Random Ruminations while Awaiting the Trump Apocalypse

I like to to think I have decent ideas and observations from time to time. These are some of my better epigrams and other mini brainstorms...

A modern poet criticizing Keats for being “too emotional” is like a garage band guitarist criticizing Mozart for employing “too many chords.” — Michael R. Burch

Wayne Gretzky was pure skill poured into skates.—Michael R. Burch

Are mayflies missed by mountains? Do stars
applaud the glowworm’s stellar mimicry?
—excerpt from “Mayflies” by Michael R. Burch

After the Poetry Recital
by Michael R. Burch

Later there’ll be talk of saving whales
over racks of lamb and flambéed snails.

Once fanaticism has gangrened brains the incurable malady invariably remains .—Voltaire, translation by Michael R. Burch

Unsurprisingly, narrow minds have trouble grasping larger subjects.—Michael R. Burch

Gods don’t have to make sense and seldom do. — Michael R. Burch

Experience is the best teacher but a hard taskmaster.—Michael R. Burch

We can't change the past, but we can learn from it.—Michael R. Burch

Time will tell, as it always does in the end.—Michael R. Burch

Time flies, until it's flown.—Michael R. Burch

Justice may be blind, but does she have to be deaf too?—Michael R. Burch

There’s nothing wrong with being wronged and wanting to be proven right.—Michael R. Burch

I'm an optimist until everything goes wrong, then I'm just miffed. — Michael R. Burch

The most dangerous words ever uttered by human lips are “Thus saith the LORD.” — Michael R. Burch

To avoid being a hack writer, hack away at your writing.—Michael R. Burch

To fall an inch short of infinity is to fall infinitely short.—Michael R. Burch

I have fundamental differences with fundamentalists.—Michael R. Burch

My advice to god is: Stop adding to human vice. It’s bad enough already. — Michael R. Burch

Love is either wholly folly
or fully holy.
—Michael R. Burch

Love's full of cute paradoxes
and highly acute poxes.
—Michael R. Burch

Teddy Roosevelt spoke softly and carried a big stick;
Donald Trump speaks loudly and carries a big shtick.
—Michael R. Burch

Trump's supporters go on and on about the "deep state," but they're in a deep state of denial. — Michael R. Burch

Trump's goal is not to be a good president, but to be president for good, like his heroes Putin and Jong-un. — Michael R. Burch

Is Trump the American Messiah, or MESSiah? Jesus Christ had the courage of his convictions, while the only convictions Trump has are of the criminal variety. — Michael R. Burch

One man's coronation is another man's consternation.—Michael R. Burc

Milli Vanilli seemed like two singers who could have been models, but they turned out to be two models pretending to be singers. —Michael R. Burch

We all have our limits: I will go to great lengths to avoid the word "chiasmi."— Michael R. Burch

Stormfront
by Michael R. Burch

Our distance is frightening:
a distance like the abyss between heaven and earth
interrupted by bizarre and terrible lightning.

Autumn Conundrum
by Michael R. Burch

It's not that every leaf must finally fall,
it's just that we can never catch them all.

Piercing the Shell
by Michael R. Burch

If we strip away all the accouterments of war,
perhaps we'll discover what the heart is for.

Childless
by Michael R. Burch

How can she bear her grief?
Mightier than Atlas, she shoulders the weight
of one fallen star.

don’t forget …
by Michael R. Burch

for Beth

don’t forget to remember
that Space is curved
(like your Heart)
and that even Light is bent
by your Gravity.

I dedicated this poem to the love of my life, but you are welcome to dedicate it to the love of yours, if you like it. The opening lines were inspired by a famous love poem by e. e. cummings.