Ain’t nobody else got my problems
4/27/2009
Kenneth Burchfiel
Zur Ehre Gott
So many people there have a smile-on their face.
But put that grin on me, and you’d find it out of place.
My view gets blurry as I look at that sky,
Whoa,
If only because of the tears in my eyes,
Hey,
Ain’t nobody else got my problems.
Not one.
That lets me [...]
Drin/Inside
3/11/2009
Kenneth Burchfiel
Zur Ehre Gottes
***
An der Asche
des alten Lebens
sitz ein Vogel, singen,
erfolgreich.
On the ashes
of the old life
sits a Bird, singing,
triumphant.
John
Soli Deo gloria
Ash Wednesday, 2009
kenneth burchfiel
That was the world.
and I would look back
if not for fear of falling from the Truth
that pulls me, and all I can do is accept
316
For belief shatters the methods,
The currents of the planet that used to be home
Until I saw the Unsought and listened:
524
But the light felt distant, and I [...]
Inauguration
1/20/2009
Kenneth Burchfiel, fdHG
Walls of outhouses split crowds of black red white yellow, most blue
With Potomac-freezing cold. Undeterred,
They swarm around obelisks and monuments and televisions on stilts.
But nothing changed.
No room to cheer, but they try anyway
As politicians walk (and wheel) in and out of history.
Cellists, vice presidents, judges—the Jumbotrons do not see
The one/two/many millions fixated on [...]
The war o’er me
10/20/08
Kenneth Burchfiel
My heart, at last, is quiet now,
Coated with the morning dew,
Without a trace of all the shots
And swords that caused it smoke anew.
It was a horrid time, I say;
Hate and love in swift collision,
Waging out their urgent battle
On my soul for untold days.
And how the hate advanced, you see!
Choking off my [...]
A Certain kind of Salesman
10/10/2008
Kenneth Burchfiel
A certain curtain caught my eye—the cheapest of the darker hues.
But then a certain curtain salesman ascertained I wanted to
Curtain my windows with a few
Of that certain curtain hue—so certain, yes,
He stood and said:
I’m a certain kind of curtain salesman—certainly, it’s rare;
The kind that cautions certain curtain buyers of the [...]
Fire Safety Notice* for Poets
7/7/08
Kenneth Burchfiel
In the event of fire, stare at the flames in awe. Call your friends in Philosophy Club and ruminate with them over the fate of all things material. If you are in immediate danger, ponder the temporal nature of Earthly life and reflect on your childhood, when the cookie jar [...]
It’s not the prettiest poem–literally–but I think the formatting helps out with the message. (See attached PDF)
ctrl-z1
Second Day Poetry Sampler
7/2/08
Kenneth Burchfiel
Character
Rusty key whistles through the office air—
D
Splatters its impression onto the sheet—
E
Iron lever recoils—
A
Corroded finger races across the keyboard—
R
Space bar gives the page a break—
J
Can of polish vibrates to the rhythm—
O
All this for just one greeting—
E
Dramatic Situations #12-22
He was to obtain the vengeance we thirsted for.
Act off the enmity that coursed [...]
