#applause
And when you cry, we will
weep with you.
But not for pity — not grief.
It is for triumph.
You made it.
True?
Applause.
Your hard work, finally,
paid off.
– fin.
Jun 17, 2025
Jun 17, 2025 at 11:59 AM UTC
The speech is followed
by silent applause, the hands --
just raise the glasses.
Feb 17, 2023
Feb 17, 2023 at 5:17 AM UTC
I don’t write to get called good
I write to be understood
Do you understand?
I don’t write for petty praise
That would be a waste of my days
My poems are my own extended hand
I just want people to see
What it’s like to be me
And who I really am
Though my poems are called “good”
I am still misunderstood
When will somebody understand?
May 10, 2020
May 10, 2020 at 12:50 AM UTC
Dancer
by Michael R. Burch
You will never change;
you range,
investing passion in the night,
waltzing through
a blinding blue,
immaculate and fabled light.
Do not despair
or wonder where
the others of your race have fled.
They left you here
to gin and beer
and won't return till you are bled
of fantasy
and piety,
of brewing passion like champagne,
of storming through
without a clue,
but finding answers fall like rain.
They left.
You laughed,
but now you sigh
for ages,
stages
slipping by.
You pause;
applause
is all you hear.
You dance,
askance,
as drunkards cheer.
Keywords/Tags: dancer, waltz, waltzing, applause, drink, drunkards, neon light, strobe, flash, flashing, crystal ball, chandelier, lap dancer, exotic dancer, stripper, peeler, strip, striptease artist, burlesque, Moulin Rogue, dance, passion, champagne, gin, beer
Apr 3, 2020
Apr 3, 2020 at 12:56 AM UTC
Like Most People I Like … " APPLAUSE "
But NOT From Those Whose Conscience Gnaws ...
Away At … " Them " … !!!!! …
Who Do It …
Just To Fit and Blend ...
With Those Who LIKE …
The Words I Write … !!!!
So Listen Up …
If You Don't Like My Spoken Words …
Or Those I Write …
Do What's Right DON'T Applaud … !!!
TRUST ME That's FINE … !!!!!
Don't Give FALSE Cheers …
Let's Get THIS CLEAR … !!!
I DON'T Believe In False Veneers …
Cos' Those With Them Are Quick To … " SNEER " … !!!!!
I've Seen It Done A Thousand Times … !!!!!
This Seems To Be A … " Part of Life " … ?
Don't Applaud Just To Be Nice … ?!?
Or Even WORSE To Be ... " Polite " ... !!!!!
Polite Can Mean A Number of Things …
Like … TACTFUL Yes … !!!
Which May Mean That ...
They're NOT Impressed ...
And Say … " NICE Things " …
That ... WON'T Upset … !!!
"Oh dear, that sounds like most poets !
Those who are, yes, self-obsessed !"
Many of Them When They Applaud …
Are Simply This … Applauding FRAUDS … !!!!!!
Who … HATE To See Good Poetry ...
Cos' This Could Mean ...
The END of Their DELUDED Dreams … !!!!!
This … Of Course …
Could Include … ME … ?!?
I'm Afraid NOT ………. !!!!!!
If Your Words Do NOT Impress …
I'll Tell You STRAIGHT … !!!!!
"You need to change professions mate !!!"
But If I Like The Things You Write ... ?
I'll Try To Quote Some of Your Lines …
But If I Can't Don't Be Surprised … !!!
It's Hard Enough Remembering MINE … !!!!!!!!!
The Key Thing Is I Think You'll Find …
I'll Give Applause …
But NOT Like Those Mentioned Before …. !!!
Whose FAKE Applause ... Should Be Ignored …
Their Actions YES I Do ABHOR ... !!!
Cos' ALL They Do Is Keep ... DUD Scores … !!!
And Call For Those Whose Form of Prose …
Will Stunt The Growth of Shows They Host.
Lyrical Woes ...
You Know They Go …
So … TERRIBLY Low … !!!!!
Like Those Who Clap Within A ... " Claque " ... !!!!!
"A hired body of applauders, in a theatre"
Like Those Who Go To … " Farrago Slams " …
Or Probably Those That Go To … " The Cellar " …
**** .....
Applauding FRAUDS Are EVERYWHERE Man … !!!!!
Even …. " Unplugged " …..
Becomes A SHAM …
When False Applause …
Is What's Asked For … ?!?
Words Like Those ...
Will ROCK Some Jaws … !!!
And Won't Get Me …
Inside ... " Their Clique " …
Or Their Shows … !!!
" Oh, What a BLOW !!!!! "
I Guess My Prose Just Does Not Get Enough APPLAUSE …
For Them To Give My Words … " The Call " … !!!
EXCUSES Yes ...
I've Heard Them ALL … !!!!!
" Too Black !!! "
" Too Tall !!! "
" I'm waiting for Virgil to call at my event,
and watch the people, I present !"
And THIS Of Course …
"Virge doesn't make people applaud !"
That's NOT What Poets Are Here For … !?!
Spoken Words Or … Other Sorts …
Those Like Me Provoke DEEP THOUGHT …
And DO NOT WANT CONTRIVED Applause … !!!!!
There's Still A Few Who Share My View …
And CLEARLY Do Have STRONG BELIEFS … !!!!
About How Poetry SHOULD BE ….. !!!!!!!!
Sometimes It NEEDS TO BE ANGRY ...
And Should Reflect ... " REALITY " … !!!!!
It Should Be Sweet And Flow With Beats ...
That's HIP HOP ... !!!!!
And NOW WE KNOW The Youth RESPECT …
Poets Who ROCK … !!!
Promoters Should WATCH …
They Might Be SHOCKED … !!!
Poetry NEEDS Controversy … !!!
And This Will Bring BIG CASH Money … !!!!!
From Simple Use of Fluent Speech … !!!
But Let Me Guess … !?!
They've Got The BEST … !!!
Within The UK's Poetry Scene ….. !!!!!!
How Can This Be … !?!
What NO … " Big V " … !!!
Sorry … " BIG VIRGE " ...
A Man With TRULY Conscious Words … !!!!
They Know It's True … !!!!
And Yet They Choose ….
To …................................................. Ignore Me ……
They're Being RUDE … !!!!!
So Words Like These Are Just To PROVE …
I'm Watching YES They're Every Move … !!!!!
I'm Sure They Think I'm NOT That Great … !!!
But Listen Close They've Made Mistakes … !!!!!
My Hearing's FINE … !!!!!
There Have Been Times I've Heard Them Try …
To Act As Though They Like The Way My Wordplay's Styled ...
But Still Won't Have My Name … " Headlined " …
If That's The Way They Are Inclined …
It's NOT A Stress … !!!
They Can Bring Their BEST …
And I'll ... Take The TEST … !!!!
Let's ...
START The WAR … !!!
Cos' Now I'm SORE … !!!
And Think It's Time To … HOT UP Floors …
And See Which Names Bring In The Hoards … !!!
That's The Way To YES … Keep Score … !!!!!
And STOP This Phoney …. FAKE …
........... " Applause " ….........
Nov 28, 2019
Nov 28, 2019 at 9:31 PM UTC
_As his feet moved even faster, and he twirled and whirled and cantered across the stage, it was as if he existed in an indeterminate space - blinded by the footlights, deafened by the orchestra, absorbed in his own rumbustious choreography. Beyond the pit, in the anonymous darkness, the audience rippled and flared appreciatively in response. So he danced on until, with a final rapturous gesture of his outstretched arms, he plunged to earth as dizzy as a snowflake. And waited.
The silence shifted. The soft rumble of engine noise played softly in the background, while the chain-link fence rattled in the squall which blew fresh off the harbour. He opened his eyes and watched the cars crawling across the overbridge above him; the empty basketball court littered with yesterday’s snack papers lay in shadow. In the middle distance, a familiar figure walked briskly towards him.
‘Matthew! Matthew! You come here this secon’ or I’ll whip your **** right off, already.’
‘Yes, Auntie.’
‘What you doin’ tryna waste good time?’
‘Nothin’, Auntie.’
‘Ain’t that the truth, boy.’
As he stooped to gather up his satchel, Matthew saw out of the corner of his eye the concertmaster lower his instrument, incline his head, and begin to tap his music stand with his bow. From the balconies the first of a thousand rose petals began to fall with the evening rain, the applause thundered while the lightning clapped, and there in the gods stood his mother waving and blowing kisses at him, as he followed his aunt down East Street towards home._
Sep 4, 2019
Sep 4, 2019 at 10:29 PM UTC
Here is the thing darling, no matter how many cheer,
The world remains an empty place.
There’s an abrupt sound of palms hitting one another,
But the moment is fleeting.
The lights shut off. The curtains close.
Applauses end.
Aug 5, 2019
Aug 5, 2019 at 2:40 PM UTC
This piece speaks with subtle attitude.
Its whispers echo over the crowded gallery
Yet only I can hear.
My eyes are fixated on its delicate details,
Tracing every stroke of the brush.
My sight is paralyzed.
The colors move and swirl,
Caught in a maelstrom of creativity.
The hues melt off the canvas,
Bleed down the wall,
Pool at the bottom,
Mixing but not blending,
And all I can do is watch.
Slowly the others follow suit,
Bleeding down the walls in a patient rush,
Stretching across the floor
So desperate and calm
Until It caresses my shoe.
It climbs my leg, rising and rising,
Staining my pants and skin.
It rises and rises still,
An orchestra of color making permanent residence.
I am terrified yet my breathing is slow,
Watching the details form.
Engulfed by color I turn to see
All the masses staring at me.
Speaking to one another with subtle attitude,
Whispers echo the crowded gallery,
Their eyes fixated on the delicate details,
Tracing every line,
Paralyzed.
My fear was met with thunderous applause.
Feb 8, 2019
Feb 8, 2019 at 6:06 PM UTC
Well maybe it’s a shame in the weekend
To toil aimlessly about dreams in bed
Counting sheep only lasts for so long
And maybe it’s a shame to waste the day
Someday we’ll be alive
More than we are right now
Someday we’ll start a fight
Let’s end our show with a bow
And we’ll close it out with a round of applause
They’ll look to us
Because we’ll be their stars
Right now we’re young and we’ll never grow old
But even if we do
We stand with the bold
Jul 6, 2018
Jul 6, 2018 at 11:14 AM UTC
The Big Finale
I spit my lyrics out loud,
To make them hear it so shout:
REACTION! REACTION!
I wrote this simply for you
So you could all sing it too:
REACTION! REACTION!
I made it easy to sing,
So just sing along with me:
REACTION! REACTION!
I wrote this song for you all,
For each of you I adore
REACTION! REACTION!
I had to write you these words,
And say thanks for letting me hear the
REACTION! REACTION!
I want you to seize the day
And go and do it your way
REACTION! REACTION!
So give yourselves an applause
And let me say thank you for your
REACTION! REACTION!
(C)2013 Aa Harvey. All Rights Reserved.
Jun 15, 2018
Jun 15, 2018 at 4:35 PM UTC
Here is a check
To take to a bank
Miles far away from the bank
I am yet to bank
Tell me where in the world
Would I deposit a check
Bouncing the banks out
With no No numbers
Not even Roman numerals
tell me
Where to deposit this check
with the sign of your heart
So have I come to realize
With a stern rose at sunset
I will come kneeling before you
Please take my love back
Let’s make love in the river bank
Jun 13, 2018
Jun 13, 2018 at 12:26 AM UTC
With a smile on your mouth
I see the evening breathing out
Calling my long lost name
And while I don't you recall
I hear you whisper, while I fall
Pouring memories down the drain
I tried to make you understand
You need to leave wonderland
The lion still kills without claws
But you crashed with the reality
Leaving strangers with serenity
Drowning in the final applause
May 14, 2018
May 14, 2018 at 3:08 PM UTC
fire ant performs
acrobatics, on a leaf,
pauses for applause!
Jul 30, 2017
Jul 30, 2017 at 9:46 AM UTC
The roaring sound of applause is becoming too boisterous to bear.
A flock of cameras and video recorders begin to huddle at the corners of the platform set behind the curtains of the stage. Actors, dancers, stage crew, and all of those who smiled, slowly line up for the grand finale.
But not this girl.
This girl sits on top of the railing of the things that hold up the set. Waiting, seeking, and wistfully watching. An actress, without a doubt. One of the best, they say. Although this girl had no plans to take that step and accept gravity as her master and plummet to her death, she won’t deny that she hasn’t thought of that before. This time, she had other things on her mind. Something radical? Well, maybe. Spontaneous? She was too lazy to move. Dark and twisted? Not in that sense. Nonetheless, she was thinking of something with importance.
For instance, she was thinking about the homemade cookies her mother used to give her, if she behaved perfectly, quiet, and still. Since she loved the feeling of success and food in her stomach, she fought back the longing of playing games and having fun.“Too perfect a child” some might say, but that never got into her. All she wanted was the sky, moon, stars, and nothing all at once.
Years go by, mistakes are done, and nothing is made whole again. The girl is woven in a snare of lies and is drowning in a bathtub full of the blood of swine. She swims and floats and tries to escape the demons that haunt her very soul. Breathe in, breathe out. She continues to sit perfectly, quietly and still. Never talking, only listening, to the sounds of rules and* rules and rules and rules and rules and rules that mess up her insides.*
The girl performs an act that no one has ever seen. Taunting and terrifying, but beautiful and graceful all together. The mask shows her perfection, the mask shows you nothing. Jump, then fall, tumble to the ground. Tick, tock, tick, tock, the sound as time goes by.
Tick
tock
tick
stop.
The roaring sound of applause from the demons in her head is becoming too boisterous to bear.
A flock of cameras and video recorders begin to huddle at the corners of the platform set at the unseen bottom of the pit. Actors, dancers, stage crew, and all of those who tell her, slowly line up for the grand finale.
She takes that step.
Aug 28, 2016
Aug 28, 2016 at 1:07 AM UTC
When I'm at The Kingdom Hall, I do something to honor God.
I am a Christian who is proud to applaud.
I applaud God and you should too.
God loves me and he loves you.
When it comes time for us to give God our applause,
We should not hesitate to clap, we should not pause.
Jehovah God deserves applause because his only son died for our sins.
And Jesus's death will make it possible for us to see our loved ones again.
Mar 30, 2016
Mar 30, 2016 at 7:40 AM UTC
A small applause has
enough potential to
shoot a star upon the
moon of creative inspiration.
© Jl 2016
Feb 11, 2016
Feb 11, 2016 at 7:20 PM UTC
fearless tires kissing wet pavement
jokes exchanged between laughing dogs
street lights whispering secrets to severed sidewalks
applauding leaves appreciating the evening's entertainment
Sep 29, 2015
Sep 29, 2015 at 11:01 PM UTC
*Is that the applause of the leaves
I hear outside my window
Or just the rain
Tapping out a tune to the wind?*
Sep 14, 2015
Sep 14, 2015 at 5:09 PM UTC
He sprints across the field
Navigating obstacle after obstacle
Addiction, illness, depression
Bits of him flying off into the distance
His hope, dreams, will
He's falling apart, getting smaller
Propelling himself forward regardless of his destruction
The finish line is a bullet
There is no applause
Aug 5, 2015
Aug 5, 2015 at 2:46 PM UTC
Die for your applause;
Collect your cause.
Just keep your flaws,
Away from my claws.
Jan 15, 2015
Jan 15, 2015 at 9:38 PM UTC
"Clap! Clap! Clap!"
The curtain pulled up.
They danced, gracefully
To the song, rhythmly
With eyes locked to each other
They smile, beautifully
And dance and dance and dance
"Tap! Tap! Tap!"
The shoes hit the floor
Hold hands,
And dance and dance and dance,
face the audiences,
And smile and smile and smile,
Bow for few seconds,
"Clap! Clap! Clap!"
The curtains rolled down.
Sweats scattered all around,
But anxious now no where to be found,
Because on that faces of the audiences,
All smiles and excites, No, no big frowns.
Sep 16, 2014
Sep 16, 2014 at 1:13 PM UTC
I don't want to be anyone anymore
anyways, what's there left to live for?
is there any light? I see a darkness in me
is being outcast, what is now considered free?
they tell me to be someone, somewhere
but I cant be myself
so I walk around in circles
trying to be somebody else
chasing tails and broken dreams
is it all a lost cause?
can we move on
why do we wait for an applause?
I'm no one, and I've gone no where
only my memories to hold
I was different before,
I once had a heart, now I'm only cold
Aug 29, 2014
Aug 29, 2014 at 7:08 PM UTC