clung to piers like loosening barnacles ...... where we cannot return, because we lost
the pebbles and the playthings, and the moss ...... hangs weeping gently downward, maidens hair
The Folly of Wisdom
© Michael Burch
She is wise in the way that children are wise,
looking at me with such knowing, grave eyes
I must bend down to her to understand.
But she only smiles, and takes my hand.
In Praise of Meter
© Michael Burch
If moons and tides in interlocking dance
obey their numbers, what is left to chance?
Should poets be more laxtheir circumstance
as humble as it is?or readers wince
to see their ragged numbers thin, to hear
of Neros death, yet mourn the Cavalier?
Flight 93
© Michael Burch
I held the switch in trembling fingers, asked
why existence felt so small, so purposeless,
like a minnow wriggling feebly in my grasp ...
The Watch
© Michael Burch
Moonlight spills down vacant sills,
illuminates an empty bed.
Dreams lie in crates. One hand creates
wan silver circles, left unread
by its companion--unmoved now
by anything that lies ahead.
The Locker
© Michael Burch
All the dull hollow clamor has died
and what was contained,
removed,
reproved
Ordinary Love
© Michael Burch
Indescribable--our love--and still we say
with eyes averted, turning out the light,
"I love you," in the ordinary way
At Wilfred Owens Grave
© Michael Burch
What the poet sees,
he sees as a swimmer underwater,
watching the shoreline blur,
sees through his breaths weightless bubbles ...
Both worlds grow obscure.
Redolence
© Michael Burch
Now darkness ponds upon the violet hills;
cicadas sing; the tall elms gently sway;
and night bends near, a deepening shade of gray;
the bass concerto of a bullfrog fills
what silence there once was; globed searchlights play.
She Was Very Strange, and Beautiful
© Michael Burch
She was very strange, and beautiful,
as the violet mist upon the hills
before night falls
when the hoot owl calls
and the cricket trills
and the envapored moon hangs low and full.
See
© Michael Burch
For loveliness remains in her grave eyes, /
and courage in her still-delighted looks: /
each face presented like a picture books. /
Bemused, she blows us undismayed goodbyes. /
A Song at Weicheng.
© Wang Wei
A morning-rain has settled the dust in Weicheng;
Willows are green again in the tavern dooryard....
Wait till we empty one more cup --
West of Yang Gate there'll be no old friends.
The Cornel Grove
© Wang Wei
Bear fruit red and green
Again as if flower further open
Hill at if remain guest
Place here cornel cup
Jinzhu Ridge
© Wang Wei
Wingceltis goldenrain shine empty bend
Fresh and green ripple ripples ripples
Secret enter Shang hill road
Woodcutter not able know
A Message to Commissioner Li At Zizhou
© Wang Wei
From ten thousand valleys the trees touch heaven;
On a thousand peaks cuckoos are calling;
And, after a night of mountain rain,
From each summit come hundreds of silken cascades.
Seeing Off Yuan the Second on a Mission to Anxi
© Wang Wei
Weicheng morning rain moisten light dust
Visitor house green green willow colour new
Urge gentleman further finish one cup alcohol
West outside Yang Pass no friend person
Fine Apricot Lodge
© Wang Wei
Fine apricot cut for roofbeam
Fragrant cogongrass tie for eaves
Not know ridgepole in cloud
Go make people among rain
Huazi Ridge
© Wang Wei
Fly bird go no limit
Join mountain again autumn colour
Up down Huazi Ridge
Melancholy feeling what extreme
To Qiwu Qian Bound Home After Failing an Examination.
© Wang Wei
In a happy reign there should be no hermits;
The wise and able should consult together....
So you, a man of the eastern mountains,
Gave up your life of picking herbs
An Early Audience at the Palace of Light. (Harmonizing a poem for Secretary Jia Zhi.)
© Wang Wei
The red-capped Cock-Man has just announced morning;
The Keeper of the Robes brings Jade-Cloud Furs;
Heaven's nine doors reveal the palace and its courtyards;
And the coats of many countries bow to the Pearl Crown.
